Buying books would be a good thing if one could also buy the time to read them in: but as a rule the purchase of books is mistaken for the appropriation of their contents.
~Arthur Schopenhauer~
~Arthur Schopenhauer~
(1788-1860)
German Philosopher
Isn't this statement the truth? I always have very good intentions when I purchase a book and, significantly, I feel I must have it right then! And so, I bring it home and look at it and put it carefully away on my shelf and it sits there a lot of times until I look at it again and wonder, what was this book about and why did I want to buy it? The number of books that I own here at my home that I have not read numbers in the hundreds. There are indeed some I have read but I do have a tendency to give away the ones I've completed and so the books on my shelves are mostly unread. Herein lies the problem and the reason why I am trying to curb my purchases. How many books are unread on your shelves and do you keep them once you do read them or do you give them away, sell them, or pass them on in some fashion?
8 comments:
How true.
I've tried to count the number of unread books, but found it quite alarming, so I gave up. I have a lot. When I've read a book I'll only give it away if I think I won't want to read it again and there's my problem. You can be sure that if I've given it away at some time I'll think I want to re-read it! If they're going I give them to a charity shop or a friend.
I must have several hundred unread books on my shelves. I do tend to put new ones on the coffee table for a while so I can admire them. ;-) Then they get put on the shelf, sometimes forgotten, sometimes not. I always have good intentions to read them soon.
I tend to keep most of my books when I've read them but if I haven't liked it much or am a bit indifferent I pass them on to online friends usually as I don't really have real life friends with my taste in books. Every now and then I have a clear out and take a few to the charity shop too.
Oh dear. I must have hundreds of unread books. 'Tis a result of working in the business. ;)
I keep the "winners" and give away the mediocre reads.
I've been quite good lately and haven't bought many books at all. Of course, I keep brining home ARCs from work, so the piles continue to grow.
I know that my shelves contain hundreds of unread books. I tend to get rid of books that I didn't care for, or just thought were okay and know I'll never read again. I keep my favorites and any books that I just really liked and felt a connection to. I'm glad to see I'm not alone!
My husband is the guilty one. He has so many books, it is unbelievable. Because he is the owner and editor of the poetry magazine Tears In The Fence he gets books for reviews send to him all the time. He recently sorted his office out and about fifteen boxes of books are now in the shed. Does the office look better now? Of course not, because other books have taken their place.
I'm so glad to know that I am not the only one with hundreds of books unread and I will pass that along to my husband. He thinks that with all the books I have and also my working in a library, there will never again be a time when I might need to purchase a book. Hmmmm...not so much. But I am trying to be very selective about additions.
Middle Ditch, glad you stopped by. I guess the problem of too many books exists all over huh? See, the internet showed me that I am not alone in my obsession!!
This corresponds a bit with my Sunday quote du jour. I don't know how many books I have. We got a program for our computer called Librarian Pro and I am starting to list my books, movies, and music. I think the best thing is to read one at a time, and forget all others. Just enjoy the words, and then go on to another book. My two challenges for 2008 should help a lot; TBR and Celebrate the Author.
Oh my; it's so true. I have a bunch of books I want to get to that I still haven't, some of which I bought years ago. :(
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