Why Do I Own Books When I Rarely Reread?
It’s not very often that I reread a book. I’m really trying to think of which books I’ve reread recently and I can’t think of a single one. I’m not the type who has a particular book that they love so much that they read it once a year.
I have begun to reread some books that I maybe read when I was a child, but to tell you the truth I don’t remember anything about them. I do want to reread all of Harry Potter (I did read and then listen to them all – does that count?) and unlike the almost daily comments I get from Twilight fans, I’ve only read the series once.
So that begs the question: why is it that I like to keep my books? If I’m not going to read them again, why devote so much space to them? I love to OWN books. I must admit that it’s not very often that I buy brand new (but more now then ever since book blogging!), but I often come home from library book sales and thrift stores with huge piles of books. I just can’t help myself. I am also a large user of my library. And let me tell you, if I really liked a book, it pains me to return it!
I’ve decided that the reason that I like to keep the books that I’ve read and enjoyed, even though it’s unlikely that I’ll read them again, is because I just like to look at them. I mean, is nothing better then perusing your own shelf and remembering a particular story or characters? I like to reminisce.
Plus, this is what people see when they walk into my home (full tour)
If that isn’t screaming READER! I don’t know what is. I like to be surrounded by good books. I grew up in a home that way and I have fond memories of simply browsing our home library for my next read. I want the same for my boys. If books hold a place of importance in my home, then my boys will know that they matter.
If you are like me, why do you keep your books? I’m talking fiction here. Do you keep them because you’ll reread them? If you aren’t ever going to read a book again, why hang on to it? Or if you don’t reread and don’t hang on to your books, is there a reason why? Is it simply a lack of space issue or what? I’m not sure that my questions make any sense. Perhaps I’m trying to justify my ever growing collection and defend myself from my husbands ever growing laments of “But you’ll never read them again!”
What about you?
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Category: Bookish Musings & Miscellany
Tags: bookshelves
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Like you, I love to just look at the books I have and remember my experiences in reading each of them. Lately though, I’ve become a real fan of the Unclutterer blog and have been learning the value of de-cluttering my life and possessions. I’ve decided to start weeding through my books. Since I also don’t re-read very often (too many unread books on my reading list!), I’m using a different standard to decide if I should keep a book:
Would I ever want to loan this to a friend? Is this a book I would someday recommend to my (future) children? If yes to either, the book gets to stay. If no, I’m adding the book to my Swaptree account or bringing it to my local used bookstore. It sounds harsh, and I definitely am still struggling through this, but I think it will ultimately be a good thing for my home and my bookshelves! (Plus it puts more books out there for others to enjoy!)
on July 2nd, 2009 at 8:52 amGenerally, I don’t reread either. But I’m a book hoarder. About 95% of the books I own haven’t been read. And when I do read them I then give them away or list them on one of the various book swap sites I frequent.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 8:53 amI never reread a book, I can’t think of one (other than my son’s board books) that I’ve ever reread! There was a time when I didn’t give away ANY books, but now I just keep thinking, where are they going to go? My immediate family (my sisters and my parents) love to read, but my husband doesn’t (probably the reason he’s always complaining that I have too many books). But, lately since I had my son almost 2 years ago, like you I want him to have the opportunity to peruse a home bookshelf for his next read. Keeping my fingers crossed that he grows to like reading!
on July 2nd, 2009 at 8:59 amI don’t know why I just do! Sometimes I think I *might* read it again so I should hold onto it. I do a purge occasionally but it is hard to part with them.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:00 amGreat post Natasha! I am a lot like that too. I have a large space dedicated to my “library” (which is our old business office before we moved it out of the house). I am always adding more books.
I love books – the feel of them, the sight of them. They cozy up a home. They give it personality. There are many on my shelves I have yet to read…. and favorites, even though I may never get to them again… I hang on to them as memories, when I pass them I remember pieces of what the pages hold.
One of the girls in my book club has a Kindle and I tease her a bit. What would I put on my book shelves with a Kindle? Where is the excitement you get when you first crack open a new book to see what it inside?
on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:07 amI rarely reread books. I’ve got a growing problem of books taking up too much space as well. I keep them because I’m not exactly sure what to do with them. What are the other options?
on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:09 amI never re-read either, but I don’t keep books once I’ve read them. I have a massive number of books in my house but they are all unread. Sometimes I try to keep a few of my favourites, but I always end up lending them to other people. I much prefer to have unread books lining my shelves than read ones!
on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:10 amI don’t buy many books (some day we’ll be off a student budget!!), so I only tend to buy books in a series I plan to re-read or can’t find at the library.
I figure the library will have most classic books, so I only worry about owning books I’m afraid I won’t be able to find again (or as easily). I don’t re-read too many, but I go through phases where I’ll re-read an entire series, and I’ve read Harry P several times through.
I do love browsing through my bookshelves though.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:10 amIf there are books I’ve read that I think someone else in my family will want to read, then I will keep them. I will also keep them if I think I’ll want to refer to something later. Otherwise I bookcross the books as I finish.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:12 amI keep most of the books I read, unless I didn’t like the book. I keep them because they make me feel good, because I love scanning the shelves and seeing what I’ve read- it’s like a little bit of my personal history. I can say, oh I read that in my college English class, or when I was a teen I remember that book, or I read that on the hammock last summer. And I love having a house loaded with books because they just make me happy!
on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:13 amLike you, I rarely reread my books, but yet I keep them! Besides the decorative aspects of having SO MANY books (they make cool room dividers!) I keep them because they hold memories that I can relive just by seeing the cover. And I think that’s why most of us keep them….
Great post!
on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:20 amSuzanne
I do reread books and I like to refer back to books — look up something, remember a character’s name, and so on. I grew up in a house full of books, so I guess I never really thought about it. I just have books.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:25 amI also like to keep my books, I have a whole room full of them also. Sometimes I purge and donate to the library, especially if I didn’t care for them. However I like to keep them for the most part. When I look at them I feel a sense of accomplishment.
I also like when I am talking to people who don’t read much and they talk about wanting to read and what they have liked in the past to be able to say, “I have the perfect book for you.” and then have it on hand for them to borrow.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:27 amI agree with Stephanie C. I like lending out my books. And, I love the way they look. And, if it were the end of the world and all the libraries were destroyed or closed, think of how valuable your library would be. (Man, that was a story line, I’ve been reading too much fiction).
on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:33 amI love your bookshelves! I like just being surrounded by books also. We do lend out a lot and enjoy talking about whatever book it is after the lendee has read it. But in addition I have found that if I get rid of a book (giving it to the library or taking it to the used book place) almost immediately I will be wanting to refer to THAT book for something!
on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:40 amI used to like to own books that I loved just so I had access to them all the time. Then I started working in a library and thinking of all of those books as “mine”. Now, I generally keep books that I loved so that I can lend them to friends or maybe reread them. (I don’t reread very often, but I have been known to reread my favorites.)
Truth be told, most of the books I currently own I’ll probably hang on to for awhile and then give away when the pile gets too huge.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:41 amI occasionally re-read. I keep a lot of books and then every once in a while I get in the purge mode (usually when I have flashbacks to moving). I’ll pack up a bunch of books, schlep them to Powell’s to see how many of them they’ll buy. Then schlep any remaining paperbacks to the used paperback exchange store to see what they’ll take. Even that process, though just gets me store credit to . . . wait for it . . . buy more books!!
I have tried in the past couple of years to use my very excellent libraries more, but I still purchase about half the books I read. We have the extra bedroom set up as a combination library/treadmill room. We’re both big readers with a love of just having our favorites around.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:47 amI keep most of the books I read as does my husband. We both like having a houseful of books. It just doesn’t seem right not to. We both grew up with buldging bookshelves thanks to our parents’ love for books as well. So, maybe it’s in our genes?
I’ve gotten better about giving away books that I have no interest in returning to, but a lot of the fiction I keep around, I do want to revist someday. When, I can’t exactly say. I’m not much of a re-reader. The idea that I could be eventually is hard to let go of.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:53 amI don’t re-read very often, either, but it gives me great pleasure to look at and hold my books.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:57 amI like to re-read my favorite books. Although ever since reading all these book blogs my TBR pile is increasingly growing so that I can’t even think about re-reads. I don’t buy many books. I just don’t have much of a budget for that. So I tend to buy ones that I think have a good chance of being re-read. Then I like to circulate my books within the family and friend circle.
I do have books I think I won’t read again, but I don’t really have a good reason why I don’t get rid of them. Something inside me wants to hold onto them.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 10:04 amI’m definitely a re-reader, but there are very few books I love enough to re-read.
I used to be a total book hoarder, but several years back I went through a major bout of decluttering and got rid of the majority of my collection–all but my very, very favorites. I figured if there was anything I wanted to re-read, I could check it out from the library. I have to admit, I now regret giving up some of those books, although many of them I don’t miss at all.
These days, I don’t have much space to store books. I only have room for one small bookshelf, which is overflowing; the rest of the books I can’t bear to part with sit in a box in my closet. As a result, I’m EXTREMELY selective about which books I will buy.
I think one day, when I have more space and more disposable income, I will be happy to let my book collection expand once again, although I think I will also continue to be selective.
I do miss being surrounded by bookshelves though. I find them wonderful to look at, and very Zen — made beautiful by their functionality. I also love to browse, as opposed to having a specific book in mind and bee-lining for it.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 10:09 amAhhh…a house lined with bookshelves….what better decorating tool could one wish for?! When you walk into a house with bookshelves you know you’ve walked into the house of a friend!!
My bookshelves not only hold my “Bookography” – books that I’ve read,love,and tell something about me, but they also hold my “List of Candidates”. That’s what author Steve Leveen calls the books that we are someday planning to read.
This is an accumulation of books that interest me at one time or another. Perhaps they are recommendations from fellow bloggers, from family members or just an idea that struck me. These are books I want to read FOR vacation, DURING vacation and AFTER vacation. Each one will mean more depending on when I read it. These shelves of possibilities are books I want to read to learn something; a new skill or way of looking at something. Who knows what will appeal to me at 9:00 on a Sunday night (when all the libraries are closed.)Will it be a re-read of a book to calm my heart or will it be a new experience with characters unknown? Hmmm…
I love the fact that my kiddos come to my bookshelves looking for what they can harvest and fall into when they come to visit. My kids don’t come over and raid the fridge, they raid the bookshelves and that’s just how I like it!! Thanks for a great question!!
on July 2nd, 2009 at 10:17 amBooks that I’ve read are like friends on your shelf-I like to go down the shelf and remember reading each particular story. Sometimes the book has a story like how my husband wanted me to read Cold Mountain before we get married-so I can’t just give that book to a used book store…it is a part of our relationship. I hope one day my children peruse our shelves and find things they will enjoy as well.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 10:23 amGreat photo – I love your plants. I like to look at my books, too. I like to remember where I was when I first read them – they hold my story, too.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 10:37 amI read because I HNEED to lend. I am the book pusher for many people. It is thrilling.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 10:42 amAnd by ‘read’ I mean ‘hang onto books.’ Also, like apparently EVERYONE, I like to look at them and know that they’re there.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 10:43 amMy house looks a lot like yours, with boxes of picture books from teaching as well. Not sure why I keep them, because I love books, I guess. I do occassionaly sell them at Half Price Books, but most of them I keep. I’m not a re-reader either.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 10:58 amI’m very selective of what I buy and so I am pretty sure at some point in time (when my library and pile of TBR is at some miraculous lull) I will re-read them.
Also, I love having some of my sisters (who haven’t usually got the time to read) ask me for a book and I can hand them a favorite right then. At least then they can have a chance to feel motivated to read, instead of waiting for something from the library. Heck, they may not ever even make it to the library (or at least not the non-picture book section).
on July 2nd, 2009 at 11:03 amI’ve often wonder this myself – why do I NEED to OWN the books? I don’t know why but I do know that when I look at my books I’m happy. When I have a bad day, I go home, sit in front of one of my shelves and pull a book down and remember the story, then I do another one… It just makes me smile! My husband doesn’t understand, but it’s good to know that there are others like me.
Debbie
on July 2nd, 2009 at 11:34 amI’m definitely a book hoarder too, yet I hardly ever re-read. It’s hard to explain why, but I think there’s definitely something special about books and the memories they conjure in people like me.
I’ve moved apartments something like 7 times in the last 7 years, and I always have my heavy book boxes with me — bringing those memories along with me from one new place to the next.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 11:34 amI feel the same way. I love to own books. I love looking, smelling and occasionally picking them up an d re-reading them. It’s not some thing I so often. More often I listen to the books on audio while doing my house work. It’s a good way to reminisce without eating into my actual reading time I don’t buy many books I usually get them at the library. I would need thousands of dollars a year to pay for all the books I read. So when I do buy one that means that it is special to me. I am house hunting right now and there is one house I want to buy just because there is a library in it. I have such an attachment to books that I would never consider get rid of them due to lack of space. Where ever I go I have to take a book with me even if I won’t be able to read there. I feel like I’m missing a limb if I leave without a book. My kids and husband always ask me “Do you have your book?” before we leave.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 11:35 amI only keep the books I love (really love). I keep them because I might want to reread them (but that’s rare)… but mostly I keep them because I loved them, and I want them around me, and I want them to be available to my kids when or if they want to read them. Sometimes, I find myself scanning my shelves thinking about experiences I had when I read such and such book… so they’re kind of like memory keepers for me, too. You should never feel bad about keeping books… they’re worth keeping, even if you never read them again!
on July 2nd, 2009 at 11:49 amI’m not a massive re-reader either, but there are some books I’d never get rid of, my Harry Potters for instance, or my Jasper Ffordes etc. If I’ve read and really really loved something then it gets to stay, a) on the off chance I fancy re-reading something and b) so I can do exactly what you said and gaze and reminisce.
That said, I once thought that about my Discworld books (but once they started numbering 20 odd plus hardbacks I had to start culling them) and if I wasn’t going to keep them all, then they all went!
So, despite loving them, if I have to make a cold decision and get rid, then I will and not worry about it.
The timing has to be right though!
on July 2nd, 2009 at 11:59 amI keep them, if I loved them, because when I look at them I remember the story and it makes me feel inspired. I also save books that I think I would like to share with someone else, perhaps my daughter, someday.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 12:18 pmI’m a re-reader so that is a big reason why I buy/keep books. Another reason is to be able to recommend and loan out my favorites to fellow readers. I also, like you, just enjoy having them and looking at them. I would love to line every wall with book shelves and fill them up, but Chad would never go for it. In my dream home I will have a library (notice I say “will” because it WILL happen…some day…)
on July 2nd, 2009 at 12:58 pmI don’t reread books either. Since we’ve moved cross country recently, I scaled back on all of my books. I’m a frequent library patron and rarely buy books for myself (I’m struggling with when to buy them for our son, since he of course rereads and rereads and rereads). I think it’s funny that when you look at our bookshelves, they’re full of my husband’s books, since he rereads often, so it gives the impression that I’m not much of a reader. Anyway, I really am commenting to make sure you’ve read that Cicero quote: “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”
on July 2nd, 2009 at 12:59 pmI too collect books, some which I have never read. I have a friend who says I put these “never read” books by my nightstand with the hope that I will absorb the book by osmisis. The funny thing is that I keep those “never read” books feeling that I will get to them at some point, but the fact is, if I don’t read them when I get them, I probably never will. Sometimes the fun is in the hunt for new books and I have to be satisfied with that.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 1:14 pmBy now, other people have already given variations on my answer, but it’s nice to know I’m not alone
.
I prefer to live surrounded by books, although most of the books I’m surrounded by now are ones I haven’t read yet. I own books mostly for convenience; I like having them around, 24/7/365, so I can pick what I want to read whenever the mood strikes me. The fact that there are some books that I’ve had for over five years and the “mood” hasn’t struck yet is irrelevant – hey, who knows when it will happen
?
With so many unread books around, I rarely re-read any more. I usually give away or donate my books when I’m done with them; the ones I keep are pretty special.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 1:17 pmI was just talking about this last night with my husband. (Yes, packing all the books can lead to such conversations.) I’m like you, I rarely reread, but I like to own books. I can’t quite articulate the why behind that, though; still thinking it through.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 1:18 pmHubby and I are both book buyers & savers. I re-read occasionally, though he hardly ever does. He prefers to buy his books because he likes to keep them as “little trophies” to show off his accomplishment. And because he believes in keeping books in pristine condition.
I’m the opposite. I write in my books. I make notes and underline important passages, and I do go back to find those when I’m thinking about a related issue. And yes, I also love the look of a full bookshelf and what it says to people who enter my home.
I’m not sure who said it, but I once heard that graduate students are awful dinner party guests because they don’t stop looking at the bookshelves. I’m the same way, and I hope my bookshelves speak something about who I am and how I’ve gotten here.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 1:30 pmI don’t re-read as much as I want to, but I will only keep a book if I know I will re-read it. If I don’t think I will re-read a book, I’ll donate it. I can’t imagine keeping a book that I know I won’t re-read. I rather make space for a book I really enjoyed. My bookcases are mixed with books I loved and those I haven’t read yet. I feel that I’m slowly but surely building my dream library, filled with only books I love.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 1:35 pmPart of why I like to own books is because I like to write in them. I highlight passages that I really like, or make a note about my thoughts in the margin. I don’t reread, but when I pick up a book to “reminisce” it’s helpful to have (helpful for blogging if I don’t post about it right away).
on July 2nd, 2009 at 1:47 pmMe too! I love being surrounded by books, even though there are few I will ever re-read due to the fact that I haven’t read more than half of the books I own, and they come first. I just keep getting more and can’t keep up!
on July 2nd, 2009 at 2:23 pmI have three floor to ceiling bookshelves–all crammed. One of the shelves is nonfiction books–not what I’d re-read, but what I might need to refer to later. But the other are all fiction–and I love re-reading books!
Of course, if I’m honest, there are some on that shelf I’ve not re-read and probably won’t. Maybe I should give them away…but I DO like the look of surrounding myself with books!
on July 2nd, 2009 at 4:18 pmMy books are like old friends. I like having them around me. I like being able to put a hand out, and dip into one to find a passage I want to illustrate a point I am making. When a visitor comes by, old or young, I love to say “Wait, I think I have a book you will enjoy.” before dashing off to get it for them.
But I definitely re-read. Not so much the children’s books I review, as my old adult favourites. If I am ever so sick I need to stay in bed, I reach out for a great book to take my mind off my troubles.
Every so often, because I live in a house and not a warehouse, I have to send some off to The Old Books Home, and it is like pulling teeth. I usually end up sitting on the floor next to an empty carton, reading!
on July 2nd, 2009 at 4:21 pmI’m with you:-) I rarely have time to re-read my books, even my favorites…too many come in every day for review.
Yet, I must own them…and I must own them the minute they become available….it’s so hard to wait.
But I’m prying some of them out of my bookshelf to bless others…because I’ve finally truly run out of room:-)
on July 2nd, 2009 at 4:49 pmGreat post. I do like to re-read books, although I rarely do now with my TBR pile so big (which is actually one of the major reasons my TBR pile stresses me out). That’s not really the reason I keep books, though. I think it has more do with the fact that I just like books. I like to look at them and I like the smell of paper.
My papa, on the other hand, is the exact opposite–he never keeps a book, even if he loves it. He used to just throw them away, but now he gives them to me. Personally I think it’s bizarre, even though I am benefiting from it. If he wants to re-read a book, he re-buys it.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 6:43 pmI’m with you, I rarely reread anything but I LOVE to own books. I think its the memories as well. I like to look, touch, think about past books. The only books I’ve reread are the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. Owning books is calming. Its exciting to purchase (new or used) but calming to look at.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 8:21 pmI don’t re-read, so I get rid of my books after I read them. Of course, I still have shelves and drawers and piles of unread books all around the house.
Also, we’ve moved a lot and books are a drag to pack and carry, so I never wanted to accumulate too many. However, they’ve multiplied so much in the last 4 years I dread the day when Hamburger wants to sell and buy another fixer-upper.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:49 pmI keep only my favorite books. It’s embarrassing to say that most of the books in y life and we’re talking in the hundreds if not thousands, are books I haven’t read.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 10:02 pmI have this same exact problem! Glad to know I’m not alone.
I used to reread books all the time, but lately my TBR list is so long that I’ll probably rarely get around to rereading a book again. But can’t give them up either…
on July 2nd, 2009 at 10:42 pmI do like to reread books. I’d love to own thousands, but finances preclude this, so when I buy, I try to buy books that I do think I’ll reread, or at least those that someone else in my family will also read. For other books I use my local library.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 10:52 pmI only reread occasionally. Like you, I think recently the only books I have reread have been the Harry Potters and books I read earlier in life. Other exceptions include books I am reading again with my daughter and picture books.
I get sad sending books back to the library as well. I wanted to buy Madapple and The Host because I enjoyed my library copies so much, but my husband wouldn’t let me because “You already read them…what do you need them for?” I can’t explain it either. I just like to own them. I even own books that I don’t like. Maybe I should sell them to the used book store and buy some of the ones I want….Hrm…
on July 2nd, 2009 at 11:11 pmI am the EXACT same way. And I don’t know why. That’s why I like BookCrossing (www.bookcrossing.com) for all the books I KNOW I don’t want to keep. But still, some of the books are good, but I won’t reread them… If you figure out why, let me know!
on July 2nd, 2009 at 11:57 pmI am a re-reader, but since my TBR pile (including all those review books) is so huge these days I don’t get much chance to revisit my favorites. I do enjoy it though; I have books that I’ve read 8+ times.
Like apparently everyone else, I also love to live surrounded by books and really enjoy just looking at them and remembering their stories.
on July 3rd, 2009 at 2:05 amI actually do only hold on to the ones I think I will read again, the ones I really loved or the classics. Everything else I pass along to others to read. This is not to say that I don’t have a house full of books! My husband has several collections of old books, I collect old children’s books, we have loads of non-fiction we keep, my husband has a sci-fi collection and the TBR shelves are overflowing!
on July 3rd, 2009 at 8:52 amI decided a few years ago to put my faith in an awesome urban public library system and realize that I didn’t need to keep copies of old classics and popular novels that I’m not totally in love with, because, really, if I ever wanted to re-read The Scarlet Letter, I could find it within 24 hours without fail. So at this point, the books on my shelf are either books I love or loved passionately, relate to one of my particular areas of interest (SF/fantasy, kid’s books, poetry, books about books), or are otherwise rare and would be hard to replace.
I used to be a huge re-reader as a child, not so much anymore, but I always hope to start again… and I’m definitely hanging on to certain things for my kids someday (every Roald Dahl book, for example).
on July 3rd, 2009 at 9:24 amI keep only books I plan to reread. Back in the day, I used to keep everything. I held onto books I loved, books I hated, books I never actually intended to read but liked the look of… the whole shebang. I loved looking at them, and I loved knowing I owned certain things.
Then, about four or five years back, I ran out of space. I took a good, hard look at my bookshelves and decided I needed to do something. I went through and removed anything I knew I didn’t want to reread or refer back to, and I was really surprised at how good it felt. My library now reflected me. It wasn’t just random stuff I’d read; it was books I genuinely loved (or at least rather liked). Looking through my shelves became an unmixed pleasure, because everything on them was a treasured possession.
I also liked knowing that the books I’d passed along would end up with people who’d probably enjoy them more than I did. It’s a bit silly, but whenever I pass along something I won’t reread I feel like I’m giving back to the book community. I didn’t love this, but maybe whoever mooched it from me, or purchased it from the charity shop I donated it to, will discover their new favourite book. I like that that possibility exists.
So that’s my keeping policy, in a (rather lengthier than I intended) nutshell.
on July 3rd, 2009 at 12:52 pmI also love being surrounded by books. For me, it’s like being surrounded by friends. After all, the reading of a good book can take a long time and it feels as if I’ve spent time with those people. I do re-read my favorites from time to time. Again, it’s like visiting old friends.
on July 4th, 2009 at 7:55 amLike you, I can’t resist coming home from a sale with piles and piles of books. But I do re-read, and usually end up keeping for good only the ones that will get read again (or so I hope!) And I love having people see the shelves and shelves of books when they walk into my house, and instantly knowing (amid the greetings of cats) where my passions lie.
on July 4th, 2009 at 8:23 amI don’t re-read much, it’s true, and yet like you, I LOVE to own books! It’s really hard for me to sell or give them away! And I only borrow when I’m not sure about a book, or when I really have no money to put on more books.
My books also act like “souvenirs”. I have a good enough memory, and I usually remember when or where I read a book – some more specifically than others, though. So from time to time, I like to pick a book and flip through the pages, read a few excerpts and think “Oh, I remember I read this one in Colorado 2 years ago”! My books really are part of my life – and I think it goes the same way for many readers!
on July 4th, 2009 at 1:58 pmWow, I wish I had that much book shelf space! I am a rereader although not as much since I’ve discovered the book blogging world. I only keep my favorites and the rest go to giveaways and sold to a used book store. I also like to keep my favorites so I can loan them out to friends.
on July 4th, 2009 at 3:45 pmI was just talking to my husband about building me some more bookshelves…
on July 4th, 2009 at 3:46 pmNatasha I love your bookshelves and that does scream READER!!
I am now in the habit of trying not to keep my books that I have because I don’t reread them. I figure I replace just as fast as I give away.
The only books I will keep are Michael’s so that he can pass his books on to his children when he is older. My mother never kept any of my books so this is important to me to do for Michael.
I do have books that I can never give away and those are signed books, arcs and VC Andrews books plus a few others.
on July 5th, 2009 at 8:48 pmI think I, quite simply, have an irrational attachment to my books. I just love looking at my bookcase full with all these different stories (some I’ve read others I haven’t) and it just screams of potential. There is a whole great big world behind those glass doors waiting to be explored and shared and I couldn’t bear to let any of it go.
on July 6th, 2009 at 5:04 pmI don’t re-read very much — I think Catcher in the Rye was the most recent. And because I have access to so manay books as a blogger, I’ve become much more particular about those I keep. They tend to be books that I might lend to friends and relatives. I always like to have something on hand when asked, “Read any good books lately?”
on July 6th, 2009 at 5:35 pmI have to admit that I only keep books that I plan to one day read again. I tend to give away those that I didn’t like very much or that don’t interest me enough to want to read again. However, I am such a book snob that I don’t necessarily like to get books from the library and would rather spend the money if only to give the book away later than to take the chance that I may love the book and won’t own it. This way, I am surrounded by books I love that I can pick up again whenever I am in the mood.
on July 6th, 2009 at 8:19 pmI only reread a handful of books. The books on my bookshelves tend to be the children’s books, my husband’s books, or reference books. And we don’t have ANY books on display, apart from the cookery books in the kitchen. The rest are squirreled away in the garage or the loft. All of my paperback fiction books will eventually be put on the book-swapping website I use. I put too much emotional importance on keeping these books that I’ll never read again. I don’t need to see my books all the time for me to know that this is a house where books are loved and read.
on July 7th, 2009 at 7:16 amBecause there’s always that possibility that you MAY reread it!
on July 7th, 2009 at 8:32 amI am also a book “keeper” – much to the chagrin of my husband. I have certain authors that I collect – some since I was a teenager (think Stephen King, John Saul, VC Andrews) and others since I have married and had children – Nora Roberts, Jodi Picoult, Nicholas Sparks, James Patterson, John Grisholm, etc etc. I think I keep them because I hope someday my children will want to read them – or when they see them they will think of me! I have shelves upstairs in the hallway, main floor in both family rooms, and shelves in the playroom in the basement. I was just telling my husband I think we should put in some “built in” shelves in one of the family rooms… He just gave me that ‘look’ – you know the one! Enjoy your reading!
on July 7th, 2009 at 2:03 pmIn my opinion, a house does not become a home until my books are on their shelves! Books are my safe haven, so why not keep them? As I look at them, I often find myself returning to the story and thinking about the adventures within! What’s more relaxing or grounding than that?!?!
on July 9th, 2009 at 12:52 pmThey make me so happy. Silly, but true.
on July 13th, 2009 at 6:13 pm