Comments on: Why Do I Own Books When I Rarely Reread?

By: Tasses

Tasses — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:13:37 +0000

They make me so happy. Silly, but true.

By: Tif

Tif — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:52:18 +0000

In 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?!?!

By: Kristi

Kristi — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:03:31 +0000

I 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!

By: Kari

Kari — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:32:24 +0000

Because there’s always that possibility that you MAY reread it!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:16:06 +0000

I 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.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 02:19:05 +0000

I 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.

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:35:34 +0000

I 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?”

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:04:49 +0000

I 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.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:48:24 +0000

Natasha 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.

By: J.T. Oldfield

J.T. Oldfield — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:46:45 +0000

I was just talking to my husband about building me some more bookshelves…