My thoughts...on book hoarding.
Just what am I talking about today?
Well, not hoarding per say, because don't get me wrong,
I love to collect books. Even once I have read them, I still have that special connection to them and just can't give them up. I love books tremendously and always have. Many of my older books I don't even keep on my bookshelf because of the simple fact that some are torn and tattered and just don't look pretty. I don't want people coming over and looking at a bookshelf with worn out books. I want my shelf to look pretty with all of my newer books that are in great shape. Maybe I'm crazy here, but I feel like having people see my bookshelves just might encourage people to read. Therefore, I want them to look nicer. I am truly amazed by how many people come over and see all my books and jump into conversations about reading. With that said, collecting is OK. Just not hoarding. Now, on with my point!
I agree with this. I have LOADS in my TBR pile, I have some that I've had for over a year that are STILL in my TBR pile, but I WILL read them eventually.
ReplyDeleteI've had some that I've started to read and it wasn't my cup of tea, so instead of keeping a book I 'm never going to finish, I give it away to a library or someone who would read it.
I agree! I don't see the point in getting a book if you're not going to read it but there are exceptions I think like a friend of mine has the Japanese edition for Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, now she can't read Japanese so she's never going to read the book, she just loves the cover. I also have the US and UK editions of the Study series by Maria V. Snyder but I do have plans to give a set of the books away because as you say there are people out there who would want to read them and I only loved the first book even if I love the covers for both sets.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest book hoarder I can think of is a character actually. I don't know if you have ever read of Inkheart but there is a character named Eleanor who lives in a big house and all her walls are nothing but book shelves and all of her rooms are filled with books. And she's always collecting more but never to read them.
ooh, I might be considered a book hoarder. A lot of the contests and giveaways I win are for giveaways for teens at my library. So, currently I'm hoarding books--but only until our next Book Bid next summer!
ReplyDeleteAnd there are TONS of books on my to-read pile that I guess you could say I'm hoarding--although I say that I'm just in need of more time to read!!
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with the number of books in my TBR pile, but like mentioned about if I cannot finish if I pass it along.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually planning to go through my shelves this weekend and possibly do some giveaways or some such thing. I only plan to keep those that are signed, mean something to me or I will read again. :)
I was just thinking about getting rid of some of my books that I have that I don't intend to read again. I agree completely. I do have a massive amount of books TBR, but I will read them.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree. I have been trying to give some to the school or giveaways. I have so many on my TBR pile some I bought over two years ago - I think its time I give those up and check them out from the library when I get a chance to read them.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone! Love your comments! I have some to giveaway too! Just didn't get into them, so why not let someone who might love it, read it.
ReplyDeleteVery well said!!!!Unfortunately I am far too greedy with my books to give them away! lol! Unless I have two copies of a book... then maybe I'll think about it ;) lol!
ReplyDeleteI enter giveaways to win books that I actually want to read. If the book being given away is one that I know I won't want to read...I don't enter the giveaway. I have too many books and not enough space to keep books that I don't want to read. My mom gave me a huge box of books *50* books or more and I ended up giving most of them to my local library because they were some that I didn't want to read and were in good shape and wanted to make room on my shelves for books I want to keep and read. Libraries love getting books.
ReplyDeleteWell said Mary! The whole giveaway issue is another rambling completely. You've said my thoughts exactly!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I want to have a library in my house someday, but only of books that I love and will read more than once, or that have been autographed with a personal note from the author. I am actually really picky about the books that I'll keep. I have to really love it, and I have to know I'll read it more than once in order to keep it. That's why I don't buy books very often and just use the library. I'd like to add more books to my collection, but I need to make sure I have the space first. And I also make a rule for myself when I run out of space: I can't buy anything else until I can get rid of a at least one book. I can think of one person who drives me crazy with how she hoards books--buying books she already owns when her first copy is still in good condition, and not reading a lot of the books that she gets. I always look at her bookshelves and think, "Why did you need another copy of that if there was nothing wrong with the first copy and you're not donating it? And why are you keeping the books you don't even like? The library would love to have them!"
ReplyDeleteThis is so true - the ones who really bemuse me are people who keep books around that they don't read just so that they look well read. Honestly, you can tell if someone never bothered to read the book. Either get stuck in or donate them to charity.
ReplyDeleteAdmittedly, I do have doubles of some of my fav books, but that's because I like to lend them out to friends and keep a copy for me to read in the meantime. I'm a bit of book evangelist!
I don't think I'm a book hoarder. I have spent a lot of money over the past ten years on books. In high school, I would save up my allownance (from doing chores) for the trips we'd make to Barnes and Noble. I'd drop 70 dollars at a time instead of putting the money in the bank for college. Oh, to be young and without responsibilities! Every book I purchased, I had the intention to read it. Most of the books I have read. And of those books that I have read I've kept half. The other half I've donated to the library so other kiddos get the chance to read the book. As for the books I've not gotten around to, I still want to read. I just don't have the motivation or interest at this point to time to read em'. And when I finally do, I will probably pass about half of them on to the library =]
ReplyDelete- Jackie