Musing Mondays (Apr. 21)
• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it!
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it!
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!
Confession of a Bookaholic --
Honestly there should be a twelve step program for people like me. I am a hopeless, weak individual completely taken in by the glitz of a cover or the promise of an alluring dust jacket synopsis. I should be ashamed of myself. Really.
Here we are, on the morning of the day we are planning to build yet more book shelves for our ever growing collection and I just can't help myself. I have had one of each generation of Nook -- each bought with the idea that the new one had more upgrades and features and by using an e-reader I would somehow purchase fewer physical books to add to our ever-expanding library which could be considered a public library branch in size. So, considering that we are planning this bookcase for the last remaining piece of free wall space in our little house, I thought I should possibly pay closer attention to the e-reader so I went exploring Barnes and Noble's Nook Book section and much to my horror -- there it was --a virtual sale table. OMG -- there is a page of books under $2.99 --- some free.
Have you ever had a moment that you lost control and couldn't stop it, somewhat like Alice falling down the rabbit hole? Yes, there I was. I now have about a half dozen new books on my Nook. Wellllll, I whine, isn't that was it was for? To reduce the number of physical books? Ugh.
I have come to the conclusion that there is no help for people like me, no solution. I just have to accept myself as I am, a weak individual, a wimp, when it comes to printed material. It is part of who I am, right? Is it really so bad, though? I could have a weak desire for other things much worse, right? Designer handbags or shoes. Jewelry, Yachts and houses in the Hamptons? Ok, not quite the same thing but you see what I mean -- having too many books, too little space to put them and not enough time to read them is hardly the worst of the problems that I could have.
So I guess it isn't such a terrible affliction after all. I mean, too many books could be useful -- to share with others, to use as decoration, to prop up table legs -- or to keep me current, to keep my mind sharp and to give me something to fill the hours and take me to places/situations that I would never dream of being. Such a wonderful escape -- books.
Yes, I don't think I feel bad at all about my lack of control in procuring books of any sort -- physical or virtual. They bring such pleasure -- if even just looking at the cover art. What have I learned from this? That if I talk to myself long enough, I just justify almost anything!
5 comments:
I could not have said it better myself. I turned my living room/dining room into a office library with 3 wall of shelves and have added more. I own a Nook, a Kindle and a iPad all full of books, many unread. There is not hope for us. I am thinking about doing a Little Free Library on the street at my house. I can keep it stocked if people just take books and don't leave any.
JC Jones -- I do loan books out and for the most part am not concerned if they don't come back. There is a bin in a shopping center here, like Goodwill, that is for donating books so I don't think we are alone in our affliction!
One of the things I love about books is lending them to others... I read some books thinking X will enjoy this. As you say there are worse addictions to have!
I love lending my books to others so it is good to have full shelves so they have plenty of options although there are some friends that I think of when I read a book and think X will enjoy that one. As you say there are worse addictions to have
There's nothing wrong with buying books! As long as you read them :)
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