...and I'm a book-aholic.
But I have no intention of entering any kind of program or counseling to change this addiction. In fact, I recently joined the local library's "Friends" group so I can encourage the addiction. I did this after going to the used book sale...twice...The first time was with a mere $20 in my pocket. I reasoned I would be naturally limited in what I purchased as a result. Oh, it's so much fun to live in my delusions. At $1 for hardcover books and 50 cents for paperbacks there were too many bargains to be had. I just whipped out my checkbook. All I can say is it's a good thing they don't accept credit cards. Shoes and clothing hold no allure in shopping but I am not to be trusted with a credit card in a book store.
When I returned a couple of days later it was $4 a bag day. I took my own bag, which was smaller than the bags they offer. I still crammed it to overflowing. I have 50 new-to-me books sitting on my dining room table waiting to be shelved (on shelves which have a decided lack of space). This does not count the dozen children's books I purchased, some to give away, some to add to my own collection. (Yes, I collect Caldecott Winner and Honor books because even as a grown up I love a well done picture book and some day I will have grandchildren who need to be read to. If my children never reproduce I will go out and find little people who need to be read to.) In the den, I have an entire wall of shelves that are full. I have a small shelf unit in the living room that is full. My living room has stacks of books on the floor. My night stand has more stacks of books.
I dream of building my own house, not so I can have some huge mansion but so I can customize spots for all my books. I'd make spots like this, or this, or this, or ooohh...this...and furnish the house with this, or this.
I found out the county library is considering moving one of its branches to across the street from my office. I could indulge during lunch hour! Oh happy day!
I am itching for my annual visit to Maryland so I can take a huge stack of books to chew through while I sit on the beach.
If loving books is wrong, I don't want to be right.
21 comments:
Have you visited the Books on the Nightstand blog, or listened to their podcasts? They are also on Facebook now too.
I'm also assuming you subscribe to Amazon's omnivoracious newsletter?
From one book addict to another ;)
Aw, see, now I hafta wipe up the drool from my keyboard. . .
My grandfather's house had two large rooms, one upstairs, and one on the main floor, as well as a little hide-away room in the basement, in which all the walls were floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.
I can't say that I inherited that gene, but I did learn from his example. You'd love my study - darn little open wall space in there; I hand-built three shelves to custom-fit the available spaces. . .
Sigh... envy! I love bags and bags of books. So far I have stayed away from the book stores here. My youngest bought me a Kindle for my birthday last year and keeps me in books for free. I love it, but I miss the feel of real books and how they smell sometimes.
We had what my parents called "the children's library" in my home as I grew up and it was filled with wonderful selections. (It was actually two large bookcases). I've been a book addict ever since.
Btw... Do you own Verdi? I'm betting you do. I'm fairly sure it was a Caldacott winner. I too love the picture books that win. Fabulous art work to share with little loved ones. What could be better?
oooooo
library porn
There was a period of time the idea of buying a Kindle was a joke for me. I like real books that you can hold and keep if it happens to become important to me.
When I finally bought the cheapest version of the Kindle I was floored with the number of very cheap books from unknown authors.
A few of the unknowns couldn't write a sentence to save their lives but the majority of them are great writers. My wife has gotten on me several times with my near obsession with reading as many of these unknown authors who have novels that fascinate me.
Now while I have accepted the idea of owning e-books, along with hosting the idea of publishing one myself, I still have the issue of not actually owning something I can put on a bookshelf.
I love those 'Friends of the Library' book sales! Have bought most of my travel books that way and bought lots of the kids' books that way back in the day, when they actually read......
Happy Reading!!!!
I too am a book addict .. and I love my addiction Since getting my iPad I've become an eBook addict .. so now I have literal/real piles and ePiles .. I donate books I know I wont re-read to our local library ..
Before I moved I had a room with two entire walls, floor to ceiling, given over to books. I managed to donate/give away about 75% of them. Now buy pretty much everything on my Kindle or Kobo. It's cheaper (not much in the way of cheap cheap book sales here) and leaves me more money to feed my art book addiction.
It just never ends, does it.
Before I moved I had a room with two entire walls, floor to ceiling, given over to books. I managed to donate/give away about 75% of them. Now buy pretty much everything on my Kindle or Kobo. It's cheaper (not much in the way of cheap cheap book sales here) and leaves me more money to feed my art book addiction.
It just never ends, does it.
I was gonna go over and count the books in the book case, but the stacks of books on the floor are in the way.
I did manage to reduce the number of books I read, though. I subscribed to The Economist and read it from cover to cover each week.
Bookworm heaven, eh? :)
I love the idea of wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling books, but I'm the singular bibliophile in my domicile.
Those pics at the links are so cool! I went to their site, and looked at some of the others. I like the idea of cutting a circular hole in the ceiling and extending bookshelves up into the attic. We have a truss roof, so I can't touch it, but I had fun imagining what it could look like.
I have boxes of books in my garage, because we had too many in the house, and I didn't want to let these lovelies go. (sigh) I really should donate them or something.
Last August we were in Portland and went to Powell's. I can't really explain just how big it is or what's there. I just know that the two hours I was there wasn't enough ...and that was just in the children's books.
I thought "50 Shades of Grey" was only a Trilogy... ;-D
I used to be an avid reader and then life just intervened. But I joined a reading challenge because of my sister, and vowed to read 24 books this year. I'm on 22 now, so I may need to set the bar a little higher next year!
i don't see the problem here....
Oh...My...Goodness...
I had no idea there was bookshelf porn. I am sitting here with a literary (as opposed to literal) woody. Once again, you have poisoned my mind with visuals I had no idea existed until now - and I thank you, most sincerely.
A good adiction to have Michelle. We also have that. Enjoy them all - Dave
OK. you have captured me. Definitely adding you to my blog roll.
Why can I not remember if you're on Goodreads?
Anyhow: GREAT job scoring stacks from the stacks! Until last year, I always worked the book sale, hoping that checking out other people's sales would curb my own purchases.
Yea, right.
Love it! I scored twice this week. Took a paper sack into the bookstore for trade and came home with a stack. Today at the Midnight Sun festival found a "book guy" that buys big quantities of books, picks out the ones he likes and sells the rest. Got a stack of Alaska nonfiction that I can't wait to dive into. Right after I finish the second of the Fifty Shades of Grey series!
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