i buy tons of books, read them once and RARELY do I read them again, i think I just like having the impression of "oh check this out this guy buys books he's smart" even though you'll probably find hunger games on my shelf or some shit like that
Once I moved here and fell in love with the library, my book collection stopped growing (or at least slowed to a snail like pace). I got rid of a lot of books as well, and only kept the ones that were special to me, hard to find, or I knew I would actually read again (a very small collection). It's freed up a lot of space in the house and there's a lot less dust.
And I love books! I love reading! I don't even have or want an e-reader!
I hate bookshelves unless they're an architectural element. I'm not going to lie, I keep lots of books I'm never going to read again simply because one day I'm going to fill an entire god damn room with them because it looks nice. And smells nice.
My living room in my house has one wall that is all bookshelves, and that holds DVDs, CDs, books, video games, and various and assorted bits and bobs. I've got some way to go before I can fill that with purely books, though.
it depends on if you are a re-reader or not. i re-read books all the time, or use them for reference in things, so it makes sense for me to have them easily accessible. but if you don't re-read stuff, it doesn't seem odd to not have them. i get rid of books i didn't enjoy or wouldn't ever re-read...
Nah, nothing odd about that at all. I couldn't really tell you why I insist on buying as many as I do, but I do agree with Mace that at least part of it is having the physical object in my hands and on my shelves.
It's hardly odd. I used to love books until I got an e-reader, and now I love them a good deal less. They're heavy, they take up a lot of space, when you read paper books you have to hold them open and turn the pages (which I have learned to hate), and every time you get new ones (in my home, at least) you have to go through the process of shifting the shelves down.
However, my husband and I between us have a downright obsessive collection of books(and our own library catalog!) because libraries freak me out, not everything is available on the Kindle, and because it's just kind of awesome to have so much information that isn't on the internet at your fingertips.
And yeah, I'm not a big re-reader, or an e-reader...I think it's mostly that I get frustrated with myself when I buy books I don't read. Why did I buy something to just take up space?! But at the same time, I like people's bookshelves and then I'm like..hmmm mine is so sad and empty.
Also, @twigby - I actually WISH I had copies of the Hunger Games because I want to re-read them but like, I'm not going to buy the HUNGER GAMES when I've already read it...
I worked in a public library too long to think of them as a friendly, welcoming and safe place any longer. As far as academic libraries go (and this is the stupidest thing, but is really a major obstacle in my life): I'm not familiar with proper school library etiquette, nor do I know where the circulation desk is. Until I figure those things out somehow without asking anyone, I will be buying books rather than checking them out. 3 years at my current university, and I've been in the library exactly twice.
That's sad about both! Though I understand the public part, after the porn incident of this summer. But! University libraries are THE BEST, because they always have a bunch of the books that you can't get from the public library, and no one checks them out there because they think university libraries are only for serious academic things. Also, online catalogs. Just look things up there and you probably won't ever have to talk to anyone. Well, I guess to check something out you would.
posted on Friday, Feb 10th by erica
I mean, for someone who actually does enjoy reading.
to me it's actually probably econimcally sound
i buy tons of books, read them once and RARELY do I read them again, i think I just like having the impression of "oh check this out this guy buys books he's smart" even though you'll probably find hunger games on my shelf or some shit like that
Once I moved here and fell in love with the library, my book collection stopped growing (or at least slowed to a snail like pace). I got rid of a lot of books as well, and only kept the ones that were special to me, hard to find, or I knew I would actually read again (a very small collection). It's freed up a lot of space in the house and there's a lot less dust.
And I love books! I love reading! I don't even have or want an e-reader!
I hate bookshelves unless they're an architectural element. I'm not going to lie, I keep lots of books I'm never going to read again simply because one day I'm going to fill an entire god damn room with them because it looks nice. And smells nice.
My living room in my house has one wall that is all bookshelves, and that holds DVDs, CDs, books, video games, and various and assorted bits and bobs. I've got some way to go before I can fill that with purely books, though.
For somebody who likes reading, it's towards the odd. At least to my mind. not bad, mind, just different.
it depends on if you are a re-reader or not. i re-read books all the time, or use them for reference in things, so it makes sense for me to have them easily accessible. but if you don't re-read stuff, it doesn't seem odd to not have them. i get rid of books i didn't enjoy or wouldn't ever re-read...
I have a tendency to give books away. I have a few book swap friends. It works out pretty well.
GET THEE BEHIND ME, SATAN!
Nah, nothing odd about that at all. I couldn't really tell you why I insist on buying as many as I do, but I do agree with Mace that at least part of it is having the physical object in my hands and on my shelves.
It's hardly odd. I used to love books until I got an e-reader, and now I love them a good deal less. They're heavy, they take up a lot of space, when you read paper books you have to hold them open and turn the pages (which I have learned to hate), and every time you get new ones (in my home, at least) you have to go through the process of shifting the shelves down.
However, my husband and I between us have a downright obsessive collection of books(and our own library catalog!) because libraries freak me out, not everything is available on the Kindle, and because it's just kind of awesome to have so much information that isn't on the internet at your fingertips.
The smell of books brings back many memories both good and bad.
@daily, i love parsnips because they taste like the smell of old books.
I cant say that I have had the urge to eat a page out of a old book, although I am sure that there are baby pictures to prove me otherwise.
@hey_oblomov - why do libraries freak you out?
And yeah, I'm not a big re-reader, or an e-reader...I think it's mostly that I get frustrated with myself when I buy books I don't read. Why did I buy something to just take up space?! But at the same time, I like people's bookshelves and then I'm like..hmmm mine is so sad and empty.
Also, @twigby - I actually WISH I had copies of the Hunger Games because I want to re-read them but like, I'm not going to buy the HUNGER GAMES when I've already read it...
I worked in a public library too long to think of them as a friendly, welcoming and safe place any longer. As far as academic libraries go (and this is the stupidest thing, but is really a major obstacle in my life): I'm not familiar with proper school library etiquette, nor do I know where the circulation desk is. Until I figure those things out somehow without asking anyone, I will be buying books rather than checking them out. 3 years at my current university, and I've been in the library exactly twice.
That's sad about both! Though I understand the public part, after the porn incident of this summer. But! University libraries are THE BEST, because they always have a bunch of the books that you can't get from the public library, and no one checks them out there because they think university libraries are only for serious academic things. Also, online catalogs. Just look things up there and you probably won't ever have to talk to anyone. Well, I guess to check something out you would.
I'm a huge fan of libraries. I have favorite chairs at all the libraries and book stores I go to.