I buy every book I want to read. I don’t always read the book right away but I usually get to it eventually. Though unfortunately not always.
A friend was visiting and asked if I had read every book I own. When I said no they said they’ve read every book on their shelves. Then asked why I bought them at all? I felt kind of badly about it.
So now I’m wondering if this is a bad habit that’s wasting my money. Should I be more selective?
by linttim
17 Comments
I buy all the books I have and when I finish them and don’t care enough for them I just donate them. But there are some that I have started and haven’t finished, like I have all of in Pursuit of Lost Time by Marcel Proust and only read the first two books so far, as well as Italian Folktales by Italo Calvino and another book of Persian mythology. I just like having book shelves filled.
I have a bookcase of TBR books. If I get 20-30 pages in and am not feeling it I set it aside to go in our little library. I only keep the 4 star and up books I’ve read on my shelves. Anything under 4 star also goes to the little library.
I expect to read them all.
No. But I intend to, and I will die trying!
You’ll become more selective the more you read. I have eithee read the books I buy or get, or will read them.
Ugh. Stop reminding me of why I’m a terrible human being lol!!
For real, though, I love books. I don’t need to have read a book cover to cover to feel like I’ve gotten my money’s worth. A lot of books that I own are books that can be read here and there and in chunks (mostly non-fiction) so I get a little something out of them each time I pick one up, if even just for an hour every other year or whatever.
I’m the same way with video games. I’ve accepted that I don’t finish a lot of games, but I like to play what I want, when I want, so I have over 1,000 video games but have “finished” maybe 3% of them, if that.
If push came to shove and I lost everything in a fire or flood or other catastrophe, I probably wouldn’t replace most of them, but since I’m comfortably lower-middle class, it doesn’t hurt anyone to have them around to peruse when I like.
Now, when people start assuming I’m *smart* just because I have a lot of books on science and math, that’s when I have to start correcting people lol!
For novels, I tend to read as I buy them. I do have a TBR shelf for graphic novels and comics though.
I definitively expect to read them all. Sometimes I start one and don’t like it though so I can’t say I actually finished every book I own.
I have a kindle as well as a full bookshelf.
One thing I like to do is download samples on my kindle and if I I like the sample (and am patient enough) I will get the actual copy rather then buying every book I think I might like and then ending up with lots of unread ones.
I think most people, including myself, who read have a small stack of unread books. I try to keep mine around five. If you’re filling entire bookcases with them maybe it’s time to think about your shopping habits. We live in the 21st century, a few mouse clicks and the book will be at your doorstep within a few days. I don’t see the need to pre-buy a lot of books just to sit on the shelf for months and years given how easy it is to just buy them when you plan to actually read them.
I don’t buy most of the books I read so yes if I own a book I have read it. But there’s nothing wrong with owning lots of books you want to read but haven’t gotten to yet. If you can afford it and that’s how you want to spend your money then it’s really nobody’s business.
I expect to read all my books.
Think of it like buying wine for a wine cellar. You can only drink wine so fast so you store the rest.
I buy books because it can be hard to find hardcovers as the book ages, maybe I want a first printing, maybe I like a specific edition’s cover. Maybe I want to support the author at the time the book’s released to help encourage future books by them. And finally maybe I just like buying books and putting them on my bookshelf.
Two answers.. Yes. I expect to read every book I buy. Also, BUYING/COLLECTING books and reading books are two different hobbies.
I don’t think you should be more selective if you don’t want to! Personally I have way too many books and I’ll probably never read them all but for me collecting books is almost a hobby too! I also really enjoy having loads of selection when it comes to choosing books, as I’m very much a mood reader. It’s fun to browse my shelves haha
I generally then only keep books that I loved, other than that I donate them or pass onto people who I think will enjoy them
I already have.
I keep books that I want to read on a wishlist. Only when I think of reading I buy them. I sometimes buy up to 5 tops if price is good but they are automatically becoming my top-to-read as soon as I can. I never have more than 5 books bought that I’m about to read.
They wind up in a pile of to be read or actively reading and then up on the shelves.
I’ve got books I’ve had for a while I haven’t got around to. Hopefully I will eventually. Hey, you never know when we’ll get another lockdown. Or I might get sent to jail or something. 😉
That said, it can be good to cull them now and again. Go through and check for any you are genuinely not interested in reading any more and get rid of them. Sell if you can, or donate.
It’s said that buying books and reading books are two different hobbies. Most people don’t keep a perfect symmetry between the two. That’s normal.
If you feel it’s a problem, just put books on a wish list rather than buying them right away. Review the list periodically, and eliminate the ones you’ve cooled off on. Then just buy from this list when you’re ready for new books.