Signs you may have a book-buying problem (and yes, every one of these is drawn from my personal life):
1. Someone asks how many books you have and you answer in shelf-feet (156, plus some double-shelving, which is actually under 2k individual volumes, magazines notwithstanding)
2. You have a bookstore on cell phone speed dial (Borderlans Books, speed dial #3)
3. Your significant other looks at a book purchase and says, "We already have three copies of that book." You reply, "But not in this cover art!" (E. R. Eddison's Zimiamvian trilogy and Alexei Panshin's Villiers books)
4. You tell the owner of the used bookstore that you're a "reader, not a collector," and she looks at your purchases--all bagged volumes from her "special" shelves or from behind locked glass--and says "no, honey, you're a collector." (Elsewhere Books)
5. You have dusted the tops of your books to prevent foxing, but have never dusted the knick-knacks on the shelves with them.
6. When you say, "You know what we need?" your partner always wearily answers, "More bookshelves?"
6a. You know which shelves are in stock at your preferred store, in what woods and finishes, and when the next shipment is of the kind you like. (Hold Everything at the mall, those snazzy fold-up ones, dark oak or mahagony finish, not currently aware what's in stock but was always aware of it two years ago)
7. You see a nice home on a TV show, but comment that it is too open and airy to have enough bookshelf space.
7a. When looking for a new apartment/home, you calculated total unencumbered wall space as well as square feet.
8. You have covered a window to prevent fading on a nearby shelf, and/or have sorted books based on whether you could bear to have them sun-faded. (East facing window with a direct view from a hill :-( )
9. Your significant other suggests selling some books for store credit and you get tachycardia.
10. You've read a good book and gone to the store--that night--to buy out every book by that author without even glancing at the covers or reviews. (Garth Nix, Francesca Lia Block, Robert Sheckley, Rachel Caine, Steven Saylor, Poppy Z Brite...)
11. A psychiatrist has suggested that a medication may reduce your book-buying and that you should warn your partner to expect that. (Amazingly, it worked within two weeks!)
12. You have come home with books and moved precious/delicate/sentimental objects to the floor to make shelf space without even thinking about it.
13. You wonder why Goodreads doesn't have a binding field for ARC or galley proof (and you're not the author)
14. You have been forbidden by friends from going to the giant library sale on "by the pound" day.
15. You went anyway.
16. You can name the expected release dates of books by three authors--none of whom is J. K. Rowling (well, not that she's got a huge one in the oven right now). And you have them on your calendar with reminders.
17. You have ordered books from abroad (England or the U.S., as appropriate) to get them before the local release date. (Harry Potter 3)
18. When asked what you'd save in a fire (after people and pets), a book comes immediately to mind. (My copy of the original binding of Paolo Soleri's Arcology: the City in the Image of Man; you know, the huuuge one)
19. You have friends with larger libraries than you do, and they lord it over you (or you express open jealousy) (Too many friends to name)
20. You printed this list out, bound somehow, and shelved it, just because you read the whole thing.
Signs you may have a book-buying problem (and yes, every one of these is drawn from my personal life):
1. Someone asks how many books you have and you answer in shelf-feet (156, plus some double-shelving, which is actually under 2k individual volumes, magazines notwithstanding)
2. You have a bookstore on cell phone speed dial (Borderlans Books, speed dial #3)
3. Your significant other looks at a book purchase and says, "We already have three copies of that book." You reply, "But not in this cover art!" (E. R. Eddison's Zimiamvian trilogy and Alexei Panshin's Villiers books)
4. You tell the owner of the used bookstore that you're a "reader, not a collector," and she looks at your purchases--all bagged volumes from her "special" shelves or from behind locked glass--and says "no, honey, you're a collector." (Elsewhere Books)
5. You have dusted the tops of your books to prevent foxing, but have never dusted the knick-knacks on the shelves with them.
6. When you say, "You know what we need?" your partner always wearily answers, "More bookshelves?"
6a. You know which shelves are in stock at your preferred store, in what woods and finishes, and when the next shipment is of the kind you like. (Hold Everything at the mall, those snazzy fold-up ones, dark oak or mahagony finish, not currently aware what's in stock but was always aware of it two years ago)
7. You see a nice home on a TV show, but comment that it is too open and airy to have enough bookshelf space.
7a. When looking for a new apartment/home, you calculated total unencumbered wall space as well as square feet.
8. You have covered a window to prevent fading on a nearby shelf, and/or have sorted books based on whether you could bear to have them sun-faded. (East facing window with a direct view from a hill :-( )
9. Your significant other suggests selling some books for store credit and you get tachycardia.
10. You've read a good book and gone to the store--that night--to buy out every book by that author without even glancing at the covers or reviews. (Garth Nix, Francesca Lia Block, Robert Sheckley, Rachel Caine, Steven Saylor, Poppy Z Brite...)
11. A psychiatrist has suggested that a medication may reduce your book-buying and that you should warn your partner to expect that. (Amazingly, it worked within two weeks!)
12. You have come home with books and moved precious/delicate/sentimental objects to the floor to make shelf space without even thinking about it.
13. You wonder why Goodreads doesn't have a binding field for ARC or galley proof (and you're not the author)
14. You have been forbidden by friends from going to the giant library sale on "by the pound" day.
15. You went anyway.
16. You can name the expected release dates of books by three authors--none of whom is J. K. Rowling (well, not that she's got a huge one in the oven right now). And you have them on your calendar with reminders.
17. You have ordered books from abroad (England or the U.S., as appropriate) to get them before the local release date. (Harry Potter 3)
18. When asked what you'd save in a fire (after people and pets), a book comes immediately to mind. (My copy of the original binding of Paolo Soleri's Arcology: the City in the Image of Man; you know, the huuuge one)
19. You have friends with larger libraries than you do, and they lord it over you (or you express open jealousy) (Too many friends to name)
20. You printed this list out, bound somehow, and shelved it, just because you read the whole thing.