Thom’s Comments (group member since Mar 28, 2011)

Thom’s comments from the Book Buying Addicts Anonymous group.

I have had many reasons for buying books but I can honestly say it was never just for the cover. This said I would like to comment on the covers of Tom Sharpe’s books. The covers are drawn by Paul Samples, a very accomplished artist. When the reader looks at the drawings carefully, a multitude of the story’s faucets are revealed and a reading of the book simply puts them in the proper prospective. As a Tom Sharpe fan I see the partnership of these two as a perfect match.

I just bought.... , The Watchman (1962) by Davis Grubb, The Naked Edge (1961) by Max Ehrilich, Sky Shroud (1982) by Tom Keene with Brian Haynes, The Enemy (1956) by Wirt Williams, The Living Thoughts of Thomas Jefferson (1957) presented by John Dewey and The Salamander Glass (1983) by A. W. Mykel. I am really surprised at the number of books not recognized or regestered. Does anyone know how to change this?

What a great innovative idea! Thanks for the idea Megan.

I'm reading and should be finished before the end of this weekend.

How do I sign up as a member?

I have discovered an ingenious way to accommodate the different size paperback (and hardcover) books. I have different size shelves and it works just great. I felt a knot slowly growing in both my throat and stomach as I read that a number of readers mutilate their books by carrying them on their backsides. The thought of them sitting stirs the content of my stomach to eruption. Surely there must be more of you out there that picture this as I do; a defilement and desecration of a work of art. I wouldn’t treat my friends like that so certainly not a book.

Chrissy, you can do that with Goodreads too. I use my ‘to read’ list as a reminder of books I want, one day, to acquire and read.

I would certainly prefer smelling books (especially new ones) to many other life’s treasures (like babies diapers and cooking cauliflower) but it isn’t at the top of my “to do” list. Your number two action is much more interesting and, in the end, infinitely more rewarding.

I have always been a collector. The sight of repeated objects aligned and on display sends a chill through my body. Anything in mass has this affect on me be it postage stamps, antique maps or automobiles. What is more natural than a shelf lined with books; proud, stiff, tall and upright like a line of soldiers. The aesthetic aspect of books was what first attracted me to them at a very early age. I had quite an impressive collection before I could actually read. In grade school we were stimulated to read by means of awards, handed out at the end of each school year. These impressive pages of parchment were adorned with shiny golden seals, each representing a certain number of books read. The sight of a multitude of glistening stamped emblems again sent that shiver down my spine and encouraged me to concentrate on collecting as many as I could. My first tactic was to read all of the skinniest books in the local library (after all, a book is a book). When they became scarce I attacked the heavily illustrated ones. My quest was incessant and at the year’s end I had achieved very impressive numbers. My pride was short-lived as I had to prepare for the next school year. I spent my summer vacation either in the local library or with my head in a book. Easy pickings were becoming scarce so I had to expand my horizons. Zane Gray’s “Fighting Caravans” was the book that finally opened the world of literature for its own sake and not exclusively for the golden seals. This was the first of many. This was the first book void of pictures (page after page of written words); it was also the first to break the 100 page mark. It was, most importantly, the first book to show me that books were more than soldiers in a line or stamps on a piece of paper. Books had become friends that stayed with me wherever I went. Imagine, I read “Fighting Caravans” more than fifty years ago and I still remember it as if it was yesterday.

I think these five books will close my book buying for this month.

I don’t even try to suppress my book buying. When the urge hits or I see another one “I just can’t live without”, I buy it and smile all the way home. An opportunity missed is a chance lost, maybe never to present itself again. I don’t like the thoughts of “I should have bought it when I had the chance” and would rather spend the money for a new book and peace of mind. I see it as a win/win situation.

This downward trend of bookstores has been moving for the last few years. The publication of new literary works is bigger than ever as is the reading of them (this site is a good example of people’s continued love of the written word). The true foes of these traditional stores are the online stores. They don’t have the overhead that neighborhood bookstores have, making the online purchases cheaper (even with postage) than traditional shop can offer. If the reading public would be willing to pay more for their books to save an established institution, the familiar neighborhood bookstore wouldn’t be forced to close its doors. I, as I’m sure most of you, am not prepared to spending more in support of these recognized institutions. It is a sad but true sign of our times.

Can anyone tell me what constitutes "too many"? Susan is afraid to reach that point. I can’t contemplate what number that would be. Can anyone help me to clear up my dilemma?

I use my to read shelf only as a reminder of books I'm interested in but have not yet actually aquired.

Shannon wrote: "I have at least 438 books (this number does not include ebooks or library books or audio books or library ebooks) at home on my to-read shelf. FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTY-EIGHT!!!! And what do I want t..."

I can identify with your situation and dilemma. My library consists of no less than ten thousand books ranging from higher mathematics and global communications to romance novels and self-improvement books. I estimate that approximately a tenth of the books are yet unread. That means I have more than 1000 books to crack and improve the statistics. Fortunately I have an obsession and add to the unread numbers slightly faster than I read new books. This doesn’t really bother me as I love each one like a child and know they are always there when I need them.

You live in New York City…. Not taking subways is akin to cutting your legs off at the knees. Move to New Mexico and enjoy the light and room!

Ellie that dream is your conscience telling you that your library is getting too large, so you should slow down with buying or move to a larger house.

I live in a very small rural town in a country smaller than the state of New Hampshire which makes collecting autographs a bit difficult (unless it’s that of my neighbor or the owner of the local store). I fortunately believe that the author’s work is much more important than his/her signature. It would, however, make your loved collection of books more interesting.

Ellie, you must wake up exhausted every morning.