Gerry Wolstenholme
Summer reading list? Any reading list? I pose these questions rhetorically for I am sorry to say I don't have any reading lists. If that sounds odd, just let me explain ...
Like probably most of our goodreads readers, I have a huge collection of books and even though I am rapidly running out of room, I do keep adding to it. For instance my daughter visited a couple of weeks ago and we went on buying sprees to car boot sales and various shops with the result that, during her week's stay, I added a further 86 books to my collection.
And that is the reason I do not have a reading list. Every lot of new books that come in (and believe it or not, hardly a day goes by without at least one purchase - and normally many purchases) I peruse and often decide that there is at least one that I must read next. In addition, when I look over my shelves (sadly some books are in wardrobes and are more difficult to get at) I always see something that I think 'I must read that next' - sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't, it depends on what has come in. Hence no planned reading list!
I realise that perhaps this is an odd way to go about my reading but it seems to suit me and with such a random way of dealing with the problem, I never do know what I am likely to be reading next ... and again that suits me as it probably ensures more variety.
I do know that my book collecting habit is a disease; it comes from all those years of being a secondhand and antiquarian bookseller when, I must confess, when I attended book fairs and my Dad helped me, he used to say, 'I don't know why you are a bookseller for you never want to sell anything' - he was nearly right! I did sell the books, but reluctantly for I considered all the stock mine!
So, as a disease, I realise I do need counselling but I also know that it would do no good for my book buying habits help keep me sane and give me a great interest now that I have lost my beloved wife and in addition my daughter, also a collector, lives 250 miles away. I should mention that I did collect when Linda was alive and what is more, Linda also collected to acerbate the storage problem.
I do hope that this answer gives you an idea of why there is no planned reading list and I should say that I will carry on adding to the collection come what may. Forget that counselling.
If I do change and create a reading list, I will let you know but I doubt that that is going to happen ... it is as likely as me stopping buying books.
Finally, what a joy to be on goodreads and share stories and reviews with other people.
Like probably most of our goodreads readers, I have a huge collection of books and even though I am rapidly running out of room, I do keep adding to it. For instance my daughter visited a couple of weeks ago and we went on buying sprees to car boot sales and various shops with the result that, during her week's stay, I added a further 86 books to my collection.
And that is the reason I do not have a reading list. Every lot of new books that come in (and believe it or not, hardly a day goes by without at least one purchase - and normally many purchases) I peruse and often decide that there is at least one that I must read next. In addition, when I look over my shelves (sadly some books are in wardrobes and are more difficult to get at) I always see something that I think 'I must read that next' - sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't, it depends on what has come in. Hence no planned reading list!
I realise that perhaps this is an odd way to go about my reading but it seems to suit me and with such a random way of dealing with the problem, I never do know what I am likely to be reading next ... and again that suits me as it probably ensures more variety.
I do know that my book collecting habit is a disease; it comes from all those years of being a secondhand and antiquarian bookseller when, I must confess, when I attended book fairs and my Dad helped me, he used to say, 'I don't know why you are a bookseller for you never want to sell anything' - he was nearly right! I did sell the books, but reluctantly for I considered all the stock mine!
So, as a disease, I realise I do need counselling but I also know that it would do no good for my book buying habits help keep me sane and give me a great interest now that I have lost my beloved wife and in addition my daughter, also a collector, lives 250 miles away. I should mention that I did collect when Linda was alive and what is more, Linda also collected to acerbate the storage problem.
I do hope that this answer gives you an idea of why there is no planned reading list and I should say that I will carry on adding to the collection come what may. Forget that counselling.
If I do change and create a reading list, I will let you know but I doubt that that is going to happen ... it is as likely as me stopping buying books.
Finally, what a joy to be on goodreads and share stories and reviews with other people.
More Answered Questions
A Goodreads user
asked
Gerry Wolstenholme:
Thanks so much for your reply Gerry, appreciated. By some miracle I have managed to locate One Rainy Night in California through Abebooks and it's winging its way to me as we speak! I've had to pay a very high price with shipping, tax etc but in my heart I feel it'll be worth it, don't you? All the best, Clare
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