This Person Only Owns 4 Books

[Theresa]

Thanks for sharing this, AJ! While being enjoyable and entertaining, she made some very good points, most importantly it is about reading and talking about books, not about owning vs. not owning, or format read in or whatever.

[annapi]

Very interesting! Makes me want to read Leigh Bardugo LOL. I will have to try her one day. Hazel Wood was a good read.

[Doughgirl5562]

So basically she is saying to do what makes you happy and that a reader should not feel pressured to buy books - especially the more expensive new hardbacks. I'm on board with that :-)

However, I would comment that authors have to make their living somehow. So SOMEONE needs to buy their books in some form for that to happen.

[Karin]

I do buy books, but most of the books I read are from the library. Here's the thing--I agree that people shouldn't feel pressured to buy books, but if no one buys books, pretty soon there will only be old books, or badly edited self-published books because no author could make any sort of a living from it. As it is, very few authors actually make a living off of their writing.

I can't afford to buy all of the books I read, nor do I have enough room for them, but I try to buy at least some to support authors!

[Theresa]

Yes, books still need to be bought. Libraries can't buy all books by all authors because dln't have resources for it. Plus libraries may buy a dozen copies of the next Grisham or hot whatever, but after the initial furor dies down, they sell off all but one or two copies so someone has to buy them.

Plus books make great gifts.

I admit to owning a lot of books. It gives me great pleasure and is a hobby in itself. But I also borrow books because libraries need support and not every book I read is one I want to own.

I like a balance. Ultimately do what is best for you. And don't judge, or be defensive if someone else does it differently.

What is really important is to read and talk about books.

[Barbara M]

I'm a library user but when it comes to reference-type books, I will buy if I'm likely to need to go back to them on occasion. Gardening, cooking, quilting all come under that category for me.

[Kimber]

I buy a lot of print books. It makes me feel happy to be surrounded by shelves and shelves of books. (There is a photo in my profile of my book shelves.)

I also borrow lots of books - print books and audio - from the library. And now that I've discovered the Libby app, I borrow tons of digital/electronic audio books so I can listen to them through my phone during my long work commute.

I do think it's a personal choice; people should absolutely do what works for them and makes them happy. Just keep reading and talking about books!

[Karin]

I would like to pipe in here and say that one of two bookbinding buildings in my little city has had to close its operations in the past year, resulting in lost jobs. Paper is not only able to be recycled, but here is a lot of mythology about logging--trees regrow (see below) and I am someone who uses all 100 percent green cleaning products, etc. Here is a photo from a place that was CLEAR CUT about 100 years ago before replanting was done. Also note that that the healthiest forests are maintained with some trees logged out of them (except to a small degree the ones that need natural forest fires in order to sustain deer populations or cause certain seeds to be ready to germinate).

There are far worse threats to our environment than cutting trees to make paper!!!

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