Book Buying Addicts Anonymous discussion
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Just wondering, what do you do with your books after you read them?
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I tend to ask myself a couple of questions. The first question is will I read it again. If the answer is no, I ask myself a second question of did I like it? If the answer is no or not really or more of an eh, it was fine then I ask myself a third question. Why did I not like it. Was it the writing or is it the story or is it where I am at in my life? Depending on what the answer is will depend on if I keep it. Because maybe where I am at now causes me not to like it, but another place in life might find me loving it. I just don't know. But, if it gets a mediocre response from me then it goes to one of three places: The library for the yearly sale they have over Labor Day, the local book swap store that gives me credit towards books in their store, or a local charity drop off like Goodwill or something. That way someone else might find it and love it. I do this regardless of the type of book. I have also started deleting the eh books off of my Kindle. I just have better things to read.
For a long time I kept most books. Now, faced with either getting rid of some, or buying a larger home, I have started donating "unwanted" books to my local library, but only after rereading them. Most books make their way to the library, but not all.
I'm trying to decide which books I'm keeping and which will go to Goodwill. I keep taking books off the shelves and then putting them back. I even bought another small bookcase but it's hard to face the fact that I probably need to lose 150-200 books. I've been trying to do this for the last 3-4 months, not very successful.
Thom wrote: "I used to save them all. Without thinking I would nestle them into my library and pick another. For years this was automatic; until I hit the wall. Physical books take up space and eventually any g..."I half wish I could be like that, too, to have them cyber. Still, half of me likes to be over the wall with them. I don´t collect anything except books, plants, soap stones and blank notebooks. Actually I would have preferred to not collect anything at all so I could move and don´t care about stuff, and I´m trying to turn it real, but however much I´m able to do this with soap and notebooks, I can´t with books. I hate my tablet too much.
I even sleep with some books. I transformed some closets into bookshelves. Have them on my desk, radiator, plant space and floor as well. Never really thought of giving them away, to be honest.
First of all, you are blessed to be able to have as many books as you do, remember that. We all are. Most of don't have the space to have 150-200 extra books lying around, oh what I wouldn't give. But size is relative, in this case. :) My best recommendation is to box up the ones mostly likely to go. Put that box away somewhere for a month and then go through it again. If you reopen the box and discover a few old friends, keep those, and donate the rest. This is a very simplified version of a greater process, but you get the idea. Purging books causes me great anxiety. But when it's done, you have all this room for new additions to your library. So many books, such little time. I hope this helps.
In the case of Agatha Christie and Jackie Collins books, I read them many more times. Same with lots of others, when I'm obsessed with titles I'll read them many many many times over. Yay for books!!
Julie wrote: "First of all, you are blessed to be able to have as many books as you do, remember that. We all are. Most of don't have the space to have 150-200 extra books lying around, oh what I wouldn't give. ..."Thanks for the suggestion. And by the way, my storage for the extra books is boxes sitting in the middle of my living room. LOL
This comment. Yes. This is me!!