Too much to read and too little time ?

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Anymore if I don't care for a book or know I won't be reading it again...I take it to one of two used book stores. I can usually get cash or trade credit for them. Helps toward getting other books. LOL

[Sandra]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "Anymore if I don't care for a book or know I won't be reading it again...I take it to one of two used book stores. I can usually get cash or trade credit for them. Helps toward getting other books...."

Mike, you changed your icon. I didn't recognize you. I suppose I should do that. Don't know of any used bookstores in this area, but am sure I could find one if I looked.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Sorry....yes I was the knight for a long time. I just thought I'd use a different kind of paladin for a while :). I may have to change back.

We have several, but 2 stand out. I've been going to Book Attic for over 20 years. McKay's opened more recently, they're more of a chain and have outlets in a few cities. Even if I'm buying straight up they're usually good places to go.

[John]

For every book I read I seem to collect ten more. It's actually a little frustrating. Reading Connie Willis's [Book: Doomsday Book] right now, but I'm eyeing some books by Wen Spencer, Sara Douglass, Janny Wurts, Martin Millar and PJ Tracy. Argh! I'll never catch up. Never, never.

[Sandra]

John wrote: "For every book I read I seem to collect ten more. It's actually a little frustrating. Reading Connie Willis's [Book: Doomsday Book] right now, but I'm eyeing some books by Wen Spencer, Sara Douglas..."

LOL, I know the feeling but you just read one book at a time.... you'll get there.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I just bought 3 more books today...and 5 are in at the library...and 3 are coming from inter-library loan...and I still have a few on hold at the library that aren't in yet...and that doesn't count the books already on my shelves.

I have no will power.

[Sandra]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I just bought 3 more books today...and 5 are in at the library...and 3 are coming from inter-library loan...and I still have a few on hold at the library that aren't in yet...and that doesn't count..."


Hehe, we're all sick.

[Jeanne]

I have a 7ft. by 4ft. bookshelf in my bedroom that is stuffed full of books "to read". The bookshelf in my guest room contains all the books I have read that I want to keep. Yet, there are certain new books that come out that will always jump to the front of the line, such as anything by Brandon Sanderson, Jacqueline Carey, Michael J. Sullivan, George R.R. Martin, or Patrick Rothfuss.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Note post above from yesterday (Nov.11)....I just ordered 2 more books from Amazon. As I said, no will power.

[Bonnie]

Not only do I ditto all of the above comments regarding too many books and too little time, I also listen to one on the commute to work, listen to podcast books while doing chores, have one in the bathroom where it stays, one on the nightstand where it stays and one at work "just in case" I have a break to read. I'm very sick.

[Sandra]

Bonnie wrote: "Not only do I ditto all of the above comments regarding too many books and too little time, I also listen to one on the commute to work, listen to podcast books while doing chores, have one in the ..."

Nah! That's normal behavior, isn't it?

[Sarah]

I was just telling my friend, who'd decided against renewing her library subscription and purchase books independantly, how she mustn't carry too far with it, because she'll just end up feeling guilty for all the books that simply rested on her shelf, untouched.

It happened to me once - I ordered too many books at once. It was a complete disaster. It's been over a year ago, and some of them I haven't finished still.

I know it's probably pointless to say this to you, will-power-lacking lot that you are, but seriously, RESTRAIN YOURSELVES!!!

That said, I'm off to the book-store...(kidding).

[Sandra]

Sarah wrote: "I was just telling my friend, who'd decided against renewing her library subscription and purchase books independantly, how she mustn't carry too far with it, because she'll just end up feeling gui..."

I always figure that money spent on books doesn't count!

[Sarah]

Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "I always figure that money spent on books doesn't count! "

In that case, I should have been twice as rich, and you guys a hunderdfold!

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I've inserted this quote a hundred times but it's one of my favorites:
"When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes". Desiderius Erasmus

I KNOW I spend more on books than I should... hope I don't regret it.

[[deleted user]]

I know the feeling ... :P

[Elise]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I've inserted this quote a hundred times but it's one of my favorites:
"When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes". Desiderius Erasmus

I KNOW I spend more o..."

I've always loved that quote too. That's me in the future lol.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I suspect it's a progressive condition getting worse the longer you have it. :) LOL

[Melanie]

Haha, love that quote!

Doesn't matter how much I restrain myself, I always fail. I tell myself I'll be able to go into the bookshop and not buy anything then fail...probably about 80% of the time. But that I do manage it that 20% is what convinces me I'll be able to do it everytime! Self-restraint is not one of my strong points...

[[deleted user]]

I have over 1000 to read books! and it keeps getting bigger espically when i start reading a new series.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Yes, keep our colors flying. (LOL)

[Carrie (Care)]

I have been really good lately about buying books. I only buy the physical books that are my favourites and the rest that I either buy or borrow are ebooks. I have probably about 50-80 ebooks I have yet to read and hundreds on my TBR list here on GR.

I also only put the first book in a series I haven't read yet on my TBR list here. Otherwise my TBR list would number more than 1,000.

I read a lot, at least a few books a week, but I still can't keep up with all the books I want to read. Although, I prefer having more awesome books to choose from than having read everything and not having a great selection.

[Melanie]

I'd never thought of it that way, Carrie! Definitely better to have too many to choose from than not enough :)

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I just got an Email...7 books are in at the library...and 2 more are in transit. I'll be picking up 9 more library books to read before I get back to my own books. I've got to stop this...

I have no will power.

[stormhawk]

I have a lot of free Kindle Books that are clogging my to-read list. However, I've become a lot better about not finishing a bad book because of this ... I used to have to finish for good or ill, now I'll just cut my losses and move on. I already read over 100 books per year (currently at 147 or thereabouts), so I chew right through them. The Kindle helps keep the house from getting more cluttered than it already is.

For books that cost more than a buck or two, I'm more likely to download a sample, and when I can't find anything to read, I go through the samples and see how they work for me.

[Sandra]

I do that too!

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Got a box from Amazon today.... 2 more books, Shotgun Opera and Heroes Die as I've observed before...no will power.

[Janny]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "Got a box from Amazon today.... 2 more books, Shotgun Opera and Heroes Die as I've observed before...no will power."

Mike, it's nice to see Stover's work getting recognized - finally.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I'd never heard of it. I saw it on Stephen Sullivan's update and it sounded good, so being unable to find it in the library or in a local shop, I ordered it. I want to read it as soon as possible, so with luck I'll hopefully get to it...within a year...or two.

sigh.

:)

[Janny]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I'd never heard of it. I saw it on Stephen Sullivan's update and it sounded good, so being unable to find it in the library or in a local shop, I ordered it. I want to read it as soon as possible, ..."

It's a very tight, fast-paced read with a lot of visceral violence, but unlike the average, there is a startling thread of depth and ethic and insight. It's not pap, or derivative, or faddish - it has sharp, intelligent stance, concerning the responsibility of 'entertainment' - and other things. Given your enjoyment of Moon's Paksenarrion, this story is much more visceral - but I think you might well appreciate the integrity that drives the enraged protagonist and underlying the action adventure.

This guy's work has gone under the radar for a very long time.

[Hannah ⚔️ Jaedia]

I'd like to say I have the time, but with several genres, my to-read list grows day after day! I'm quite a slow reader too, and I've been trying to catch up on my reading in the past year, and I have a lot to catch up on. Fantasy is definitely the most hefty of the genres I read, though, historical (fiction and non-fiction) can be about the same. I'm determined to get to the point where I'm looking for something new to read rather than trying to work out which book I should read next.

[Charles]

Janny wrote: "Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I'd never heard of it. I saw it on Stephen Sullivan's update and it sounded good, so being unable to find it in the library or in a local shop, I ordered it. I want to re..."

"Gone umder the radar," huh? Why does that sound so familiar?

[Julie]

Drat, with all those great comments about Stephen Sullivan, I'm going to have to put him on the to-be-read pile. And maybe I'll buy the books, once my self-imposed non-buying period is over. Just over a month left to the new year, and then let the buying spree begin....woo hooo!

[Janny]

Julie wrote: "Drat, with all those great comments about Stephen Sullivan, I'm going to have to put him on the to-be-read pile. And maybe I'll buy the books, once my self-imposed non-buying period is over. Just..."

Course correct, Julie, I apologize for my vague post: Stephen Sullivan is a reader; the commentary was on Mike's acquisition of Heroes Die by Matthew Stover.

[Julie]

ahhh....I see now, yep I can see how I got confused. But then again it doesn't take much these days!

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Don't worry about it. It's my normal condition. :)

[John]

This is terrible, but I haven't read a book in a couple of years. :( I've been writing and doing other creative things like painting miniatures and that sort of thing and I just stopped reading. I used to read over 100 books a year too. *sigh*

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi John, welcome.

May I ask what type of miniatures? I also paint miniatures, mostly pewter 25mm...fantasy. But I do paint a few other types.

Just curious (I write to, but I won't go on about that...still unpublished.)

[John]

Hi Mike. Thank you. :) I was going to pm you so as not to go off topic, but I'm not sure how.

I paint reaper miniatures, largely for a D&D group I've been part of. :) I can't stand the plastic ones.

[Trever]

I keep up with my favorites, but I have a "To Read When Retired" shelf in my office. It has many books on it that I will read when that is all I have to do. If something gets pushed aside for too long, it goes to the retirement stacks. Just think about all of the money I will save on my fixed income...

[Becca]

My name is Rebecca and yes, I'm a bookaholic! Looking at my bookcase infront of me now I'd say half or maybe just under are unread books. Not because I don't want to read them just because my book buying obsession makes me buy another book, and another book and then another book and one of those I may read straight away or place on my bookshelf to be admired at. I don't necessarily buy books because I instantly want to read them. I buy them because getting a new book in the post (most are bought off amazon!) is the best feeling ever (GRRM's 3rd and 4th book are arriving in the next few days...HEAVEN!) and then I love how they look on my bookcase :P cheesy right? But buying books is something I love doing, and I really do hope I get to read everything I've bought someday. Maybe I will create a mission for myself to read all my unread books before I buy a new one...big chance of that seeing as I've found a gazillion new books on here just waiting to be bought!! I do have a book buying obession and my family teases me (in a good way!) about it but one day my dream will come true and I will have a study with bookcases lining the walls filled with oh so many books!

[Lynne]

I have several stacks of books here at my home that I still need to read. A little insomnia would be a help.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Your situation is actually fairly normal. I don't know how many books I own now, north of a thousand I suppose and I'd say also half (at least) are "waiting" to be read.

And I ordered another yesterday...and have the new Dresden book pre-ordered...

sigh, no will power. :0

[Jamie]

I have a few bookcases worth of books I have yet to read. And still, I keep finding more I want too. Books are definitely by biggest vise.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Yes we are all "bookaholics". You're in good company.

[Jim]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "Yes we are all "bookaholics". You're in good company."

True.

[Cheryl]

I started a challenge for myself back at the end of April. At that time, I had about 40 books that I owned and another 100 on my wish-list. Now, my wish-list has grown to 265 books and I keep adding more nearly every day. Yep, definitely an addiction!

[Becca]

Books may be costly when your buying them so often like myself...but it is money well spent and the money could be spent on much more useless, boring things and I always argue that I could have a worse addiction!

[Sandra]

Money spent on books doesn't count!

[Kiri]

I absolutely do not have time to read everything I want to read. I'm just starting to attack Pratchett's discworld books, while simultaneously trying to keep up with my husband as he plows through the Patrick O'Brian Aubrey/Maturin series.

I think my delving into fantasy has definitely become more particular over the years; I'm a lot more picky and have been branching out into more mainstream stuff (although the thing I notice about a lot of mainstream fiction vs. fantasy is that I end up feeling vaguely disappointed at the lack of a "purpose" or "point" - fantasy often delivers a message or an accomplishment).