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How many unread books do you have at home?
All this talk about bookshelves and boxed up books has bummed me out. I have 2 or 3 boxes of books in storage. At the time, we had to clear out for our newborn, and I only packed books I knew I wouldn't care to see again. Yeah right!! I WANT THEM BACK! Just being able to see my books on a shelf is a nice, soothing feeling. Anyone else? My next house will have built-in bookshelves (even if I have to build them in myself!)
Well, I just added 6 books to my bookshelf after a major shopping spree yesterday with my sister (Julianne). I don't even want to think about how many unread books are sitting on my shelves. Luckily, I borrow a lot of them, so it's not wasted money for me. But, I know I have bought some and I'm sure I have no idea which ones are actually mine and when I bought them. And, amazingly, I have no duplicate books, as I gave my nephew one copy of Richard Scarry's Animal Nursery Tales, which I had two copies of after searching far and wide for them.
Tee-hee, sis! Maybe if we wrote our names in our books we'd know whose is whose. I just hate writing in books! Especially when it's not for school.Though, I had like NOTHING to write on when your son was born, so all his "stats" (name, time of birth, weight, length) is written in the back of The House of God, which is making its circuit around work!
At last count, I had 195 books I've purchased and not read yet. Since I'm running out of room I've made a promise to myself this weekend -- I have to read at least 3 books from Mount TBR for each new book purchased or borrowed from the library. With this in mind I managed not to buy any more books this weekend. Hopefully I'll be able to stick to it.
I started a shelf on my profile just so I could start keeping track. I'm up to 82 and I'm nowhere near done yet!Some of them I bought new, but a lot of them I got at the used bookstore with credit for ones I turned in - and there's another trip scheduled for this evening! Books are something I will buy/procure regardless of whether I need them or not. I agree with the concept of having something on hand based on your mood and what you feel like reading at any particular time.
At least I know I'm not alone in my sickness...you guys are better than therapy! :)
p.s I'm now at 140...yikes!
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I am pretty embarassed to say this but I have about 350 books at home that I haven't read...
How many do you have total? Do you have a couch made of books? (That's what my husband jokes I'm coming to...) Just curious.^^
Ken, I didn't end up going to IKEA (sob) decided to leave it for for the new catalogue so shall be off to IKEA hopefully soon.I live in Australia so I go to IKEA in Innaloo - I just know you guys are going to find that name hilarious, Inn-a-loo!!
Kellie, yeeeehaw! You have 350 unread books - don't be embarased, CELEBRATE those lovley lovelinesses! Shiny books, yeah!
I only have about 10, but I get most of my books from the library.
I have about 150 unread books in my shelves *blush*The problem is, I go through phases: I become interested in x subject or author and get as many related books as I can ... and my interest usually wanes around book #3 (exceptions have been Milan Kundera, Julian Barnes, Julio Cortázar and books on autism).
I am now going through a scientific phase, and have been buying and reading books on Bioethics and Medicine. I can already feel myself on the verge of monotony and Mathematics seems like a good candidate for my next "fixation" :p
BoofYou started this thread, right?
Did you ever reveal how many you have?
Or, do I hold the record?
Kellie, I hereby crown you Queen of unread books!!!When I did finally count mine I think it was something like 186, but since then it has crept up to probably over the 200 mark thanks to TNBBC - there's always just something newer and shinier isn't there? ;o)
In the last month I have bought over 20 books my unread owned keeps growing!
Kellie and Boof, I am so glad that I am not alone. Because of recent splurges, my unread books have crept over the 300 mark. But, I am chipping away at them. This is thanks mostly to all the group reads I am participating in; if it weren't for them, a lot of my books would stay on my shelves for quite some time.And, Kellie, I second Boof - you are the queen of unread books! I am only at 330, so I guess that makes me the princess. :)
I certainly have enough books to make a book couch. In fact, the last time I moved, boxes of books made up about half of my earthly possessions. I would say I haven't read a quarter of them. I just can't stop buying them. I go out to get groceries, I come back with books. I find them in free boxes on the side of the road. Summer brings with it garage sale season and who could resist whole stacks of classics at a nickel a piece? My main bookshelf has adopted a lean such that it must be braced by other furniture. At this rate, I will never read all the books I own. Sigh.
Laura, I am with you. My friend said I basically have a smalltown library. I think she might be right. As daunting as it can be to have the amount of unread books that I do, I wouldn't change it for the world. I love being surrounded by books. It makes me feel safe. :)
Stacie, I completely agree. I love to be surrounded by books too, I just love to browse my own shelves and look at all my pretty things :o)Laura, I can't go anywhere without coming home with a book or 10 either. If I go to the supermarket the first aisle my trolley steers me down (so funny it does that) is the aisle with the books in it.
I accept the crown.:)
Thank you!
I could make a few couches with my library...
Currently, I probably only have about 25-30, and most of them are borrowed. And, luckily, I'm planning on reading about 13 of them for the Fall Challenge, then returning them to their rightful homes. ;-)
I felt really bad about my unread books until I read some of your comments! I have a book addiction and live in a four room house with a 13 yr. old. There are no built in bookshelves, and I could probably make not only a couch, but a bed, chairs, tables, etc. with books! I bought a shed for tools, storage, etc., and now it houses bookshelves of books too. Haven't counted how many I have, but my TBR list is approaching 200, and many of them are already here looking at me! My brother sends me his books he's finished, a friend owns a used book store (so I have to shop there), I go to library sales, auctions, and garage sales, and my daughter groans if I say we're going to Hastings because she knows I'll buy too many more books! Actually, my sister won't shop with me if I put a bookstore on my list! I have about 5 books started at this time, and a box of 24 sitting in a chair next to me to read. I need to get off here and read!!!!!
I haven't counted lately but the last time I did I was at 395. I have started a challenge for my self to not buy anymore books and try to read someof what I have but I do allow myself to still trade books on PBS and bookmooch and I also get some of the new books from the library. I haven't bought a book since June 1. Since it is a quiet day today maybe I will reorganize my books and make a list since most of them are being stored in palstic bins right now.
NAN IS OUR NEW WINNER!!I HAVE BEEN DETHRONED!!
I am a bit ashamed to admit it's in 200+. Every time I'm at Goodwill or a garage sale or a consignment shop, I check the book section. If I see something I like for less than $5, I usually pick it up. The way I see it, I'll eventually buy the book anyway so I might as well get it at a lesser cost.It doesn't help that I'm a bit OCD. If I find an author I like, I'll buy all his/her books, even if I don't like some of them. I'll also buy a book I think I'll like, not get around to reading it, see another book by the same author and pick it up just because it's by the same person.
I know, I'm an addict. At least this is a safe addiction... :-)
Oops, I forgot...I remember buying most of the books and can mostly name where I bought them.
I only have three duplicates:
1. A gift from a friend who did know I already had the book. (Eragon)
2. A true duplicate I didn't know I already had. Oops! (Where the Heart Is)
3. A hard cover and soft cover version of Twilight. This was on purpose...I originally bought in soft cover, fell in love with the book and decided hard cover was the way to go. I kept both so I could loan the soft cover out to friends.
Are you serious?http://farm1.static.flickr.com/252/52...
I think out of all of them, there is one duplicate. I bought 99% of them, the rest were gifts or finds.
I remember buying all.
I have another 2 book shelves in the living room filled, and my son's book shelf is filled (he has the HP books and the Star Trek books).
I never counted, but I estimate my total to be around 400. Out of those I think there are about 200 novels.
One common habit we all at one point or another have admitted to is our OCD.
It could be worse. Books are great! Better then food! (depends on the food)
It could be worse. Books are great! Better then food! (depends on the food)
Some books feed me more than some food does.
Yes that is true. Actually when I was in Jr High & high school my mom would give me $5 to buy lunch at the mall. I would buy a book. She would get mad at me & I would tell her "I needed to feed my mind".
i only have like 10. i used to hate reading until 2 years ago.
Its hard to say at this point! But I'd say more than I have fingers and toes!lol And the list grows and grows, buying books is almost a obsession getting them and coveting them is almost as good as reading! Im a sick sick man!lol
It looks like I've increased to ~35 books now. Not a lot, but still enough to more than get me through the rest of the year.
I just went and counted (including the 5 bought on Sunday) and my total is 29. I was telling everyone it was like 15. SIGH. :-)
I don't know and to be honest, I don't wanna know. Definitely too many but I no longer care. When I retire in about 25 years, I will have enough time to read them and probably no money to buy new ones, therefore I have to buy them now :-)
Just 1 book, the Old Man and the Sea.I have a bookshop and books I haven't read, but want to, are out for sale. I daren't take them home. (But once home I dont' return them, they stay home).
Stef: That is the best retirement plan I have ever heard...
I have about 20. That is approximate. I love to buy books about WWII. I have read many of them. I have a flaw when it comes to reading nonfiction I'm afraid. So, there are many WWII books that I have not come around to and that is so sad. Well, I'm a sucker for a good mystery or thriller. So, I have quite a few nonfiction books that I really need to read...and Anna Karenina.
Ha,ha. I like your retirement plan Stef. I have two little ones, so you can imagine how much reading I do. I told my husband just last night that my dream vacation was an entire week of sleeping and reading in bed by myself. So, as soon as my kids are off to college...or whatever. I am going to do nothing but buy books and read them.
StefI love your plan! I should explain my book buying frenzy to my husband using those same words! : )
I don't buy books since they are very expensive.I get mine from the library. I currently have 9 books sitting on my floor to read.
When i was last time in belgium I finally decided to seperate all my unread books of the read once. Poor me!!!! Didn't realize how many unread I had. I also planned only to read those and not to buy any till I was leaving Belgium. Besides two books that I bought I managed. I had much many more unread once but after reading a lot during five months, I left with still 103 unread books at home!!!!!
I dont really have to much unread books at home. If I buy a book I read it right away.... But If the book is the least bit interesting to half way through it then Im like hanging up the phone on that book. No mather what. But If the book is interreating I read all the way through it , then I go crazy about it for about a month & TELL All my friends about it.
I have about 23. I know that's a little number compared to you all.Stef, I will use your reasoning when hubby rolls his eyes when I bring another book home. That's a good one.
More than I care to know! Probably around 70-100 in my case. I am working on reading them all! My problem is that I like to buy books. I've got some books that I enjoyed as a teenager (or younger) but am not so keen on now, and I may try to give them to more faithful owners by bringing them to one of the used bookstores in my town.
Oh jeez, Bliss. That's cool. How about a short list of favorite finds?I told my husband about the retirement plan. He says that it's not a bad idea...
Okay, retirement made me think of this...I was at Goodwill this weekend browsing the books (like I need any more) and chatting with one of the employees. I know, I spend too much time at GW because they're starting to know me by name. *blushes*
Anyway, I mentioned my stack (well hordes, really) of unread books at home and the employee (who I consider a GW friend) says, "Yep. You'll be one of those people when you go to the nursing home, we'll get boxes and boxes of books to shelf and resell."
It makes me sad to think all my hard work and finding of books is going to just go back to the store at some point. Hmpf!
Perhaps I'll have to make a will and in it designate the books have to go to a charity or library or something.
The Next Best Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast (other topics)Presumed Innocent (other topics)
Where the Heart Is (other topics)
The Black Book (other topics)
Norwegian Wood (other topics)
Hi, BTW, I'm a newbie to your group. It looks like fun!