The Next Best Book Club discussion
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How many unread books do you have at home?
I know Elizabeth, I just put the ones that are in my next up stack on "To-read". It's probably easier for you to ask about a book and I can say if I have it! LOL A lot of them are older books, I'm getting more of the newer books from the library now because of my mounting piles.
♡ Eva ♡ wrote: "Thanks for making me feel more normal paula! LOL You have almost twice as many as I do (at your last count anyway!). Next time my family looks at me like I'm nuts I'm going to have to dig this post...Glad to help Eva! LOL Just don't tell your family my name, they might call the therapist and have me committed!
♡ Eva ♡ wrote: "Oooooh. I have to have every single one, all of my books listed. There's no way I could ever have them sitting at home and not listed on GR! LOL "Well, maybe asking for all 1200 is a little much. I know I have a few books on my unread shelf that aren't on GR. I'm not sure I'll ever read them and I didn't feel like going through the motions. But I like to take a peek at readers' shelves to see if they like the same sort of books I do. So, Paula, with your own library, do you have everything under the rainbow, or is your collection somewhat concentrated in just a few areas?
Wow, Paula & Eva! It's so good to know I'm not alone! I have over 300 owned unread books, and I recently joined the "I MUST NOT BUY ANY MORE BOOKS" thread. It's so hard though! I am passionate about collecting books. I get the majority of my books through paperbackswap or at book fairs, so I rarely pay full price for a book.Thank you guys so much for posting! My family and friends think I am INSANE for having so many books, and always wanting more, so it's nice to hear from other book addicts! :)
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "♡ Eva ♡ wrote: "Oooooh. I have to have every single one, all of my books listed. There's no way I could ever have them sitting at home and not listed on GR! LOL "Well, maybe asking for all 1200..."
I look at other people lists for the same reason- I actually like seeing a rating/review different than mine more than when they're the same. That way I can see differences I might not have noticed on my own. A friend of mine just reviewed a book that I gave a 5 to and she gave it a 3. We're pretty similiar with our tastes in certain genres so it was neat seeing that!
Jessica wrote: "Wow, Paula & Eva! It's so good to know I'm not alone! I have over 300 owned unread books, and I recently joined the "I MUST NOT BUY ANY MORE BOOKS" thread. It's so hard though! I am passionate ..."Haha! Show them out to-read and I-own lists! LOL
I saw that thread and for about a half a second I thought about checking it out. Then I realized it'd be a wasted effort.
I'm a member at PBS to- have you ever looked at bookmooch.com? They do things a little differently than PBS but the two of them together is the best. The points are much easier to get, it's worldwide so more of a selection, it's not first come first serve- it's whoever gets to the book first, etc. I love it!
When I moved to North Dakota, I only took my absolute favorite books, and some of my books that I haven't read. That made up one box. But I had six boxes of books that ended up in storage at my mother's house. About half of them had not been read, and the other half I hadn't read for a really long time. I have this weird thing where I want to save the books that I own that haven't been read, so that if I ever go to the library and can't find ANYTHING, I can pick up one of my books and read it.
I will definately check out bookmooch Eva! I think I'm going to have to bail on my book buying ban. I just enjoy it WAY too much. It is my one addiction, and I'm going to enjoy it! I also love hitting up the book sections in thrift stores. I have found SO many books in great condtion, and one thrift store here in my town sell them for 25 cents each! That's just too good a deal to pass up!
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "♡ Eva ♡ wrote: "Oooooh. I have to have every single one, all of my books listed. There's no way I could ever have them sitting at home and not listed on GR! LOL "Well, maybe asking for all 1200...
They are everything under the rainbow. My list here on GR of finished books are the books I've read since I joined. I didn't want to add ALL the books, it would take a while. I like looking at others shelves to see what we have in common also. : )
Jessica wrote: "Wow, Paula & Eva! It's so good to know I'm not alone! I have over 300 owned unread books, and I recently joined the "I MUST NOT BUY ANY MORE BOOKS" thread. It's so hard though! I am passionate Jessica you are in good company! LOL I belong to bookcrossing. Don't know if you've heard of it, but basically when you've read one of your own books, you can register it at bookcrossing, get a number for it and put it out anywhere for someone to find. It's a lot of fun and I feel like the book fairy! LOL They also have a place where people from all over the world put books up for rings or rays. If it's a book you want to read, you just join up and they send the book to you when it's your turn. It just costs postage to send it to the next person. It's just $2.35 in the US to read a book you've been wanting.
Jessica wrote: "I will definately check out bookmooch Eva! I think I'm going to have to bail on my book buying ban. I just enjoy it WAY too much. It is my one addiction, and I'm going to enjoy it! I also love ..."Oh man- I forgot about the ban and here I am telling you about a book swapping site! LOL Sorry!!
Paula wrote: "Jessica wrote: "Wow, Paula & Eva! It's so good to know I'm not alone! I have over 300 owned unread books, and I recently joined the "I MUST NOT BUY ANY MORE BOOKS" thread. It's so hard though! ..."bookcrossing is pretty cool. I only have an account for when I get a bookcrossing book- I don't actually register mine in but maybe someday when I have more time. It is cool seeing what the previous person thought and where it was before, especially when a few entries are there.
I didn't know they had a swap like feature too though- I thought you just left the book somewhere or used a site like BM or PBS. That's pretty neat although the last thing I need is another swapping site right now!!
Here is my bio page on BM if you want to see what a page looks like- http://www.bookmooch.com/m/bio/evamarie
This is interesting - almost every room in our house has bookshelves, and most of them have been unread by either my boyfriend or I, or both of us. Clearance racks and bookshelves are my Achilles heel, but also I spend so much time in the library that many of the books in my house go unread - not because I'm not interested but because I know they'll always be there (which I know because I keep moving them from house to house, hehe!). I would say the thousand range would be a fair estimate in this house.I am trying to use these books in my home for the reading challenges here as much as possible, but even that's tough because I find so many at the library I wouldn't normally pick up either. In any case, the library at least is helping cure me of my habit of nickle and diming it in the clearance/bargain sections of bookstores. My wallet appreciates it if nothing else. :)
I can only guess but there might be around 40. Not so much compared to some of your TBRs ;)
Carmen wrote: "I can only guess but there might be around 40. Not so much compared to some of your TBRs ;)"Do you ever go to pick something to read out and feel like you can't find what you're in the mood for? That's why I started going beserk in the beginning. (That and I have OCD....duh. LOL) But now I never have that problem and I'm happy with it but I don't know if everyone is like that. I have certain moods where I just want non-fiction and even more specific where I may was a memoir about a celebrity, sometimes even more specific than that and with so many books I usually don't have a problem finding what I want. LOL
The biggest negative though is that really great books sit around for SO long.
I've waited for books before that I was just dying to read and then they come- I breath a sigh of relief that it's here anytime I want it- and then wait months or years to pick it up. LOL
Eva: you've got a good point there. But I try not to get more then 50. Even with that it shouuld be possible to find something for each mood- plus if I cobntinue buying books like I did lately I'll be out of money quickly ;)
Mine still accumulate, even when I'm broke! People pass them on to me - especially since they know I'll read anything that catches my interest!
Carmen wrote: "Eva: you've got a good point there. But I try not to get more then 50. Even with that it shouuld be possible to find something for each mood- plus if I cobntinue buying books like I did lately I'll..."You're right- it would be hard to not be able to find what you want in a group of books that large too!
Do you ever go to pick something to read out and feel like you can't find what you're ..."
LOL Eva, I suffer from that syndrome also!
In a way, I totally love having so many books at home to pick from. I agree with Eva & Paula, no matter what kind of mood I'm in, I always have plenty of choices!I haven't even set foot in the library in over 2 years! It's nice knowing I have all these books to keep me company whenever I want them!
It is nice Jessica, I agree. I love going in my room with all my books and just looking around to see what I might want to read next.
Paula wrote: "Do you ever go to pick something to read out and feel like you can't find what you're ..."
LOL Eva, I suffer from that syndrome also!"
I don't really have that one anymore Paula! I was asking that because I have this awful little habit of making sure I have hundreds and hundreds.....and some more hundreds of books in my house because I'm absolutely terrified of going to look one day for say a non-fiction book about a celebrity and I don't have any options!
She had mentioned having less books than me and I was wondering if she had that problem with hers. But then she brought up a very good point- that would be hard to have happen with the amount of books she has also.
The amount I have is pure overkill I think! LOL
(I just got 4 new ones today! LOL)
LOL Eva, I suffer from that syndrome also!"
I meant the syndrome of buying more books that you are so anxious to have and then let it languish forever in your mounting pile. Sorry, I didn't pick out the correct passage to respond to. : )
Paula wrote: "LOL Eva, I suffer from that syndrome also!"
I meant the syndrome of buying more books that you are so anxious to have and then let it languish forever in your mounting pile. Sorry, I didn't pick ..."
I got ya now! LOL I thought you meant the syndrome of not being able to find what you're looking for! Don't you hate that about texting/on-line chats? I don't know how many times I say something that confuses someone else or get confused myself!
O god.. i wouldn't know how to count them. My room is basically a library (and yet I'm always complaining I have nothing to read or I'm actually out buying or borrowing books!)I have bookshelves that are overflowing, boxes in the closet, under the bed... I've read alot of them, but there's also so many I haven't!
Eva, yes, it does get confusing sometimes!
I have to confess to having 90 of them. My husband says I'm a Book Dragon. I hoard them.
Crimsonbutterfly wrote: "I have to confess to having 90 of them. My husband says I'm a Book Dragon. I hoard them."Oh my gosh- I wonder what he'd call me?! LOL A lunatic? My mail just came and I'm trying to hurry and finish looking at my email notifications so I can rush out to see if anything I've ordered has come today!
I must have some slight mental illness. :)
Liz wrote: "Fiona wrote: "If you want the truth, I have 831 that are on my TBR pile in my bedroom lol.Using 6 bookcases and 4 piles on the floor. 1st pile is library books, 2nd pile is what books have been s..."
Liz, I only use my bedroom for my books. BUT my swaps are on lounge floor behind the lounge door.
My collection would be much larger, but my upcoming cross-country move is forcing me to head in the other direction. My owned shelf is down to 5, and I have some borrows sitting around, but that's it. I'd like to think that I can start accumulating again once I get to Portland (mmmm, Powell's.....), but realistically I should hold off until we eventually buy a house, so I won't have to move them again. We'll see if my resolve holds in the face of temptation....
Fiona wrote: "Liz wrote: "Fiona wrote: "If you want the truth, I have 831 that are on my TBR pile in my bedroom lol.Using 6 bookcases and 4 piles on the floor. 1st pile is library books, 2nd pile is what boo..."
This is exactly what I do- my books in my bedroom and my BookMooch and PaperBackSwap books in the family computer room (my computer is in my bedroom.)
Carmen wrote: "Eva: you've got a good point there. But I try not to get more then 50. Even with that it shouuld be possible to find something for each mood- plus if I cobntinue buying books like I did lately I'll..."My inability to buy books make me seriously miss having a disposable income, and I can't get a job until at least September but probably January :( However, I can usually get my parents to get a few for me, especially as over the summer I need to buy several for school.
Fiona/Eva--I'm impressed by your organization. I'm not signed up for any bookswap sites because right now I don't have lots of books that I want to give up.
Liz wrote: "Carmen wrote: "Eva: you've got a good point there. But I try not to get more then 50. Even with that it shouuld be possible to find something for each mood- plus if I cobntinue buying books like I ..."You know what- paperbackswap is a site that you can get one book for one credit (audiobooks are 2) and you can buy a credit for like 3 bucks. So you're basically buying a book for that without ever sending anything out. You can send out a book instead of buying a credit to get it but you don't have to. I do both- I send a ton and buy a ton on there! You do risk getting a crappy book once in awhile but I've gotten well over a thousand books between the two sites in the last 9 months or so and have had exactly 2 that weren't in good shape. It's worth it if you think about it like that.
Bookmooch, you can't buy points there but usually if you have about ten to give away you have a decent start. It's worldwide (if you want to ship outside the country) so there are so many more users than PBS.
They both have their pros and cons if you ask me!
I swapped quite a few almost brand new college textbooks on there too- some people were thrilled to get them I'm sure. I lived a decent distance away from the school and didn't feel like driving back to sell them to the bookstore. (Stupid, I know.)
Eva, I hadn't thought of swapping textbooks! Good thinking. However, I have to say I may try and sell some of mine for reasonable prices soon as I'll be graduating in May of 2010. I wonder if there is anyone on paperback swap who would like a somewhat written in copy of To the Lighthouse...
Liz wrote: "Eva, I hadn't thought of swapping textbooks! Good thinking. However, I have to say I may try and sell some of mine for reasonable prices soon as I'll be graduating in May of 2010. I wonder if the..."Oh no, Liz- don't trade yours- it's just plain dumb! LOL I lost a good bit of money. It was sheer laziness on my part but someone got real lucky!
I mean, next time you need some do a quick sweep of the swapping sites- it's worth it since it's so easy and you never know. I'm sure the person I sent mine too wasn't expecting it and I'm sure she was thrilled. You can make a wishlist, put any you know you'll need on there, and then they'll notify you about listings. Most are old I'm sure but there are always lazy people like me! At least I hope I'm not the only one lazy enough to do something that stupid! LOL
I tried to categorize my TBRs last week and fitting them into the boxes was more like a jigsaw puzzle than organization. I didn't count them, but I would guess 60 or so. But at least I was able to check for duplicates and refresh my memory of what I had.
Sad sad...I have too many to count. With my husband bringing in books constantly and my inability to not walk away without a purchase at any bookshop, I've been inundated with tbrs. Lucky me! :)
Oh my. I feel deprived I only have about 20 tbr books. I am working my way through them now.I gave away many books a few years ago, before I knew about goodreads. I am sorry now that I gave them away. Many of them were first additions. My daughter salvaged a few from me, so i do have a few left.
I have about 50 books unread. I try to keep them all together on a 3 shelf bookcase in the corner of the hall (at least that is my newest goal). I like the idea of going down and browsing to pick a new book... I do buy too many books but now with this new bookcase I am curious if I will continue - stay tuned...Oh = no duplicates
According to my to-read list I have 73, including library books. But then, I've only been on here since March, and my would like to read list has since grown out of control. I'll catch up to you all yet.
OMGoodness! Until now I had not counted my unread books. I have 103 books that I own which I have not read plus 8 library books. Crap! I don't have any reason, excuse or lame justification. I just like books ... a lot!! :P Sadly, I am planning my next outing to a bookstore already, along with an on-line order. Crikey!
I'm up to about 251 unread books. I'm acquiring them faster than I'm reading them and I'm a little ashamed. Plus, the library sale is about two weeks away...
You girls better take speed reading. and get crackin'
carol (akittykat) wrote: "You girls better take speed reading. and get crackin'" How funny Carol!!
I probably have at least a hundred books that I haven't read. This is out of several hundred, but it's still pretty bad lol.
haha too many to count for sure. And sometimes I totally forget that I own the book and when I head to the Half Price Bookstore, I end up accidentally purchasing the same book twice. I really gotta stop buying and start reading. I have gotten much better though. I go to the library all the time. Now my problem is taking out too many books at a time and never finishing them all before they're due. I've got 21 books out right now. No joke.
Angie wrote: "haha too many to count for sure. And sometimes I totally forget that I own the book and when I head to the Half Price Bookstore, I end up accidentally purchasing the same book twice. I really gotta..."I have that same problem; I recently bought Uncle Tom's Cabin only to later realize (it took me a week to figure it out) that I already had a copy. I have taken to jotting down many books that I still need in the "Notepad" section of my cellphone so I can just look for those when I am out.
The Next Best Book Club
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Oooooh. I have to have every single one, all of my books listed. There's no way I could ever have them sitting at home and not listed on GR! LOL