The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion
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What do you do with your books?
Hi Robert, I'm a hoarder. I keep my non-fiction books which means that my office at home is full and I have more in the loft/attic and many are crated up in my garage. I buy mainly from second-hand sources. I do give away to charity shops or friends most of the fiction books I buy, but these are far fewer in number. I guess I just can't help buying books.
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I exchange with my grown daughter, more outgoing than incoming, give to friends, and I participate in paperbackswap. Earlier this year I purchased a Kindle, which will keep down the number of physical books.
I have to admit I am a book hoarder but I am lucky enough to have a den that I converted to a library so I have some room (but I am filling it up quickly). I do give some of my books to our small local library which always needs additions to their shelves. I want others to be able to share. I do not have, nor plan to have a Kindle...only because I love the feel, smell, and the look of hardcover books. It just isn't something that I want although it is right for others.....and the world of reading is changing. Call me old-fashioned!!!!
There are very few books that I will keep; I have always been a giver-away. Then I discovered Bookcrossing and Bookmooch. That plus the books I send to and get from GR friends and my life is complete.
Most of the books on my shelves are my unread books. There are some books I keep. But when I moved a few years ago, I took a bunch over to one of the local charity re-sale shops. Like Hayes, I am in Bookcrossing and release a bunch there.
Jan C wrote: "Most of the books on my shelves are my unread books. There are some books I keep. But when I moved a few years ago, I took a bunch over to one of the local charity re-sale shops. Like Hayes, I am i..."If I find a book or series I like, I keep them for re-reading in the future. I then reach a stage where I am over-run with books and have to down scale, I have one friend I pass them on to, who reads the same type books I like, the 2nd hand book store rarely takes them, they say they have too many from this genre, so I suppose I am a hoarder at heart.
Hayes wrote: "There are very few books that I will keep; I have always been a giver-away. Then I discovered Bookcrossing and Bookmooch. That plus the books I send to and get from GR friends and my life is complete."How do I find Bookcrossing and Bookmooch, sounds interesting.
Mary wrote: "Hayes wrote: "There are very few books that I will keep; I have always been a giver-away. Then I discovered Bookcrossing and Bookmooch. That plus the books I send to and get from GR friends and my ..."
www.bookmooch.com
www.bookcrossing.com
PM me if you need explanations or help :-)
www.bookmooch.com
www.bookcrossing.com
PM me if you need explanations or help :-)
I initially keep all my books but am willing to seller the lesser ones at yard sales. Always keep books by my favorite authors even if I never re-read them.
I keep about half of my books; other half, I give to the library for their booksale, which is where I got 90% of them in the first place. Recycling at its best.
Hoarder. I will give away books that I didn't like, though.
I'm a bit of a hoarder; I always like to have books on my shelves, especially books I've really enjoyed or series I collect. I also have some very old books that I like to keep. But I do vet periodically and exchange my books for credits at my used book stores. I don't plan on using an e-reader of any sort as I do like having a real book in my hands.
I'm a 99% library user, so it's not really an issue. The few books I do own get donated back to the library when no longer wanted.
I'm working very hard at not being a hoarder. I've run out of space and simply have to let books go. Not seeing a dent in the piles yet though. I rediscovered the joys of using the local library a couple of years ago and now make a point of supporting it as much as possible. Also I was given an iPad for my birthday and I love it for reading and storing books on.
Cheryl wrote: "I'm a 99% library user, so it's not really an issue. The few books I do own get donated back to the library when no longer wanted."Thanks for your input I should use library more tend to just use for txt books if need them
MissJessie wrote: "I keep about half of my books; other half, I give to the library for their booksale, which is where I got 90% of them in the first place. Recycling at its best."like the recycling same as me
Hayes wrote: "Mary wrote: "Hayes wrote: "There are very few books that I will keep; I have always been a giver-away. Then I discovered Bookcrossing and Bookmooch. That plus the books I send to and get from GR fr..."hi dont know what bookmooch or crossing are Is this a local thing
I love keeping my books and have them in my shelves. need a new one soon haha
Robert wrote: "hi dont know what bookmooch or crossing are Is this a local thing "
Bookmooch is an international book trading site. Basically you list books you are willing to send (you are given the choice to send internationally or not as the sender pays for the postage), and you look for books that you want to get. It's all done with a fairly complicated point system, so you should go to the site to understand that better: www.bookmooch.com
Bookcrossing is a little more complicated, so I'll let Wikipee explain it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BookCros...
Bookmooch is an international book trading site. Basically you list books you are willing to send (you are given the choice to send internationally or not as the sender pays for the postage), and you look for books that you want to get. It's all done with a fairly complicated point system, so you should go to the site to understand that better: www.bookmooch.com
Bookcrossing is a little more complicated, so I'll let Wikipee explain it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BookCros...
I'm a bit of a hoarder, though I'm working to thin my shelves out a little. I participate in Bookmooch also, which is fun beyond just the book swapping.
Hello:I keep about 90% of the books I read. The rest I share with others. I enjoy collecting books.
Have a Great Day!!!
The "Creature"
I too am a hoarder, have to fall over books to get to bed, books on every table ,shelves, and more. Trying paperback swap, donating to Friends of the Library and using the library to check out books.
Problems arise though when you are number 150 waiting for Erik Larson's new book.
Take a cue from Pee Wee Herman. Gather all the fruitcakes you get every Xmas, build an extra room, and keep your books in there!You don't even have to worry about invading vermin, because NOTHING eats fruitcake!!!
I re-read my favorites and since I have limited shelf space, those are the only books I buy (which is still a little overwhelming).I depend on my local library for the majority of my reading material ... their selection isn't terribly wide but they have a great Interlibrary loan person though I do try not to take too much advantage.
Very bad library user. Moderate book hoarder (not as bad as I used to be). All bookshelves in the house are full and there is a pile on the bedroom floor. I trade excess books with my daughter, give away to friends, donate to charity shops and occasionally sell to a second-hand bookshop. I keep ones which I think I may re-read. Now that I've purchased a kindle, I have hopes of purchasing fewer physical books. Except for cookbooks. I don't want them on kindle and I keep buying them. I may need a twelve step plan!
These days I get the majority of my books from Kindle, but I do have a large collection of paperbacks. The good thing is that they all get read because I have a very large family that can help themselves to any of my books.
Melki wrote: "Take a cue from Pee Wee Herman. Gather all the fruitcakes you get every Xmas, build an extra room, and keep your books in there!You don't even have to worry about invading vermin, because NOTHIN..."
LOL too funny!
I keep my books, unless I disliked it or just don't think I will want to read it again, then I use BookMooch. Others have already explained but it's great, even if I don't see any books on there I want to ask for I just save my points and add a bunch of books to my wishlist and wait for them to become available, whilst saving space by getting rid of my books in the meantime.
I admit, I am a hoarder. I do loan or give a few books to my sister or a friend if I think it's something they might like, and anything I don't want to keep goes to the library's used book sale.
I'm a hoarder I suppose! I never really got back into reading until last year so my collection has only just recently started to grow. Any books I really enjoy I will keep but any I find so so I will most likely sell or donate them.
I joined Bookmooch and have now come to the conclusion, that because most of us are hoarders, it is impossible to find the really good books on the Bookmooch site, for this very reason. We don't let them go.
Mary wrote: "I joined Bookmooch and have now come to the conclusion, that because most of us are hoarders, it is impossible to find the really good books on the Bookmooch site, for this very reason. We don't le..."
I think you're right, Mary. Although every now and again I do find a real gem.
I think you're right, Mary. Although every now and again I do find a real gem.
I collect books, but every couple of years I weed out the ones I'm not likely to read again and either trade them at my local indie bookstore or donate them to charity. And then, of course, I bring more books in.
I don't like the word "hoarding." That has a negative connotation. I collect books as if they were treasures, because to me, they are. I love the feeling of being surrounded by my books. They give me comfort and a feeling of my personal history. Luckily, I live in a big, old house so I have lots of room for them.
Like Pete, I don't call keeping books "hoarding". Instead, I think of it as collecting prized possessions. Especially prized are those books written and autographed by fellow mystery authors who have become friends. I've also saved most of the hardcovers I've bought or been given, especially treasured reads from my childhood. The paperbacks I buy for quick reads and outdated nonfiction books get donated to the local library.
I'm a combination type. I read ebooks, but my house is filled with the traditional type. Hey, I like not having to be tied to a power source, what can I say? Like Elizabeth, I'm a huge fan of paperbackswap.com and the only frustration I find is that when funds run low, I can't afford the postage to mail out books so I try not to list the ones I've just read. I scrounge up the postage for the ones that are already listed though. I also have a very bad habit of sharing with friends and family...even if I know 200 people are waiting for it on paperbackswap. (Sorry!) Occasionally, I hoard books of a series that I'm super into or an author I particularly love. Eventually, I usually part with them but not too long later I've recollected them again.
I keep my books in a bin in my closest. I have so many and my husband got tired of dealing with them so he suggested I get an reader. So now that I have one and I have been giving my books away, but there are a few authors that I keep.
I have a lot of books. My favorites or ones I would read again I keep, a good bit I haven't read yet, and some I take to the used bookstore.
Check out my pics on my profile......that's what I do with them. My little book room!
Lee, I've seen those pictures. That's a lot of books!
There was a time when I bought books from the grocery store, B and N online, Costco, anywhere I found them. Now I'm retired and can no longer afford to continue that mad whirl! Now I check out almost all of my books from the library and donate $25 a month. Happily, our county has 6 libraries and I can usually find what I want from one of them; they transport them "up the hill". (I live in Lake Tahoe.)I'm gradually giving all my books to my local library. Well, except my language books.
i always use the library with rare exception. The community where i reside has a local library on the honor system.
I'm incredibly possessive with my books. I stick special notes in them saying 'this book belongs to...' Why, because once I've read them I like to have them around and available to read again some time. However, I've just bought a kindle and am not sure how I'll cope with no hard copy!
I used to be like you, Nick; had probably thousands of books. It's only in the last few years that I've become altruistic enough to want my books to be read by others; a combination of softening in my old age and the need to de-clutter (although, books are NEVER clutter!)
My mother-in-law is doing the same as you. I guess I'll get that way soon.
It really is difficult to decide to donate, trade or sell a book. I agonize over every one. But I remind myself that I'll be buying more and I feel okay about it. Most of the time.
If I love the book I keep it, if it's in good condition but I won't read it again I take it to the library. Alternatively if it's not in the best condition and the library wouldn't except it I take it to the local hospice shop.
Although I fail to keep my books in perfect condition, I still keep them with me for years and can never part with them.
The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group
Books mentioned in this topic
A Humument: A Treated Victorian Novel (other topics)The Last Letter (other topics)
The Bridge Club (other topics)
I am from England and really enjoying being on this site.
I live in a small flat(apartment)so have little rroom to store books
I tend to buy second hand from charity shops then re- cycle to charity shop my mum works in for hospice. Don't want a Kindle. What do other people do? Are you all hoarders? charity shop has made £1000 in a day on holidays love to hear your thoughts