The Next Best Book Club discussion
Book Related Banter
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The "I-Must-Not-Buy-Any-More-Books" Thread
Not only does it make me impatient, but somehow it makes me a slower reader. As if I don't absolutely have to finish quickly because the others are waiting and won't be going anywhere anytime soon.
I have a confession. The neighboring county had their library sale this weekend and not only did I go, but I got books as well. *shakes head and cries just a little*
Jennifer wrote: "I have a confession. The neighboring county had their library sale this weekend and not only did I go, but I got books as well. *shakes head and cries just a little*"*pats on shoulder* Never mind, just begin again. It's what I do on a very regular basis.
My library is having their book sale this weekend, but I doubt that I will be getting anything. I'm seriously so broke I can't pay attention, but still I'm giving away stuff on my blog. LOL Sad. But that's stuff going out... so a plus, right?
Sam wrote: *pats on shoulder* Never mind, just begin again. It's what I do on a very regular basis.*sniffle* thanks. I renew my vow to not buy anymore books until its closer to my birthday!
Thanks! I'm gonna try a lot harder! :)
Kandice, Jo, Fiona: I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only one. Kandice - it's interesting that you say it makes you impatient and slow; when I'm impatient with a book I tend to skim.When I'm not particularly enjoying a book, I usually start mentally (and sometimes literally) tapping my foot and going through a checklist of what's on my shelf. I did that this morning when I finally abandoned two books I was hating, and decided I have to start another one.
...The irony of it is that with all those unread books to choose from, I've picked up To Kill a Mockingbird, a book that I've read at least 20 times - and I'm probably underestimating that number. Maybe reading an old, dear favorite will settle me down a bit.....
Jennie wrote: "When I'm not particularly enjoying a book, I usually start mentally (and sometimes literally) tapping my foot and going through a checklist of what's on my shelf. I did that this morning when I finally abandoned two books I was hating, and decided I have to start another one."Jennie, I am exactly the same way!! LOL
and I thought I was in a bad shape. well, I guess I need 2 make that promise b4 I end up with 600 unread books in my room. However it is not just the space, I keep on downloadin too much ebooks that it is so overwhelmin I dont even know where 2 start.
I'm trying to be good(ish) on Bookmooch and I am cutting down on the amount of book blog giveaways I enter (but free books who can resist?)Then I get a message that I won an audio book from GR's First Reads.
See it's not just my fault. I am meant to have too many books :0)
I've been pretty darn good these past couple of weeks since imposing my ban. I haven't bought any new books since June 12th, returned my library books and only got one book from the library which was already pre-ordered so doesn't count. I've also read 3 books from my owned shelf and took out a pile of books the other day which I plan on getting to soon-ish. :)
Well with 400 something books it's hard to make a dent. lol. BUT you are on your way there and you are not adding to the piles, so that is a VERY good thing. Congrats!
After 6 months of not buying a book (receiving is a totally different matter :0) I gave in to the charms of the Book Depository and bought myself Soulless and Incarceron.I really wanted these for a long time and they're YA so they should be a quick read, right? (Or whatever excuse will help me sleep at night)
Esther, Soulless isn't YA, but it is a quick read! :P
That's the wolf one? Hey sure, why not? :D
I have been following this thread for a while, wondering when a good time to pop in might be. well, seeing as how I just spent about $150 of money I don't really have to spare on a recent splurge between Barnes and Noble and AbeBooks.com, and am now BROKE, I think I really need to join this thread. I have always been an avid user of the library, but since their budget was cut last year, the wait for new books has grown exponentially!
And now that I have more books than I could ever hope to read, it is time to put a ban on myself.
But since it is an addiction, I thought I could use a little help in staying true to my goal.
And I am amazed that some of you have managed to go 6 or 7 weeks without buying!
I hope to go at least 1 month, and then if I make it there, hopefully extend my goal! We'll see!
Emma, good luck! Last year, I made it 4 months without buying any new books. I'm sure that you can do it. :)I think once I get back from my vacation I'm going to put myself on a new ban too. Probably August 1st. I need to read some of the books I already own!!
You can do it Emma!! It's not so hard if you just take out a couple of your owned books and make your way through those first. Pretty soon you will be making a dent in your piles. I've made it 3 weeks now without buying. I even walked into a bookstore- felt up a couple of books and walked out with nothing. whoohoo!
Oooh.. that IS tempting. ML books are soooooo gorgeous.
I am amazed at your strength! I would never be able to walk away from an Austen book-she is my weakness! And months!? Well, I will start small, as I said. I think I have one more package coming...
I have taken your suggestion and made a stack of books I own that I was excited about at the time and then forgot about. Wow! There are tons!
And some ARC copies of books that I keep meaning to send along to friends...thanks for the push!
Fiona wrote: "...However I am having a moment of weakness right now. I already own the Austen books in an omnibus but seriously tempted to chuck that and get myself separate books from the modern library editions. £23 for the lot of them at book depository... .."Great minds think alike.
I also have all the Austen's in an omnibus - a hardback - soooo heavy. And I am thinking of getting paperbacks.
I have a mixed variety of Austen books... I'd love to have a matching set of them all. *drool*
I know! I don't need them though and they are expensive... *lip quiver*
Angela wrote: "I commend you all on your vow to quit buying books! I typically am more of a library person, but recently I have found myself picking up a book or two at Target or going on Amazon and ordering a fe..."Also keep in mind that the cigarette smoke really messes up the smell of the library book that you pass on to the next borrower.
This chilling report from an ex smoker. Quit cold turkey in December of 1982 after smoking for 22 years. It was the hardest thing I have ever done but I did it and 3 weeks later I met the love of my life, my husband and he told me later that he would not have even asked me out if I was still a smoker. Even though I hate the smell of cigarette smoke now I still miss it. Can you believe that?
Fiona wrote: "Hmm they're not too expensive. ON BD for me they're mostly in the £5 mark. So maybe if you look online."Are you pushing someone else to buy books?! And on BD no less. *tsk, tsk* LOL!
Judith wrote: "Also keep in mind that the cigarette smoke really messes up the smell of the library book that you pass on to the next borrower. This chilling report from an ex smoker. Quit cold turkey in December of 1982 after smoking for 22 years. It was the hardest thing I have ever done but I did it and 3 weeks later I met the love of my life, my husband and he told me later that he would not have even asked me out if I was still a smoker. Even though I hate the smell of cigarette smoke now I still miss it. Can you believe that? "
I really hate the smell of cigarette smoke on books. It's so yucky!
That's awesome that you quit and have stayed away from cigarettes from so long. Sounds like it was meant to be between you and your hubby ♥
Can someone tell me whether or not for sure that "The Passage" by Justin Cronin is the July book of the month? About a month ago when I was lurking on the group and found it interesting I thought i read it somewhere and now I can't find the subject. I bought the book at BJs for 1/2 of the retail price. I also bought the last copy they had. It seems like this book is flying off the shelves. Any way I'm reading and only on page 50 and it gave gave me the heebie geebies so bad last night that I had trouble going to sleep. I need to talk to somebody who is reading this book. I'm not saying it's not good because I'm hooked and I can't NOT read it now.
Judith wrote: "Can someone tell me whether or not for sure that "The Passage" by Justin Cronin is the July book of the month? About a month ago when I was lurking on the group and found it interesting I thought ..."LOL What a dilemma!
Fiona wrote: "No, you buy something first!!!
/dirty tactics"
The Booker is about the only prize I really respect and one year I would loved to read the short list.
Judith wrote: "Can someone tell me whether or not for sure that "The Passage" by Justin Cronin is the July book of the month? About a month ago when I was lurking on the group and found it interesting I thought ..."Judith, yes, The Passage is the July group read - or one of them. :)
You can find the discussions, both spoiler and non-spoiler in this folder: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_...
Fiona wrote: "Unfortunately for you Jo, my ban is going perfectly though if you wish to break it any time soon you have my full support. A couple of nights ago I dremt that I went into Waterstones and agonised..."
It's nice to see that you stayed firm Fiona, even in your dremas!
Jo wrote: "How is everyone doing? Bans going well?"I posted this elsewhere, but this is how I'm doing:
I've been on my ban for a whole month and haven't bought anything. Yesterday I went to Borders because I was craving one of their Seattle's Best frozen drinks. They had a blowout sale and although I looked and stroked I walked out empty handed. I had to talk myself down from a couple of books, but I did it.
I got caught stroking by one of the nerdy sales people there. He insisted on me purchasing the Dresden Files- Storm Front because it was his "favorite", which he repeated to me like 5 times. I had to dodge him after obligingly reading the back cover because he kept staring me down in the fantasy aisle. It's like he knew I wasn't going to buy or something, so he was trying to tempt me. O_o
*sits with popcorn* I think I'll stay here to see who breaks first!
Sam wrote: "*sits with popcorn* I think I'll stay here to see who breaks first!"*sits next to Sam and passes the Goobers* Mmmmhmmm, this should be good. lol.
I haven't banned myself but more like added limits. I'm only buying 25-50 centers for the next few weeks. I can hit up garage sales and friends of the library shelves. I can go to the two bookstores I have trade credit at but only if I buy used books that will total a few bucks, not $25 or more a pop.I went across the Columbia River and signed up for the library in Washington (ours closed here in our little county). I paid $95 for the year but figured it will be a whole lot cheaper than what I've been doing.
I have to stop buying as many new books what with starting grad school in the fall. Even though I will still be working full time, money will be tight. Part of it is budget with all of the expenses for the next two years and part of it is a time consideration with not having any time to read novels and such.
Whew, I feel better having posted this now. It helps with goals if you write them down.
Although I protested, I went into a book store yesterday with a friend and everything was 50% off! I was sooo tempted, but the $3.50 left in my bank account kept me in check. I so wish I were able to take advantage. There were so many books that were on my list for about $2.50! Sigh*
Jackie wrote: "Sam wrote: "*sits with popcorn* I think I'll stay here to see who breaks first!"*sits next to Sam and passes the Goobers* Mmmmhmmm, this should be good. lol."
They haven't broken yet though .. that will be the best part! Who will it be?
Oh, yeah, I brought a book too! *taps currently-reading* Maybe this will make them break *rubs hands together* hehe
My friend just gave me a list of fantastic books to check out and I can tell they are going to be books I want to own. And once I looked them up on Abebooks.com, I am terribly tempted-free shipping and they are only $2.50. Grrrr....But alas, I am still broke...
Sam wrote: "They haven't broken yet though .. that will be the best part! Who will it be? Oh, yeah, I brought a book too! *taps currently-reading* Maybe this will make them break *rubs hands together* hehe "
Haha! Yeah, or maybe I should talk about my big splurge coming up at the end of the month. Lots and lots of books all for under $4 and on Monday it's a whole bag for $5. Whooohooo! ;)
Jackie wrote: "Sam wrote: "They haven't broken yet though .. that will be the best part! Who will it be? Oh, yeah, I brought a book too! *taps currently-reading* Maybe this will make them break *rubs hands toge..."
Oh, and I have gift vouchers and money from my birthday last month. I'm going on a shopping spree tomorrow, which obviously means a trip to the biggest bookstore around.
OOooo, so what are you going to get?
When I got my email notification to say there were new posts on this thread I just knew Fiona had fallen off the wagon!!I got 2 10% off coupons from BD but I have been a good girl. :0)
Fiona wrote: "hmph"Face up to your own sins and stop trying to tempt others :0)
LOL Fiona. I can't believe you caved in. Good job on resisting for over 2 months. I'm almost there. I think that by not actually imposing a ban on myself it's easier to resist, because technically I can stop by my favourite bookstore any time. What I've noticed though, during the last the month and a half of not buying any new books, I managed to read 20 books. =) My TBR list is shrinking!!!
Hi Fiona,you should have come down to Frome on the 11th of july if you live near Marlbourgh, then you could have blamed me conning you into buying a [some:] book[s:]. It is a good job Kynne wasn't 'on the wagon'.
All the best Paul Rix [oldgeezer:]
By the way Fiona, I had the launch of my new 'grow your own book', 'beyond the potting shed' at Frome, of course with a discount! I think you might like it. All the best Paul Rix [oldgeezer:]
I have like two more days to go and then my ban is over!!! It's been a little over a month I've been on it.
I think you should stick to the ban, Jo. I went through this with my DVD collection, accumulating hundreds of movies and never watching them. I started selling off stuff and realized I was getting rid of stuff I had never watched because I had lost the desire to actually do so once I owned it (the novelty wore off because I could watch "whenever," then I never watched them at all).Books are the same except they take much longer to read than a movie does to watch! I decided to focus on enjoying what I have instead of buying more and more and once I'd gone about six months I didn't even miss the buying. Because it's not really the books you want, it's the pleasure of getting a new thing. I looove new things. I have bought more books than I should in the last six months for this reason... but not too many (maybe 10? Always paperback, always discounted, often thrift shop). But the books I read are from the library because I can get something new and read it right away. My own books sit unread! So I am now trying to wean myself off books too, even though I don't have the same problem I did with movies.
Anyway! Bravo on self-denial. You want to get to a point where you can buy books you want to read without feeling guilty or having to justify it to yourself (or going without supper for a week!).
The Next Best Book Club
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...Of course, I can be impatient in general, but having a whole bunch of books to choose from often makes me less likely to stick with the ones I'm having to force myself to read.