Do you collect books?

[Phil]

I have a lot of books and used to be a horder but now I get rid of them or sell them on Paperback book swap when I'm finished. I keep a few. About the only ones I'll probably die with are my Arkham house editions and those given to me by my wife, parents and in-laws.

[CasualDebris]

I used to have a couple thousand but have gotten rid of many through Bookmooch, donations, a couple of garage sales, or simply to whomever wants. I still have maybe a thousand & will likely get rid of more. Many are in boxes.

Some I collect, like anthologies, particularly those Hitchcock anthologies that were popular throughout the 60s & 70s (they're not really worth anything since so many were printed; I just like them). I've recently started seeking these out again. I also collect both literary & genre journals/magazines, & have copies of many classics or out of print books.

[jb]

My collection is in limbo until we know where we will be living (hopefully The Florifa Keys). I need to have myy husband build me some custom shelves....but we need to wait and see.....

[Tressa]

That sounds like a nice place to move, Jenn. The older I get, the more I have a hankering to live in a beachy vacation-like area. And I don't even like getting out in the sun.

Zybahn, I used to enjoy reading the Hitchcock mystery short stories. There were also those small magazines, too.

[Kasia]

Tressa wrote: "That sounds like a nice place to move, Jenn. The older I get, the more I have a hankering to live in a beachy vacation-like area. And I don't even like getting out in the sun.

Zybahn, I used to en..."

I'm always split between a beech and forest type place for a house in the future (stuffed with books of course and good food to keep me going.)..

I buy books online often, even if I have them in an e-book format all ready or if I read them from the library. It's comforting to have them surround me, the paper almost murmurs to be read

[jb]

I really love The Keys (Marathon is where the turtle hospital is). I will have to devise some sort of plan to keep them up off the floor in case of hurricane/flood. I love the beach....just need lots of sunblock!
Books are most definitely comforting.....

[Bunny]

Im a hardback SNOB! My hb's are lovingly categorized on bookcases. My pb's are shoved on a rack in the back bathroom. HAHAH!!!

I keep all books unless it is a dup copy. In the case of a dup I will keep which ever is in better condition *since I buy a lot of USED* If the book is in bad shape but its a first run or autographed, I'll keep it AND the dup.

I wish I liked paperbacks. They sure are more affordable and take up much less space.

[BK]

I have 3 bookshelves full, and they are overflowing. I don't care much for hardback. I like paperback books because they are more affordable, portable and take up less space. Plus with my kid-sized hands, they are just more comfortable for me to hold. lol

I keep most of my books because if I like them, I will reread. Especially the poetry.:)

[Richard]

I have yet to get rid of any of my 180+ book collection. In fact I even have many doubles now because I've recently gotten into buying original editions. Would love to build some shelves to accommodate these books one day.

Plus I think it would be totally cool that one day my kids or grand kids come across my collection and start to enjoy the very same books I did.

[Jaime]

I have about 4,000.

[Richard]

4,000!!!! Crap that's impressive.

[Jaime]

Lol.
In my old apartment my largest wall was wall to wall bookcases. Many of them are in storage now, though. Even with my kindle it's hard to stop buying them, so I have stacks of them everywhere. Even the trunk of my car is filled with books.

[Richard]

Well I'm extremely jealous of you now. Really hope one day I can get a collection like yours once I stop moving around so much. You'd need an entire U-Haul truck just for books!!

[Jaime]

0ricky0 wrote: "Well I'm extremely jealous of you now. Really hope one day I can get a collection like yours once I stop moving around so much. You'd need an entire U-Haul truck just for books!!"

Actually yeah, that's what I had to get when I moved, lol!

[Richard]

Ha, totally worth it though. How long have you been collecting? What inspired you to start?

[Jaime]

Oh I had bookcases when I was 7. I've just always been an avid reader and I like having all the books I want to read right there when I need them. It's hard now as 80% of them are in boxes in storage.

[Richard]

Wow. That's so cool. It's too bad you don't have enough shelf space for all of your books. I can just imagine the looks on your friends faces when they come over to visit and see all of your books. I collect so many random things that I now consider it a disorder. For instance, a few years back I started collecting refrigerator magnets from all of the places I have visited and I will now need a larger refrigerator to accommodate all of my magnets. Lol, and let's not get started on the other random pieces of crap I collect.

[Jaime]

Eventually I'll have room again, though and I plan to have a room just for books :)

Oh yes I don't realize how bad my habit is until friends visit. To me it's normal to have that many books, but yeah, lol

Oh wow, I have my collections, too. Some days though I'd like to live in a minimalistic way so my house will look like a model and the only place that I'll allow things out of place will be my book room:). That's my dream at least.

[Richard]

Whoa now, I don't think you should be so hard on youself. Your friends may think your collection is extreme, but you have to realize that not everyone feels that way. If owning thousands of books makes you happy then I say don't stop. I personally think it's awesome and I'm by far a noob when it comes to books and this web site. I'm sure that I'm not the only one who'd love to own as many books as you.

[Jaime]

I'm not being hard on myself but honestly I don't want to live with any clutter, and I never said I was getting rid of any.

[Richard]

Jaime wrote: "I'm not being hard on myself but honestly I don't want to live with any clutter, and I never said I was getting rid of any."

Agreed, sadly right now my hallway closet serves as my library for now till my wife is finished with college and we can move some place else.

[Jaime]

0ricky0 wrote: "Jaime wrote: "I'm not being hard on myself but honestly I don't want to live with any clutter, and I never said I was getting rid of any."

Agreed, sadly right now my hallway closet serves as my li..."

I know, I'm looking forward to being able to move as well (dependent on a changed financial situation as well). Then I will have a room just for my books :)

[McKenzie]

My biggest downfall is that I have a collection of collections.

Throughout my life I've collected and still am collecting Hasbro My Little Pony toys, anime DVDs and merchandise, manga books, and books in general.

I have amassed a collection of over 1800 manga, some of which come from Japan. I have around 583 anime dvds and at least 600 My Little Ponies if not even much more than that. Hundreds more perhaps. My collection is in storage, sadly.

I don't know how many regular (non manga) books I have. I have some catalogued here but there are much more than what is here. I have some in storage that I have had for a very long time and have even forgotten I've owned. I really would like access to these books again someday.

I have a hard time parting with books, even ones I dislike. I also am a die hard hater of ebooks because I ADORE having a hard copy of the book. I don't want digital books. I love looking at the covers, feeling the pagers, smelling the paper. Call me crazy, but it's true!

I keep books I really liked. There are some books that I didn't like at all that I wouldn't mind selling or trading. But I want to keep almost everything I read.

I wish I could display all I have but I live at home with my parents. My mom gets mad at me for buying so many books but I cannot bring myself to stop. I just love reading and collecting.

[Richard]

Jaime wrote: "0ricky0 wrote: "Jaime wrote: "I'm not being hard on myself but honestly I don't want to live with any clutter, and I never said I was getting rid of any."

Agreed, sadly right now my hallway closet..."

Haha, so true. Right now I'm picturing a whole room in my basement designated as my office/library; one day I guess.

[jb]

I keep redesigning my dream home library. I love my books and own more than any of my friends. I probably have only about 500 right now but it is growing every month.

[KumeKei]

I don't have a colection per se but I do have loads of books.

Between me and my dad we must have 600+ books and it's getting hard to find space to keep them all tidy and acessible.

I only used the library when I was still in school and nowadays I buy most of the books I read (and some I trick my dad to buy. "hey dad you'd really love this book! - and then... it's mine!!!).
I treasure every book I own, even the ones I don't like particularly. My wife nags me about the space they take up but it's a secondary effect I'm willing to endure.

[Michelle]

I have 3000+ books in my home. 2000+ of those are fiction. I LOVE my books! I prefer hardcover, but also like trade paperbacks. I despise mass market paperbacks. Never buy them. Only end up with them if I get them from BookMooch (when the person does not indicate that the copy is mass market...major pet peeve) or win one in a giveaway. I have a collection of older ones that I've had for years. The only reason I keep them is that I haven't read them yet. I also have about 90 books on my Sony Reader right now. =O) Still don't think I'll ever truly be an eBook convert. Incidentally, did not buy the eReader...won it in a giveaway!

[Sonia]

I have a Kindle now and do get most of my books on there, but I have about 300 hardback and paperback books that I will never get rid of. I love my collection and will continue to re-read all of them.

[jb]

I love my collection so much! I keep adding to it every chance I get. I just got Anno Dracula (used) from BN.

[Michael]

Used to collect books. Then went the USB route and turned so many in but it worked out well . Got a lot of new books on account. Now I have a Kindle and may never buy pulp again. Unless it is something I just want for nostalgia reasons.

[Nora aka Diva]

Yes & no. I used to have a bigger collection but after the flood a few years back(4ft of water in my basement.)I lost ALOT of books. Currently the main books I am replacing are Koontz novels. I keep every book I buy until everyone in the house has had a chance to read it if they want.

[Kathy]

Overall, I keep my books. They're like "old friends" to me. I've always had tons of books, and I read endlessly. I have to admit, though, that several years ago, I was pretty much forced into "thinning out" my books because I simply did not have the room to store them all. Therefore, I had to take a bunch of them to the library that either were duplicates, or that I knew I was never going to read again. The process just about killed me. It was like taking my beloved dog to the pound knowing he could be facing euthanasia. lol.

My dream has always been to have my own library room in my house. This past year, I've actually done it. My books now all have their very own room, complete with comfy chairs for me to sit in while I read. They are a mix of paperback, and hardback. I prefer to read a paperback. It's easier for me to carry. My books are also a mix of read and unread. They're stored on my bookshelves by genre and then alphabetically by author's last name. :)

[Timothy]

My bookshelves are filled to the brim with hardbacks, paperbacks etc. I have been trekking them around the country for years and I will continue to do so. They represent who I am. I don't buy as many as I used to because I own a Nook but I still continue to slowly bring in more to the shelves.

[Juliette]

ummmm......yes a very definate,yes. having been raised the daughter of a librarian books are important.The feel the smell...I have a small collection of signed books the favorite being my Clive Barker signed books.I have some very ols books that I have collected through the years also.

[Kit★]

I most definitely collect books. I have a really hard time parting with any. My collection has been boxed up in those 20 gallon plastic tote boxes for the last few years sadly. There are probably 16-20 of 'em in the basement. The blue boxes with gray handles are for books I'm planning on keeping forever, mostly hardbacks, because that is my most preferred format, as well as some trade paperbacks, but also a few regular paperbacks when they were the only version available to me. The clear boxes with the green handles are for books I might be able to part with, maybe, but only for money or in trade for other books, not just gonna go givin' 'em away. Greedy, I know. I apologize, but hold my stance :)
My dream is to have a big beautiful library room with big windows, preferably with a view of water of some sort, river, lake, ocean, and maybe even its own patio or porch where I could sit when it's nice out. I'd like it to have a fireplace too, and the super-comfy over-sized leather chairs with ottomans, gleaming hardwood floors, floor to ceiling bookshelves with one of those nifty rolling ladders... sigh. One day before I die, I will have some sort of library room, or I will die unhappy and come back and haunt somewhere... a library or bookstore preferably.

[Juliette]

Kit★ wrote: "I most definitely collect books. I have a really hard time parting with any. My collection has been boxed up in those 20 gallon plastic tote boxes for the last few years sadly. There are probably 1..."

I want to come to your library room when you get it :)

[Kit★]

All book lovers welcome, we'll get Jeeves to bring some tea (or beverage of choice), and it'll be great :)

[Michelle]

Kit,
Glad to hear I am not the only one with boxes of books. As we remodle the house, for some unknown reason, I keep losing my book cases. I believe I have 4 big totes of books out in the garage and then I have another two big huge totes stacked up in the family room...I refuse to take them out to the garage because my Anne Rice collection is among those books. My husband says I am a book hoarder, which I probably am. I even hoard them on my kindle---have had this thing since March and have some how managed to collect over 600 books since. It's crazy. I too dream of the floor to ceiling book shelves with the rolling ladder...perhaps some day we will haunt the same library =)

[Alondra]

Matt R. wrote: "I was just curious how everyone maintains their collections of books. In my house we have shelves and boxes and boxes of books. Do you prefer hardcover, paperbacks or both (since some releases ar..."

All my books are on shelves. I usually start off reading paperbacks until an author has 'proved' themselves. I then purchase each book in Hardcover. The books are then placed in chronological order. and yes, I keep every book. If someone wants to borrow, I will buy it for them instead; because you know they will either keep it too long, dog-ear it or spill something on it. ....ggrrrr

[Kilgallen]

I too find it difficult to part with my books. Right now I have two overstuffed bookcases. I find it really hard to read library books because I am expected to give them back!

[Timothy]

I collect a little bit of everything. My favorite authors I try to buy in hardback when I can.

[Bandit]

all those HC books must have made your move exhausting, Tim
I stick with paperbacks, there is only so much a small zombie can carry

[Timothy]

It did make for a bitch of a move but I just can't let go. I'm an addict!

[RB]

Matt R. wrote: "I was just curious how everyone maintains their collections of books. In my house we have shelves and boxes and boxes of books. Do you prefer hardcover, paperbacks or both (since some releases ar..."

I please guilty! Yes, I collect books. I buy them online, in the shops, second hand, new... you name it. I think that I'm addicted. LOL

It's a mix what I buy: paperbacks, hardcovers, tradepaperbacks, 2nd hand... What I pick depends solely on availability and finance, not what it would look like on my shelves.

Books I hate I can easily get rid of (I'm not that addicted), but I wound't throw them away, so I normally bring them to the local 2nd hand bookstore.

I've tried to see how I would like ebooks, so I purchased an ereader for that purpose. I find it a cool invention, it's very handy to store and move huge quantities of books. I like how you can for instance change the font type and all that. Really handy, but it's not the same reading experience for me, I do prefer the printed book.

[Alondra]

Kilgallen wrote: "I too find it difficult to part with my books. Right now I have two overstuffed bookcases. I find it really hard to read library books because I am expected to give them back!"

I feel the same; and I love libraries. Such a wonderful thougt, to go in and just read for hours and no one bugs you about how much time you are taking to do so. too bad you have to give the books back... :D

When I die, that is where all my books will go. :)

[Althea]

Alondra wrote: "I keep every book. If someone wants to borrow, I will buy it for them instead; because you know they will either keep it too long, dog-ear it or spill something on it. ....ggrrrr "

If I kept every book I read, I would have to live in a castle or something! (Not that that would be a bad thing, but....)
When I moved to my house, I kept around 10 boxes of books that I've read and plan on keeping - for sentimental reasons, or 'cause they're signed to me, or etc.
I also have at least double that amount of books that I haven't yet read, but want to. (yeah, it's a little out of control)
But as soon as I finish a book, I either pass it on to a friend or trade it on paperbackswap.com. A book doesn't do anything if it's sitting being an inert object... I want people to read it!
But I agree, I won't lend a book, because - things happen. I'd rather give it, free and clear.

[Kat]

In Australia I had shelves and shelves of books. I never gave a single one away.

Then I moved to the Netherlands and had to pack them all away (they still live at my dad's house!). I live in a one bedroom apartment here, and it's just not practical (more like liveable!) for me to have so many books and English language books here are very expensive.

Instead, I have a few favourites (50 or so), and the rest are e-books.

That does NOT mean that when I move back to Australia I won't buy a whole lot of shelves and jam-pack them though :-D

[jb]

My husband has to move all of my books this week. I did get rid of a lot when I moved to one bedroom but not anymore. I just can't part with them.

[Brett]

When I call myself a bookaholic, I mean it. Currently my library has over 7,000 books, mostly paperback due to size.

In the past I have given away 2 collections when moving and ALWAYS regretted it. I usually wind up getting many of the same books back so now I keep most books.
I do pass books on that I either don't like, but more often ones that I really like and feel a friend will like as well.

All books are on shelves. My library/den/entertainment room takes up 2/3's of the bottom level of a split level rancher. About 800sf of 1200sf.

I am a bit anal about organization and keep everything alphabetical by author with genres separate as well as paperback apart form hard cover.
I keep my special limited editions, signed and otherwise special books one one bookcase and the several hundred to-be-read on another.

I keep an online library here on Goodreads but my main list is on LibraryThing.com, with a third on Shelfari.
Yeah, I have way too much time on my hands!

I imagine 70% of my time is taken up by books in some form or another.
Some people travel when they retire. I do my traveling in my mind.

[jb]

Bret-I regretted giving away my books as well. I donated about 400 books to the library and friends. I just don't think I could do it again. I was getting into organizing mine when now we have to move. I'm hoping to get some nice bookcases when we get settled.