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A year of no book buying. Anyone care to join me?

378 replies

Parisbanana · 18/12/2016 20:24

I've had a dummy run, starting at the beginning of the school year in September, just so it didn't seem too daunting! But so far I'm embracing it. I buy a lot of books generally and just thought we'd got so many in the house. I do read the vast majority of what I buy, but I do have books I haven't read, and my husband and teenage kids have some great books I would love to read.
So over the past 3 months I have definitely decreased my bedside pile. I am currently reading A Christmas Carol which dh reads every December but I never have. It's quite a joy to browse our book cases and spot things I haven't read and think this is the year I'll get round to it! Or to reread old favourites.
And I've just been made redundant so tightening the book buying belt is even more important.

Anyone fancy giving it a go?

OP posts:
MimsyBorogroves · 18/12/2016 20:43

I've started downloading books to review on NetGalley...does that count? Grin

mmack · 18/12/2016 21:35

I'm planning on buying no fiction in 2017 until I've read all the books I actually own. I must go through my bookshelves in the next week and make a list-I also read most of what I buy but there must be at least 20 or so unread ones about. I do plan to buy a couple of non-fiction titles though.

MermaidofZennor · 19/12/2016 06:35

I have been thinking about doing this too. I have far too many books waiting in the tbr pile, both paper and ebook. And a few audio books too Blush.

I plan to start in January.

joellevandyne · 19/12/2016 06:52

Ooh, yes, I have at least 30 I haven't read, so I am on a blanket ban until 2018. Have requested no book vouchers at Christmas, which is normally my go-to.

user1475406595 · 19/12/2016 07:01

I have a couple of books to read in 2017 on my shelves but I plan to re embrace going to the library rather than buy books. Lucky to have 2 community led ones within walking distance though.

happystory · 19/12/2016 07:08

What a good idea! Have shelves of books in one room, mostly mine and mostly read, but some years ago, so definitely worth re-reading. I even bought a book the other day then realised I had it already! Plus although Dh is not a big reader there are ones there he's recommended to me that I've never opened.

mmack · 19/12/2016 12:03

I have 33 unread fictions and 4 unread non-fictions. Nearly double what I estimated. That should keep me going until June at least. A lot of them are classics so I am going to cheat by ordering the new Tana French and the last few Charlie Parker thrillers from the library for light relief along the way.

Izzy24 · 19/12/2016 15:15

I should, I should do this! I loved Susan Hill's book about doing exactly this (Howards End is on the Landing) but

I've just answered the door to find Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher which someone recommended on a Christmas Books thread the other day. And I'm sitting in front of the fire with a cup of tea and a mince pie so

Whoop whoop!!!

crapfatbanana · 19/12/2016 15:17

I'll join in... but I might have to buy my reading group books if I can't borrow them. I won't buy anything else though. Anything else I read will be from the many, many books I already own.

hookiewookie29 · 19/12/2016 19:18

.......no....this can't be done......surely it's not possible?!!!

FiveGoMadInDorset · 19/12/2016 19:22

I am coming out in cold sweats at the thought, I have a problem in that DH has brought me a reading spa for Christmas, will that count as its a present?

FetchezLaVache · 19/12/2016 19:26

I'm in if charity shops and 99p Kindle downloads don't count. Wink

booksandcoffee · 19/12/2016 19:28

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

bigkidsdidit · 19/12/2016 19:32

I keep thinking I should do this. I have 15 fiction and 3 non fiction on my pile.

I won't, though, I have no will power - and I DO have Amazon prime on my phone Grin Plus isn't the final Wolf Hall out this year? I couldn't miss that.

I might try to alternate - one old unread, one new.

IfartInYourGeneralDirection · 19/12/2016 19:32

I actually did this for all of 2016.
I only read books I already owned or from the library, I also got one wild card book from the library each visit. A random from a section I'd not usually stop at.
I've enjoyed it, finally plowed through all the books under my bed. I read a few awful ones but found two genres I now love, definitely carrying on for 2017.

bigkidsdidit · 19/12/2016 19:34

I have so little will power that I've just ordered Howard's Way is on the landing BlushGrin

bigkidsdidit · 19/12/2016 19:35

Howard's END Grin

anonymice · 19/12/2016 19:35

I will give it a go. I have tried on my own for the last two years and failed though. I have poor willpower !

Artandco · 19/12/2016 19:39

I don't own any books I haven't read. I buy, read, then buy next one . All mainly on kindle now

IPityThePontipines · 19/12/2016 19:42

I actually did this for all of 2016.
I only read books I already owned or from the library, I also got one wild card book from the library each visit. A random from a section I'd not usually stop at.


That sounds like a fantastic idea.

I'very already done the Count How Many Books You Read In A Year Thing, so this would be great.

Although, does Kindle Unlimited count as a kind of electronic library...

booksandcoffee · 19/12/2016 19:45

Apologies for the earlier outburst. I had the torturous experience of going in my favourite bookshop earlier and my DP stopping me from getting any books as I should wait for Christmas. That was bad enough, the idea of doing it for a year was just too much.

FetchezLaVache · 19/12/2016 19:52

No need, booksandcoffee - it's an understandable reaction, particularly with your user name. Grin

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badhotfanny · 19/12/2016 19:55

I've got about 50 unread, mostly fiction, only a handful on my kindle. I'll definitely be doing this.

OrlandaFuriosa · 19/12/2016 19:59

I'm in if charity shops, library and free kindle don't count. I've got about 30 non fiction chunkies to read.

Oh and books to read as presents (which might just get read beforehand) don't count either.

booksandcoffee · 19/12/2016 20:12

Thanks Fetchez. I actually have quite a few unread books lying around, but browsing is such a joy and, of course, reading the best finds. Today's visit to the bookshop was just a bit too weird.

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