Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

Is anyone else addicted to buying books?

38 replies

BabyJellyShark · 28/04/2023 11:15

It's a bad habit that I really need to stop, especially as I'm not reading all that much at the moment but book hunting is just so satisfying.

I've bought 45 books in the past month. They didn't cost me much as I got them from a charity shop that's currently selling books 5 for a pound and from a library sale, 50p a book but I really need to cut down. In my defence though I did get rid of dozens of books last month.

Does anyone else enjoy book hunting as much as they enjoy reading(Possibly even more)

OP posts:
tobee · 28/04/2023 21:20

Yes!

I'm always looking for that pot of gold at the end the rainbow; a satisfying book that I can't put down.

I haven't bought any books since April 11th and before that March 26th. But I've made a conscious effort and now just put things in my wish list. It was my birthday in March so I took that as a signal to over indulge then.

My shelves are totally full and I have piles on the floor.

Damn, just remembered I also got a book subscription book in early April but I'd technically bought that last year.

😬

ThedaBara · 28/04/2023 20:48

My friend and I are doing no buy this year because we are both addicted to buying books and have full shelves. Its been very interesting so far, I've realised that I've kept some books without reading because I actually didn't want to read them, the moment when I had been interested had long passed (Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse had been on my shelf for a decade, I gave up 50 pages in).
The only bending of the rules is being allowed to accept gifts, DH got me a couple for mothers day.
It's gotten me out of a reading slump and I have a list of books to buy at the end of the year

LysHastighed · 28/04/2023 20:22

I never let myself buy new books as I wouldn’t be able to stop and I can easily read a novel a day. At 5 for a quid you were unreasonable not to buy more. I don’t really understand the concept of having two many books in the house, surely wall to wall books is perfection.

Easterbunnywashere · 28/04/2023 20:14

Yes I buy far too many. I had two arrive in the post today. I do think it is an addiction because I really don't have time to read them all.

Original poster
BabyJellyShark · 28/04/2023 18:55

I do use the library too and I'm trying to go in there more often though it was doing that which resulted in me buying 15 of the books!

OP posts:
Original poster
BabyJellyShark · 28/04/2023 18:54

Thanks all. It's interesting to hear what others do.

It is very difficult to resist when it's 5 for £1 and the money goes to charity or the local library. I don't feel quite so bad about it now as though I have a huge pile of books to get through, I do regularly get rid of others. I will try to make more of an effort to read though.

OP posts:
FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 28/04/2023 13:53

I'm on a book buying ban because I buy and don't read. It's obscene.

Giggorata · 28/04/2023 13:52

I seem to have slowed down on my reading lately, although not on my buying rate.
I have a lot of books and used to be able to answer yes truthfully to the inevitable question about had I read them all. Not now. Dunno why.

Ohow · 28/04/2023 13:14

Yes me! I have a whole bookcase of 'to read' books in order!

pjani · 28/04/2023 12:51

5 for a pound is an absolute bargain and you really had no option there. If you can afford it, you're buying second-hand and clearing out as you go (so no hoarding), this sounds like a very pleasurable activity and I'd say go for it! I actually think the smell of books in a second-hand book shop is a mood booster.

If it's ever too expensive or you're getting cluttered, I quite like a long browse around a really good, big bookshop with couches, to record the books I want to go and put on order at the library. And library browses can be just as enjoyable.

Pashazade · 28/04/2023 12:48

I'd be buying those kind of figures if I had a good supply OP! I try and offset this tendency by getting them out of the library. My long suffering OH (in this respect!) just sighs when a few more arrive. I do have regular clear outs too as I find after a few years some loose their hold. I've taken to keeping the first one in a series and disposing of the rest so if I want to reread that is a jumping off point/reminder that I enjoyed it, and I can source the rest from the library or second hand.

8roses · 28/04/2023 12:15

No, I don’t buy a new one until I finish the last one I’m reading

mdh2020 · 28/04/2023 11:17

I have collections of books on various topics - Samuel Pepys, T E Lawrence, WWII, Antarctic exploration. I’ve got rid of 100s of books and simply replaced them. What no one can see is the unread books on my iPad. All three of us, sisters, buy books and we think it is because when we were growing up we could never afford to buy.