If you had lost all your books in a fire, would you replace them, or just get them all on a Kindle?

[PeekaPeeka]

Just that, really.

We had some stuff in storage while we're having some building works done at home, and everything was completely destroyed in a huge fire at the storage unit on New Year's Eve.

Some people have lost literally everything they own, so I am trying to feel lucky that we have "only" lost a relatively small proportion of our belongings.

BUT amongst other things, I've lost every single book that I owned. I'm gutted. A collection that I've built up over the last 30 years or so. Books that I've cherished and loved. Maybe 200-300 in total

I already have a kindle, and it's useful, but I don't love it in the same way as actual physical books.

So: if this were you, would you try to replace your collection, however gradually, via a mixture of second hand and new?

Or would you just think fuck it, it's fewer bookcases to dust and less "stuff" in the house - and just buy everything (eventually) on a kindle instead?

@PeekaPeeka*,*@LBOCS2 and @whosaidwhat I also lost a lot of stuff in that fire. Antique grandfather clock that belonged to my grandparents and a valuable sofa which also came from my parents' house which we cleared out after the death of my father. Also, ALL my photos and letters. I am admittedly a bit of a hoarder and had kept lots of childhood letters. I am not sure when I expected to sit down and re-read them all, but I liked knowing they were there. After my father died I found solace in looking at his writing and old photos. I am gutted but also his loss has meant that I know that nothing is worse than that and that i should focus on the here and now. I love books and like other posters value the fact that they had been given to me by certain people, inscribed etc. What a nightmare and awful start to the year! Things can only get better???

That sounds horrific! I have about 2,000 books and I wouldn’t be able to itemise them all. I’d replace a good number as I re-read mine: Harry Potter, Margaret Atwood, JRR Tolkien, classic kids’ books, a lot of classics such as the Brontes, Jane Austen etc (not the Russian ones though, I never liked them), cookbooks (not all of them, only the good ones), reference books I need for work, some beloved trashy stuff - but I wouldn’t replace the lot of them, I’ve plenty that I won’t reread that wouldn’t be worth buying again. I got rid of children’s books at some point in my stupid teens and have spent years buying things I read as a child back again because they were so lovely. But my favourite books have been read to the point of falling apart in some cases, so i can see if you didn’t do that then it might not be worth it.

Oh, satatcey, I'm really sorry to hear that. It must be awful for you, losing all those things connected to your father.

Sending you and a great big hug.

Very easy question to answer, is yes I certainly would but probably over time, as a lot of my favourites are hardback and old, which would need to be sourced from several like minded special shops, or dealers in specific types.
In my present book collection I have a mixture of both hardback and paperback copies, some no longer in print and have had to hunt for them over the years.
To me, my personal book collection is a part of what makes me, me, so not having them would be taking a part of me away, as it were.
I would also want to replace the lovely additional more modern hardbacks that my Son has chosen to give to me, in the last few years, as each one was carefully chosen for me.
On a more modern note, not every book or authors works are currently available on Kindles, so I would be unable to replace most of my collection using this method and in any case, all though I have a Kindle, I prefer physical books.

Oh @PeekaPeeka, @LBOCS2, @whosaidwhat & @satatcey
I feel hugely for you having lost such dear things. I know on the one hand that you are physically here and safe and that is really the most important thing. But I know I would be gutted to lose stuff that is part of my history.

I would have to replace my books - I have the kindle app and it has it’s place - I love the feel and smell of books.

I think the dreadful forest fires afflicting so many countries this year have brought home to me how illusory is our sense of permanence.

I wouldn't replace them actually I got rid of all my books to charity and recycling a few years ago and found it liberating. One of my friends did it because she was fed up of carting them when she moved and it inspired me to do likewise. But I very rarely re read books. They were just decorative. Now if I finish a book I try to pass it on straight away.

Also in your case you would end up with cases full of books you haven't read or opened even - as you say they wouldn't be "your books"

I'm sorry for your losses though. Perhaps pick a dozen or so to replace and put the money in a separate pot to fund new books as you want them?

I'd replace; i love my books, they probably arent on kindle. Some would be difficult to replace without serious moolah too. I'd grieve if my books got burnt

Sometime ago I had my least favourite stuff, including books, stored in the basement of our house. We had a flood that brought in waist-deep overflowing drain water. So I lost the lot, but it was insured new-for-old. Spent a long time making lists and then down at the local bookshop with their copy of Whittakers Books in Print, looking up the current prices. Things I'd paid 3/6d for were worth £3. It included all my degree textbooks which I'd never need again.

This helped ease the pain, I did lose some precious things. Total claim was around £1000 IIRC. It was payment for a very dirty job, wet stuff stinks very quickly.

Now I have some 2000 books indoors and I am slowly culling them to save my heirs from having to do so. But most are being bypassed in the cull. Trash fiction is going. But all those photo books, precious novels, some ancient childhood Nature Study texts - most will have to come with me to the care home. Had a Kindle, it's ok for thrillers but nothing else.

PS what is dusting bookshelves?

I'm so sorry for you, OP! That's a horrible loss.

I think I would build a new collection of favorite books by searching online (eBay) and wandering round secondhand bookshops. Meanwhile, I'd read from my kindle.

I know it’s wanky but I get a lot of pleasure looking at my books and remembering them and flicking through so I’d replace the physical books but in all honesty, despite culling my shelves, if I actually lost the lot there are only around 50 that I’d really miss. I do read on a kindle but it frustrates me as I can’t get to grips with turning back a few pages just to re read something or check. Other people are better at it so maybe you are. Like persistaunt I think they are only ok for thrillers but I can’t put my finger on why. I keep mine at work and it is pretty much all thrillers which I read at lunchtime but very few of my actual books are this type. I don’t know why that is. Now I’ve typed this out I’ve realised it’s no help. Perhaps buy your favourites that you know you’ll re-read as ‘books’

I haven't read the thread yet but I love my books, I mean a genuinely adore them!

I think though that what I'd probably do is replace all the books by my favourite authors and some of my more unique books or ones that I have particularly enjoyed and have reread but I wouldn't replace the others.

My problem is once a book enters my home I find it very very difficult to let it leave again so it's not a good idea to replace them, I already have way more than I should.

Oh my goodness, Iv just gone back and read the thread!

I'm so sorry to all of you who've lost your precious things and memories.

I'm Also sorry I didn't read the thread first before I posted.

I had to dramatically cull my book selection when we emigrated, from thousands down to 4 boxes. I gave so many to the charity shop they sent me a huge box of sweets for Xmas! I gave other special ones away to friends who I knew would appreciate them, and sold quite a few as well. I occasionally get a pang if I think of one and go to get, and them remember its gone. And I really would be upset if I lost any of the books I did bring with me as they are very special to me. But I adore my Kindle Oasis and only really buy cookbooks and reference books now (paperbacks here are wildly over priced). So if I was in your position I'd use some of the insurance money replacing the important books, and the rest on something lovely, like a holiday. Books are just objects really, its what they say is the important thing really.

I don’t like ebooks so a kindle is a no go for me. I just wouldn’t replace the majority (we have thousands). Some are very difficult to replace, many I don’t even remember and most wont be read again for a long time anyway.

So sorry that happened to you OP I hope you can replace most of your stuff with the insurance money. I didn’t lose mine in a fire but in a real sense I gave up nearly everything I owned, including around 800 books, when emigrated 15 years ago. In that time I have reacquired about 300 and have about another 150 on my iPad some of which Are longt8 e reread favorites I have hard copies of. I too prefer the look, smell and feel of a real book but ebooks can’t be beat for portability and weight when traveling, and I do a lot of traveling.

How heartbreaking, Peeka. I adore my books and couldn't imagine losing my favourites. I'm assuming all your family and friends are aware of the fire - could you ask for books in lieu of birthday gifts? I had my 40th last year and DH and a friend planned a big party. But instead of gift cards etc., they asked for each guest to gift me with their favourite book. It was amazing!

Thank you everyone.

I've started trying to list all the books, and it surprisingly difficult to do. Which probably tells me that although I had my favourites that I would read over and over again, there were many that I am not so bothered about and won't really miss.

So, I think I will probably do what many of you have suggested: buy my absolute favourites, and then gradually build up a collection on a kindle.

I wouldn't replace, but start a collection again. If I find the books that were lost that's a bonus. My books have a memory, experience or emotion attached to them, I could get another copy if lost but never replace.

Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry to hear this OP, how awful.

I would replace the books, yes, particularly the ones I felt to be most important. However, I would get them second hand to cut costs. There are tonnes of second hand books available on Amazon - often you only pay 1p plus postage, and it will tell you what sort of condition they are in.

Books are so precious. A kindle isn't the same as the feel of a proper book in your hand. Plus I get fed up of endlessly looking at screens. That's just my opinion though.

Why don't you treat yourself to a break in beautiful Hay on Wye and browse all the marvellous second-hand bookshops there? You're bound to find lots of the books that you had plus plenty that you didn't. So sorry for everyone who has lost stuff.

I didn't lose my books as such but when I came to live in the UK I left them all behind - it made no sense to bring books, we didn't know if we were going to stay or not, so we just came with literally a laptop and a trolley each. Ten years later I am very happy I left them behind because I've built a new library here that's much more connected to who I am now. I went back home a couple of years ago and I marie kondoed my storage space and got rid of all the books that sparked no joy and kept only the ones I absolutely loved, put them in airtight containers and hopefully one day I will be able to bring them over. But to answer your question, I would probably only replace the ones I want my children to read, the ones my mum passed on to me and that I feel closer to my heart, disregarding how good they are in a literary sense.

I'd replace Every. Single. One. My collection is pretty big, and I've spent upwards of £1k on them that I'm aware of, but I've got a few that are worth a bit just by themselves, plus I've got all my notes etc for my dissertation, my future theses and essays I'm working on. It's more the hours of making sure I've got them all back that I'd be worried about.

Ohhh I really like the idea of spending some of the money on a trip to Hay on Wye, I've always wanted to go there! I bet you would find lots of your old books and some lovely new ones too.

Some of mine are irreplaceable, and some are replaceable but not so far on Kindle.
I'd get the ones I could on Kindle and mourn the rest (unless I won the lottery, then some of them probably would become available again)
I would be heart broken at losing some of mine though, I know exactly which ones I would grab in an emergency!

Have any of you had any luck with the storage place yet?

I know last time I looked in at the thread they had been pretty crap!

None of my business really but I was thinking about you all.