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Original poster

Books: Do you look for them when entering somebodies house for the first time ?

289 replies

Shosha1 · 12/04/2020 12:42

I must admit I do. I love to see what people are reading. It always gives me a sense of them.
Absence of books make me feel uneasy for some reason.
Which is absolutely stupid, as you wont find one in my house.
I cant hold a heavy book now as Lupus has affected my hands, so I read on a kindle, but most of my 500 odd books are on audible.
DH has all his on audible too.
We do have childrens ones for DGC tho.

OP posts:
ILiveInSalemsLot · 12/04/2020 13:23

I don’t look for them, but if there are some around, I’ll ask if I can take a look. I just love seeing what books people enjoy and getting some recommendations.

Original poster
Shosha1 · 12/04/2020 14:23

I dont judge, as I said you won't see books in my house. But it is always a joy to see books in others.
I love when someone can recommend books to me.
I have found some wonderful podcasts for books while locked down (just starting week 4 as vulnerable)
I do like a good crime book and have been listening to the podcast The Tartan Noir Show, it brilliant.
She's a Rec is another good one. By a woman (Lauren Lyle, great young actress), foremen, recommending women.

@MrsCastiel I love Town Like Alice. My parents had all Neville Shutes books and I read them as teenager. That one in particular resonated as at the time, 1970s, I was living in Singapore.

OP posts:
EmpressJewel · 12/04/2020 14:25

You won't find many books in our house.

I mainly read ebooks and any paper books i have are left at the book exchange at my local train station, for someone else to enjoy.

OH isn't a reader.

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Books
Bezalelle · 12/04/2020 14:29

Of course! It's the first thing I look for.

WeirdAndScary · 12/04/2020 17:06

I have a large amount of books. They are all currently displayed in the room they are meant for e.g. cookbooks in the kitchen, my psychology reference books in my office and my fiction books are in my lounge. But I suspect that at some point o will have books in every single room much to my DHs horror.

I don't look for them in other people's houses but sometimes am a bit bemused when I see shelves and shelves of dvds or games for Xbox. But everybody is different and I dare say they are equally as bemused by my books.

Zaphodsotherhead · 12/04/2020 17:45

One of the best things about moving into my new house is that I can have bookshelves downstairs! There are currently three full sized bookcases crammed with books in the back half of my living room. I call it The Library.

In the old house the books all had to be upstairs and I hated it. It felt like banishing them.

middleager · 12/04/2020 17:53

No. I don't have many books around as most were donated to our charity bookshop or friends.

I have eye problems now and listen to audio books instead.
I love reading, but hope I wouldn't be judged.

titchy · 12/04/2020 17:59

I love my books. We have 3 Billy bookcases completely rammed, kids (uni age) have two each in their rooms. I very rarely read a book twice but just love love love having them.

HoldMyLobster · 12/04/2020 18:00

If you came to our house you'd think all we do is cook and travel.

If only...

TisTheSeasonToBe · 12/04/2020 18:01

Well I don't always enter the library room so why would I see their books?!!

PurpleBlueAnemone · 12/04/2020 18:05

Yes. But as PP said I'd probably not judge too much unless they didn't actually read books at all.
I have a lot of books and have to have periodic culls. I've also got a lot of ageing paperback which are falling apart but I can't throw them away.

coconuttelegraph · 12/04/2020 18:10

No, I have zero interest in what anyone else is or isn't reading or where they choose to keep their bookcases.

Original poster
Shosha1 · 12/04/2020 18:10

As I said, I dont have any books about. All mine are digital or audible. I look for books in a house, as they type book usually gives me a fair idea of the person's personality. I see them as an eye into them.

OP posts:
Crystal87 · 12/04/2020 18:12

I read two to three books a week but have none on display. I can't bear clutter, especially when I've got toys in every room. I pass most of my books on once I've read them anyway as I dont read them twice.

TattiePants · 12/04/2020 18:13

I don't specifically look for books when I go to someones house but if I see books I'd always ask if I could take a look. I love reading and chatting about books I've / someone else has read.

PerditaProvokesEnmity · 12/04/2020 18:25

Some of you are just weird!

I would no more throw out a book than I would a cat. The books live in the house ...

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 12/04/2020 18:31

Got rid of all mine once I had a kindle, so much easier and less waste. Lots of charity shops now don’t take books.

Even before the kindle you wouldn’t have spotted any books though as I hate clutter so cupboards etc all have doors on here so as to look tidy and minimal.

Geraniumblue · 12/04/2020 19:20

I would struggle to see books as clutter. But I think I must be peculiar. We have three bookcases in the living room. One in the bedroom and one in the box room. We live in a tiny house and I do clear out books regularly. But many I love and reread.

BikeRunSki · 12/04/2020 19:23

Absolutely! My dad used to judge people of how many feet of book filled shelves they had. The first time he went to the house of the man who became his most long-standing friend, he remarked that he had even more books than him.

MrsCastiel · 12/04/2020 19:26

The bookslivein the house why do you feel that way?

I have my special books as i mentioned earlier, but to keep a book for the sake of keeping a book seems a bit wasteful to me. I'd rather it went out to be used again that loiter on a shelf in my house, forgotten and collecting dust.

PerspicaciaTick · 12/04/2020 19:30

No - I assume that people keep their books upstairs like I do.

MrsCastiel · 12/04/2020 19:30

@Witchend ah thank you, that makes sense I suppose. If they are being reread.

I'm the same with DVDs (well I was, before online streaming became a thing) in that if I watch a film it is rare I will rewatch. Again I have a set list of films that I adore that I can watch time and again, but the list is probably about 10 films long!

MaJoady · 12/04/2020 19:32

I always think you can tell slot about a person from the books on their shelves. Like pp have said it gives an insight into their interests and preferences.

I'm also finding out on this thread that where/how people store their books is giving me an insight. I might be wrong of course, but it's interesting!

MrsCastiel · 12/04/2020 19:35

@BuffaloCauliflower aw yes, I have a few of my mum's childhood books too - they're not on display as they're almost in tatters she read them so much, but she has written childish notes inside and they are very precious.

I completely understand keeping precious books, I just get twitchy if there are shelf upon shelf of books not being read, in my house.

(What anyone else has in their own house is entirely up to them and I wouldn't be judging positively or negatively at the sight of groaning bookcases or no bookcases.)

I'm quite sure many people would have a field day at the clutter and tat that I do keep in the house however 😂

IvinghoeBeacon · 12/04/2020 19:36

I can’t see books as clutter but I would hope people don’t judge on the visibility of books generally. In the sitting room only my son’s books are on display as there isn’t room for any more, other than a small pile on the table next to where I sit. The rest are in the kitchen (cooking and gardening ), study, landing and bedrooms, so many people wouldn’t see them. I also get lots from the library and I have a kindle and listen to audiobooks via the library app. I do pass on books if I’m not likely to read them again and I have got rid in house moves, but I have read a lot of books so a percentage do stay and that amounts to rather a lot!