Do you have bookcases filled with books at home?

[CatteryCatss]

I grew up without books at home, but my DM frequently read magazines.

Surprisingly, I turned out to be a big reader in adulthood. I have bookcases either side of the chimney breast filled with books (as well as LEGO sets and a couple of ornaments) I also have a bookcase on my stairs and in the office, which are filled.

Whenever I visit my DM, I’m reminded of my childhood without books and it makes me quite sad!

Exactly. They're demonstrating class status.

Apart from it being really odd to feel ‘sad’ about someone having their own choice of objects in their own house, virtually nobody says this about any other object. Only books. It’s very obvious what place they’re coming from, despite their desperate denial.

What's to be sad about?
Not having books isn't a failing.
I haven't got a single book in the house and I read loads.
The kindle gives me a dozen libraries! Why is that sad? Surely the point is the reading not the displaying of books.

And not everyone enjoys reading and that's fine too.

We have a lot of books. 12 bookcases of books when I last counted. Both DH and I are academics and we both read a LOT. Both our kids read a lot too. My parents (also academics) and DH’s parents also have thousands of books, which we will inherit. We have books in multiple languages as well as both DH and I are multi-lingual.

Exactly! 'I feel really sorry for people without a media wall.'

OR

'I'm sad for people that don't have a sunken living room.'

I feel like some people actually slipped into hoarders teritorry tbh. 😳

I feel sad for people who think that homes without conspicuous displays of books are soulless

In which case you're not buying the right books, or spending enough money. Some books are so beautifully bound and illustrated.

Yes. Many. Hundreds tbh. All art/ style related as they are my artist DD's. They always get commented on when people visit

OMG yes. I have a friend like this. She IS a regular reader, but she's got 100s of books she hasn't read yet. Yet she reads on her Kindle.

My work involves using books. Not being afraid to crack their spines.

But I am not interested in buying "display" books. I buy books I want to read - in my case on my kindle, or if it is a physical book, a recipe book.

I binned around 1000 books recently (live in non-english speaking country and nobody wanted them) but now have many hundreds in storage. I have many many bookshelves and 1000/ of books but I am aware that its quality over quantity now and I am trying to make sure I don’t leave an actual library for my kids when I die.

The right books are the books someone wants to buy.

I can think of about a million things I’d buy before a “beautifully bound and illustrated book”; that just doesn’t interest me. But you seem to think everyone should want that - why?

Yes multiple bookcases here all full so now if I want to keep a book I have to get rid of one to make room. It seems to work for me and I just pass them on to a friend of dd who is also a big reader.

@TheAmusedQuail yes I read daily. Currently reading Judi Dench's book "Shakespeare" and The Woodlanders by Thomas Hardy. And a non fiction one about 16th century explorations in North America. And the book that was published to go with the tv series Edwardian farm (its a bit big and heavy and liable to land on my head if I read it in bed lol) Am keen to get Unruly by David Mitchell but cant really justify another new one just yet.......
I read about 40 books most years. I imagine this year will be no different.

@IroningBoardAgainstTheWall for the joy of owning them. An art form in themselves- just looking at the spines cheers me up tbh. Looking inside even more so. Ive got quite a lot of reference books....... they get looked in regularly. Quite a lot of kids picture books (my kids now grown) because I love the art work in them plus the story/poetry of them. Craft books - because I make stuff from them. And I love just gazing at the pictures.

The joy of owning books = doth maketh me a happy person.
I feel sad when others say they dont own books because for me books = joy but it also = learning. I have learnt SO much from books over the years. Way more than from other sources eg the internet. Reliable, well sourced and referenced info. I often refer back to a book Ive previously read. I dont keep all the ones Ive read (only what I truly love) and I havent read all the ones I own (but Im working on it).

Ill bet you own things that bring you joy? Im sad for you if you dont own a collection of something that brings you joy. For me.......... its books!

Its not about class status either fgs. Its about me and what makes me happy.

We would visit the public library every week with DF, who was an avid reader. So always had access to new books. I have spare room full of books some shelves are double stacked to make more room with an additional two bookcases downstairs. I will happily reread my favourite books.
I have joined the digital age with a Kinder and also listen to audiobooks in the car.
But the feel of a book cannot be replaced by a screen. You can’t fold down a corner to mark a particular passage.
As a child I would read the back of cereal packets at breakfast, because we weren’t allowed to read at the table.

We have lots, though today have cleared on bookshelf and taken the books to a charity thing

Yes, unfortunately DH has loads of books about his hobbies which are in the front room in two tall bookcases, some are quite old. I have a few books about one shelf but use a Kindle or iPad for my reading.

@Yellowbananasarebetterthangreen what bring me joy is being loved and valued by the people who are important to me. Material belongings are far, far less important.

I have dozens of cookbooks for a start but I'm only slightly past the toast or pot noodle level of culinary expertise.

i'm guilty of this. Buy a recipe book but then use the good food website

Ehhh, books are so cheap and easy to come by, if I want to reread 1984, I'll borrow it from the library or buy it from world of books or charity shops etc.

Hahahaha. I think you might be my soulmate.

A tip. Get rid of them very, very gradually. 1 at a time. He'll never notice. (Only slightly kidding.)

But the feel of a book cannot be replaced by a screen

You can't increase or reduce the character font size of a book
You can't read a book in the dark without a reading light
I find holding a kindle while lying down in bed at night easier than trying to hold a book open
One kindle takes up less size and weight than a suitcase full of books