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!

Yes but tbh I’m not much of a reader these days- maybe one a month.

Now I think of it, no-one in my book club has any books in the open, but they all read avidly. They may have secret libraries, though.

Not any more. After I retired I got rid of all the academic books.
If I read a physical book I donate it as soon as it’s finished. I don’t want to leave more than absolutely essential for DDs to sort out after I die.

Not adult books because our books are usually all library books or we pass them on once read because our flat is small and neither of us like to reread.
But we do have book boxes for the childrens books, those do get reread a lot but not much space for shelves so theyre in big boxes under the beds.

It usually is, though. My home had no books apart from a Dr Spock, a recipe book and a Reader’s Digest look of lists, because my parents were barely literate. Yes, absolutely it is technically possible for someone to be passionate about reading and knowledge and to have had all their books destroyed in a fire, or left in another country if they weren’t able to bring them, or to be purely library-dependent, but it’s vanishingly unlikely. People who read seriously tend to accumulate books.

People who read seriously tend to accumulate books.

I read a lot. I have very few books. They’re all on the Kindle app. Books are just clutter to me, really - I value the stories, not the object.

People who read seriously tend to accumulate books.

I have no words.

I read a lot. I have bookcases full of books, but most of my reading these days is done on my kindle.

I think the snobbery against reading on an ereader is completely unjustified.

People use ereaders for practical reasons. DH uses an ereader because he can increase the font size. I use an ereader so that I can read comfortably in bed without keeping DH awake. People with arthritis in their wrists and hands often find an ereader easier to use because they don't have to keep the pages of a real book open.

And that’s you. Maybe if you read more books you wouldn’t be so lost for words?

These threads are hilarious, with people falling over themselves to assure the world they’re readers, they just don’t have any books. I use a Kindle myself, when I travel, and for reading in the bath, but it’s no replacement.

And the snobbery continues.

What is your objection to reading a kindle?

Reading is reading. Whether it's a kindle, a newspaper, a paperback, a 300 year old tome, a poem or the back of a cereal box.

Books aren't superior because they're on paper. You're being very obtuse and I would have thought with all the reading you apparently do, you'd understand that not everyone is the same and that as long as people read, that's what is important.

She clearly hasn't read enough to have developed a broad understanding of how it makes no difference whether you read Tolstoy on paper or on a screen. She hasn't fully developed her understanding of the world and needs to read more.

She clearly has no understanding that, for example, my aunt now reads far more on her kindle now, because she's able to increase the font size. And now doesn't have to wait for special editions in the library.
She also doesn't seem to realise that some people read easiest on an e reader, she has arthritis and holding the book open is difficult, but not the kindle. And my nan, can make her screen a different colour, so she doesn't have to put an overlay over the pages.

Had the snobby PP read widely shed understand the benefits, and not being so judgemental and narrow minded.

Thank you @IroningBoardAgainstTheWall
And if this poster had read my entire post they will have seen that we also have bookcases full of books, so all that reading of paper books doesn't seem to have done much for their reading comprehension.

It must be that they can't read when text is on a screen, and have yet to read a paper book to inform her why she, and others might struggle to take in that information when not on paper.

Tbf there is a difference between reading on a screen and reading on paper, when it comes to comprehension and retention, but that's not exactly a problem when you're reading novels and suchlike (but is why I had to write up notes by hand when studying rather than revise from the textbooks, because they were online textbooks and I'd read a page and have no idea what it was about ten minutes later! But when I wrote it all out by hand then revised from that I understood and remembered.)

Isn't that to do with the physical act of writing notes rather than reading it on paper?
I find I remember things more if I write them down.

DD achieved a first class STEM degree without a textbook in sight because everything she needed was available online. However, she did write copious notes. She is doing the same for post grad as well.

@Natsku I have just found a Guardian article to support your theory, so you may be right. I only ever use my kindle for fiction, and the practicalities of how and where I use it outweight book reading, so I will continue to use my kindle for reading for pleasure.

The physical act of writing definitely helps a whole lot but yeah its the actual reading format too. Certainly not going to make an impact on reading for pleasure for most people (I think I have particular issues with reading on screens beyond the average so any times I've tried to read novels on a screen I've had to give up, no pleasure to me)

Agree. Once books are piled up on the stairs (trip hazard) or the microwave or any of the other random surfaces people have mentioned here, it's moved over into something that's more like hoarding.

The screen on a kindle paperwhite is nothing like the screen on a phone, tablet or laptop.

I think some posters who have never used a kindle (not a kindle Fire) don't realise this.

There is no glare, and they are brilliant for reading outside.

Yes I have the Kindle Paperwhite and they're invaluable for travelling. I wouldn't be without mine.

But when reading at home I do love a proper hardback with a proper bookmark.

True I've never tried with a kindle paperwhite. Wish I could borrow one to see what it's like but I don't know anyone local with one, unfortunately.

No I read a lot but on my kindle. The only physical books I like to have are for recipes- hate having those on kindle or using online for some reason.

So no bookcases filled with books here. My DC has tons of books in their bedroom.

Go to somewhere like John Lewis and see if they have display models.

I shall have to look if any shops have display models next time I go to the city.

I couldn't think of anything worse. I wouldn't ever read a book twice, so there's little point in saving them.