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!

I used to be friends with an aristo family with a massive country seat. They had a library and hallways lined with bookshelves. None of them ever read. 😐

You see, for me, a house without books is a house without a soul.

I spent 10 years working in a university library, firstly in Bibliographic Records then in Collection Development. But I didn't work a single day because every day was a joy. I was being paid to indulge my passion/hobby/obsession.

I can't remember a time when I couldn't read. My degree was in English Literature. I read several books a week (am an accomplished speed reader). Reading is akin to breathing for me.

Ever wondered what is the perfect number of books to own.....? It's every book you already own and 10 more books.

Only 10 bookcases now and I am slowly thinning some out as I no longer homeschool my children.

I inherited law books about a niche area I'm studying. We study six languages between us. There are a few books I have bought for the children to help them understand maths/science concepts once they are in secondary school. We have a smattering of craft and cookery books.
I do find that I still retain more information from a physical book, than if I'd read the same on an electronic device though.

I have classics books that I have collected for over 25 years. It has been an enjoyable hobby to track them down (only about 8 more to find-I have over 200!). They aren't worth anything in monetary value, they are available for anybody to borrow-I have read several to my children and will curl up with one myself every few months.

We all have bookcases in our bedrooms. I do read fiction then donate to the charity shop. We all use the library (and also the included BorrowBox membership) at least once a month too.

I can't imagine a life without books, my favourite places include creaky old secondhand bookshops with teetering shelves and high backed reading chairs! 📖 📚

Yep...5 floor to ceiling (Billy bookcases with glass fronts so I don't have to dust them so much!) in the living room...mostly double stacked. DS2 has SO many in his bedroom now too that we need to build a system there.
If I liked a book I can't bear to pass it on (except to lend out) but I do try to borrow as well, as our house isn't very big!

I never understood how having lots of books is a middle class indicator, mind?

@CatteryCatss I think it's supposed to show being higher minded, educated, literary etc. A bit like having actual art on the wall, rather than prints.

Yes I do have some bookcases but tend to only buy physical books that I want to keep & refer back too (I often write notes in the margins too). I tend to use my Kindle for novels. This system keeps the space for physical books more manageable.

But what if you actually are educated & literary, yet still happen to own hundreds of books?

That is me. Other than owning the hundreds of books anymore.

If you haven't read a book in 5, 10, 15 years, why is it there? It's decoration.

I rarely reread. There are always so many more to read. Occasionally I will. I have repurchased books I read as a teenager but I have no regrets about getting rid of them the first time round.

Exactly this. I do have the books that I'll reuse (reread or use for work) but even those are gradually getting weeded out.

Yes, lots! Family of 5 and three of us love reading. We have a wall of bookcases in the study and then the children have one in their bedrooms.

I have books and (commissioned) paintings at home. I still consider myself to be working class!

Me too! 100%.

I used to have thousands of books on shelves until last year when, in massively downsizing, I had to get rid of nearly all of them (thank god for the Kindle). What I found really depressing was, with all of them in pristine condition, how hard it was to rehome them. Charity shops told me that they can't sell books anymore as nobody reads. A literacy shop that claimed to give away books didn't answer three emails. About half of them went to landfill because recycling wouldn't take them.

Yes, both sides of the chimney breast, one in the dining room, eight in my office (floor to ceiling) and DH has five in his. I regularly review and thin. A friend was given advice by a 'declutterer' (not that I consider books to be clutter): ask yourself - have you read it, did you enjoy it, would you read it again? Some of mine will need to be prised from my cold, dead hands but others are a little more...ephemeral.

I have actually read every book I own. But some haven't been opened in over 25 years. And it's because they are now 'decoration' that I still have them, because I find them beautiful.

Thousands! Literally thousands of books! For me, it's not home without books...

Yes, lots - and even more piles. I would live in a much smaller house if it weren't for all the books! I have a tablet but it isn't the same as having a physical book, and for the most part I prefer to own my belongings. I have gotten rid of books before and later very much regretted it so I imagine I'll be navigating ever-increasing stacks of books for the rest of my life; I recently spent a lot of money tracking down and repurchasing some old books I loved as a teenager and suddenly desperately wanted to reread. I'm going to be very sure before I offload any more. My parents were the same though, as is my brother. I'd find it very odd if a house had no bookcases at all.

ETA if they're in a bookcase, they've been read. If they're in a pile, they may or may not have been. I can't fathom why anyone would have masses of books they haven't read, they take up so much room. And surely you're going to look very silly when someone asks you about one of your books and you have no idea what's in it?!

I wasn’t allowed to keep books for the 35 years I was with ex-H, he didn’t want them cluttering up the house. The week after he left I made myself a bedroom bookshelf and got what little I had left down from the loft. When I get my own house when the divorce is finally done I plan to fill it with books in every room! Books are my comfort and make me feel safe and happy, I’ve read my copy of Jane Eyre countless times since I was a teenager.

Yes I love the look and feel of a bookcase.. all thise worlds and knowledge in one place

We always had books at home and I was encouraged to read as much as possible. I used to love going to the library. I’ve got a kindle now so have got rid of all my books as I don’t have space for them but I still read a lot

Yes. Loads. I would have a house with a library if I could. Main constraint at the moment is lack of space for more bookshelves.

Lots of non-fiction and also a serious Folio Society habit (mostly bought secondhand or at auction).

I have hundreds of books, I'm turning my walk in closet into my library this year.

My dream is an old Victorian house with a library and rolling ladder. Blissful.

I read very fast though, am on my 15th book of 2025 so have started to use kindle app for in between books.

I live on an island so my main joy of travelling (especially back to Uk) is grabbing all the book deals at LHR. Most of my shopping is books...

Yes. Growing up we had book shelves in the loo!

Last year we had a lot of work done on our house,and even though we had a purge and got rid of 5 boxes of books, we still have loads and were able to have more shelves built in all over the house. The builders said they had never worked in a house that had so many books.