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!

We used to have built-in bookcases all over the house but as we’re not billionaires living in a giant mansion and we buy around 150 books a year between us, clearly that wasn’t going to be sustainable longer term. So we sold and donated thousands of paperbacks and both got Kindles. I still buy some books as paper copies but I sell or donate them when I’ve finished. We now have two walls of bookshelves in my home office and that’s all.

I’m down to one bookcase now and have donated thousands of books over the years. I now mostly read on kindle but still read a huge amount

Why? It doesn’t mean people don’t read. My mother grew up in a little council flat with no bookshelves but the whole family went to the library every week and were very keen readers.

I do! I have a bookcase filled with books in almost every room, (bar the bathroom).
They are neat and tidy and add a very cosy feel.
I do read but it would take a long time to get through all of them! 😂

Yes. There are bookcases in all three bedrooms and the living room. It’s an absolute must for me that my kids see books and see me and DH reading. We read to them every night too. Books are life!

We have loads of books. Every so often we have to do a charity shop purge to make space or give them away to friends and family. Then we can buy more!

No. I'm a big reader but can't see the point of amassing loads of books. I have a few favourites (mainly non-fiction, reference and poetry) on the shelf, but I get my fiction from the library or charity shops or friends, and re-circulate them.

We have loads of books. We even made one the bedrooms into a ‘library’ with floor to ceiling bookcases and a sliding ladder to get to ones up high. Absolutely love books and find it very hard to stop accumulating them - especially love browsing second hand bookshops but I buy a lot online too

Lots but it doesn't entirely count as I have an online bookshop. I do, however, love re-reading my own collection of trashy novels so keep a good stock of those. dh likes keeping his books but seldom re-reads.

We have 2 large ones and one small one filled with textbooks and non-fiction. We tend to have fiction books electronically. I have 100’s that I haven’t got round to reading yet.
Goodness knows how many bookcases that would be with all of our books!

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

And yet another bingo.

Why do some people think they are morally superior by owning acres of bookshelves. Do only lesser mortals use eReaders?

Yes, I do have bookshelves full of books, but I also have a kindle. I weed out books that I know I will never reread because I just don't have the space for another bookcase. It has nothing to do with "priorities", just lack of space.

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

@CatteryCatss having the storage space for them perhaps?

This thread is sounding a little boasty TBH.

Not for us adults, no. We both have and use kindles. I find owning physical books a waste of precious space and not very environmentally friendly. There are very few books I reread so having a paper one is pointless.

For our son, we have a bookcase full of books and will keep buying paper books until he's late primary, probably.

I value reading, not physical books alone.

Not anymore. We packed up our physical books when we moved houses last time and didn’t unpack them in this house. We kept the boxes in storage which is somewhat silly, but we are attached.

We are kindle people now. Our teenager got her first kindle paperwhite at 5. we all love reading and books are a big part of our life, we just tend to prefer the convenience.

Exactly. Middle class signifier. Wanting to appear middle class.

Question. If you have lots of books but ALSO a fcuk off big TV in a media wall what class are you? Hmmmmm.

That makes so much sense

Yes, I have an in-built bookcase for my books, then I have another one for the children's books.

Yes, I love real books and having them on display in my home ❤️

Yes books in most rooms, well not the bathrooms and only a couple in the kitchen

But other rooms plenty in each

I have a library. Built the shelves myself. Also contains a piano, cosy chair (to read in) and display case for my treasures. It’s my sanctuary.

I also have a 55" tv - and dream of a house where I can set up a home cinema. I don't know why the two would be mutually exclusive, I think many people like both books and films, surely? Indeed, the main reason I want a home cinema is so I can watch the film adaptation of one of my favourite books (LOTR).

Loads of books and bookshelves.

I've got an app to scan the bar codes to make a digital library of books.

I did get rid of some, regretted it so bought them again and I'm working my way through them again.

I often re read books.

I have a kindle too with loads of books and I did think about moving my collections onto that but you don't really own them and they can be changed (edited) without you realising.

I have books from my childhood still and also my late Dads collection of sci-fi from the 50s to the 00s. I've read most of those and I'll re-read them.

I've got a special collection of feminist books and a great selection curated from my degree. I think I'll get rid of some of them though.

We have book cases in the living room, hall, and all 3 bedrooms...and the attic!

I use charity shops and the library for books too. Reading is as important to me as food, water and breathing.

@RampantIvy bingo indeed, these threats are so sadly predictable. The sneering and snobbery always appears quickly.

Ditto any thread on TVs and sizes.

Such narrow views of other people.

Yes, five tall bookcases, and I need another.

We have a study and upstairs hallway lined with books. Only hardbacks. I’ve always passed on paperbacks. For the last few years, all of our reading is on kindles and audible, so apart from the odd ‘coffee table book’ we very rarely buy any.

Books are so cheap to buy second hand that apart from a few special books I don't see the point of keeping them. I give them to Oxfam and then I buy more from them too. I also use ebooks.

Books are not the same quality as they used to be. They will be all yellow if you keep them long.

It's pretentious to keep books for the sake of it.