Is it normal to keep buying books even when you have plenty?

[MsGreying]

People often ask me why I'm always buying more books. The truth is, I have a genetic condition where my body doesn't produce books on its own, so I have to supplement.

I have this condition too - plus the related one with plants.
Im actually proud that both DC have clearly inherited this genetic condition & have TBR shelves themselves

Reading and buying books are two distinct hobbies.
Only digital in my case so they don't clutter the house up.
I've got rid of 1000s of paper books, multiple bookcases and it's as good as a house extension.
I have kept a few novels of sentimental value and some unread ones.
DH unfortunately isn't onboard and his dusty history books still remain.

This is me. I read a lot but my TBR pile never seems to go down because I keep buying more. I haven’t counted but I’ve probably got about 150 unread physical books and around 120 unread on my kindle. I do genuinely want to read them all, but I do try and have a bit of a clear out every now and then and get rid of some that have been hanging around for too long.

I make myself feel better by telling myself I am supporting the bookshops. I must buy books so they don’t close down.

Yes I do this too. I have a bookcase full of books that I am trying to find the time to read. And currently awaiting delivery of another one.

My real failing is that I can't resist a quirky book. Looking at the bookshelf behind me, I can see (amongst many others) 'The Jews of Cornwall to 1913', 'Indexes, a history of', and a biography of the artist Bernado Strozzi, all glaring at me in disgust that I haven't read them yet 🤣.

Barter Books is gorgeous (but it tends to be a bit pricy).

100%! The process of browsing for and buying books is entirely different to the one of ready. They are, effectively, two related but separate hobbies and I love them both dearly but have more time for browsing and buying than I do for the actual reading. Hope this helps! 😊

As every true born bibliophile knows, the ideal number of books to own is simply 'Every book you already own + 10 more'

I have found my people...

Including the process of buying a better edition when the old one finally falls apart. Still can go on the TBR pile

Reading is as many hobbies as you want it to be:

Reading the book
listening to the book
reviewing the book
reading reviews of books
watching booktok or bookstagram
posting on booktok or bookstagram
book groups
buying the books
adding books to your wishlist

Also the different arts of buying a book

perhaps you’re a Waterstones person
’thrifting’ for books in charity shops
going to buy a book the day it comes out
buying the sprayed edges
buying a book to then go read immediately in a coffee shop
buying a book to read in the bath that night

I don’t understand the question. What is “plenty of books”? We have all the books, and more.

I am trying to get DD to offload the baby books (she is 6) but I assume I’ve passed the gene on…

It’s a comorbidity I believe

I don't just buy them, I borrow and steal them! (only stealing them from the street little library... ).
I love books. I have got back into recipe books too - I absolutely hate trying to follow a recipe on my phone and having to scroll through loads of lifestyle guff to get to the ingedience. Much easier whopping open a 1980's Mary Berry.

I am a book buyer and I agree that it is essential to keep your TBR pile high. I mean, what if you didn't fancy reading the one book on your bedside table? The horror!
However I am also a book declutterer. If I won't read it again, it goes to World of Books.

I have a panic attack if I dont have at least 10 books to hand if i somehow got a few hours and days to sit and read.

Yep, and my ADHD means I have a currently reading three at a time, just switch each night.

I have this problem too I fix it by buying more books 📚 📖 💕 💕 😂

I feel you OP. Me and my DH both work in libraries, he also studied English Literature...we have a lot of books to say the least. We've just recently moved from a 1 bedroom flat to a 3 bedroom house (it's been a long time coming). We've decided to turn the larger of the two spare rooms into our own Library (with a sofa bed so it can double as a spare room if needed). It's a lifelong dream come true for us both!

I love this thread

I too have this condition, and sadly the only one in my house with it.

I am the opposite of some of you, I mainly do audio books these days but if it’s something I enjoy I will buy the physical copy for my bookshelf 😂

There should be a law against putting 'kindle books for 99p' Infront of my eyes ever again. 😁

Barter Books is excellent for an afternoon.
There was a second hand book shop in Berwick too that I bought an awful lot of amazing books from, mostly gardening.
Who mentioned plants? :-D

Those daily Book Bub emails with free hooks 😬😬😬

Not about reading OP, but I am the same with video games. I must have at least 10 that I haven’t even started yet.

Absolutely! I have so many I have to keep putting up more book shelves 😹

I don't have ADHD but I do this too.