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.

Normal.

To save myself money and space I almost exclusively read on kindle or library books. I decided I was going to only buy kindle.books on my wishlist when they went to 99p. Unfortunately the books keep being added to the wishlist, keep appearing on deals, and whenever I go to the library I usually pick up several books that have never crossed my radar.

There's more to life than books, you know. But not much more.

@Onceuponasunflower yes there’s yarn too. 🤣🤣🤣

Whilst I was pregnant with our first, DP read an article suggesting that children who grow up in a home with 200 books have a huge advantage academically. Unfortunately, the article wasn't clear if that was 200 per person, per room etc. so we decided not to take any chances. At last count we had over 2000 total, so I think we should be safe but continue to buy more, just in case! Sounds like you are also giving your grandchildren the same benefit, lucky them!

One of the best things I discovered recently about owning “too many” books is browsing Amazon for book storage ideas. I’ve got book shelves, but I’m short so they can’t be too high, and I’m old so they can’t be too low. I’ve now got a book tree, which holds my second-most TBRs, and a book cart with my top TBRs (and that’s got wheels).

Some of the might-re-read books are in the dining room and some on the landing. I’ve gone so far as to catalogue them all so I know where to start looking for a particular book, but then get sidetracked, of course.

Goodness knows how many I've got on my Kindle, and of course one of the highlights of my life is the Daily Deals email.

I recently signed up to Audible.

Just as well I’m retired, really.

Completely normal. Buying books and actually reading them are two entirely different hobbies.

Thank you @likelysuspect . I love words as much as I love books 😁

Oh yeah. Totally my addiction. I do actually try to read the books that I have though. I was horrified when I went to the Citizens' Advice Bureau and the chap suggested I should stop buying books. I have joined several libraries to deal with my addiction.

Yes of course.

What an odd question to ask OP

😉

Yes!
How is this even a question?
Funny tale, many years ago my Dad repeatedly told me that “you don’t want to choose a fella who has a tv bigger than his bookshelf”.
I of course realise now, in the age of massive flatscreens this is funny to some, but actually I think this advice still holds some wisdom.
I have loads of books yet to be read, this will not stop me from buying more, they’ll just get explored in a different order.

I have a large amount of books I haven't read.

They are all second hand and a bit obscure. I generally buy them as I might not see them or that subject matter again.

I have cut back though. I go every Christmas Eve now and buy a few as a present to myself and just browse the rest of the year. The shop is in the city where my parents live so I'm not having to resist every day.

Change is possible my fellow book hoarders 😁

HA HA HA! That's brilliant!

Looks like I have a genetic condition too!

I've got tons and tons of books, and I buy them online too!

Arriving home, knackered from work, a shower, microwavable dinner with a mug of PG Tips, then snuggling down with my latest book obsession!

At the moment I'm on The Penguin Book of Horror Stories, edited by J.A Cuddon.

I think it is abnormal not to! I bought 3 just this morning, despite having at least 10 unread books in the house and the several hundred books I have read over the years.

I am sorry I lost your sight, it sounds so hard. Please can I ask you a question (apologies and please feel free not to answer if it’s insensitive).

i sufffered a brain injury which has affected cognitive skills and memory so I “read” differently than before. Before it was easy, I read easily and remembered, so it was pleasurable. Now it’s a bit less pleasurable as I can find it hard to read, to process the information and retain it. I feel like before, reading was entertainment and now it’s more like exercise! Still enjoy it but it’s harder work. Do you feel anything like that having switched from books to audio books? It’s hard to explain but your post resonated with me.

I stick to kindle as I find the dictionary and highlighting/notation/search functions so useful. have been offloading my physical books to various DC. Would love to say it’s making me happy they’ll go to good homes and that’s true but secretly I also feel bitter and resentful!

I tried to change to kindle and I now own four kindles all strewn around various rooms.

If you live alone it's fine. If you live with someone else join a library or get a kindle.

I have read each and every book on my bookshelves.

I wont pretend they are all highbrow (although I definitely have at least 25 of the classics)

I love American detective series (think Harry Bosch - have every book and all the Mickey Haller books too) and I love a good spy thriller so I have all the Gabriel Allon series, all the Mitch Rapp books, all the Slow Horses books, I also rather enjoyed the Gray Man series. I buy mainly second hand, although I got a good deal on the Slow Horses bookset brand new though.

I read every night before bed and this is my new vice (stopped drinking 4 years ago and went back to reading). Ive probably purchased around 200 books over the past few years.

The kids also have a very vast book supply. My 13yo is a massive reader so we have numerous book sets going back to when he was younger but now the younger two have them to enjoy. 13yo is currently on the 3rd book of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series.

I don't think we have any books in the house that haven't been read by at least one of us.

If it wasn't for work, I would be enquiring as to where this free bookshop was and move there immediately! I am sure that a vast chunk of my income gets spent on books on eBay, Amazon, AbeBooks, World of Books, etc. every month!

Ending up with more books than you bargained for is always par for the course... and the old ones always smell so good! Do you get to keep these books, or do you take them back and swap them the following month?

I mostly keep them, but if I don’t love a book I re-donate it there with no “waste of money” qualms.
The free bookshop also gets any inappropriate books from the church library I run, as that is only for Christian books.
Thankfully my DCs have moved out, freeing up the time, space and money to pursue my book habit to a borderline unhealthy level.
I’m not even in my late grandfather’s league, when he died he had 20,000 books packed into his upstairs flat. He did have a “clear out” the year he died. Four books were discarded as he did not think he’d read those again.

I used to have this affliction but I was running out of space! I now start the book on Spotify (and listen while I drive). If I can’t tear myself away from it, I then buy the book version. I basically get emotionally invested first and then buy. Saves me a lot!

And have you seen the absolutely gorgeous Kindle covers by Burga.....?

You're welcome.

Aaarrrghhh . Thank you :-)

Lego, especially Lego botanicals. Smaller items are used to adorn the front of bookcases

My Kindle has 4 seasonally appropriate covers from there.