to think theres nothing wrong with having a few books?

[slightlymentalmum2one]

Well perhaps few is slightly underestimating 1732 but there's no such thing as having too many right?

Also when people say that reading on a Kindle is not the same.... surely the content is the only thing that's relevant?!?!

Say bye bye to the dying market that is physical books, folks....

Agree. Our flat is absolutely crammed with books from stem to stern. Hardly room for much else, but we love books.

Am trying to convince DH, who will never give away a book (ahem), to get a library card or Kindle... his habit is worse than mine!

There's nothing like the physical book for me. And for kids, obviously they love an iPad, but reading books at bedtime is something that won't change.

The main thing I find awkward with the Kindle is if I want to go back a few pages/chapters to re-read or check something - with a paper book it's easier to flip through until you see the bit you want, and to flip back quickly to where you were.

Also I don't get such a good immediate sense of how long the book is or where I'm up to (I know there's the percentage complete indicator, but I'm used to seeing page numbers :))

Otherwise it's pretty good though, and very very convenient.

I guess it is similar to music. I never buy CDs any more unless that's the only option, and will probably throw/give away my CDs when I get around to it now I have all the files copied and backed up.

I think 'real' books are here to stay for a long time yet - probably safer than CDs. That's my gut feeling anyway.

For me, fiction is purely about the words - hence I'm happy to read them on kindle - but the overall feel and layout is much more important with non-fiction, at least the more textbook type books.

The physical book is not a dying market - not for hardbacks, at least! Hardbacks are selling as strong as ever. They are getting more beautiful, to be given as gifts and to be bought as collection pieces. The physical book won't die. The ebook is very handy for disposable reading, but when you want something big and gorgeous to leaf through an ebook can't replace that.

Another thing is that paperbacks at least are often cheaper than Kindle books, and if you buy second-hand you can get them very cheap indeed.

I do buy e-books despite that because I'd rather have my book instantly than wait days for the paperback to turn up, but I can imagine if money was tight I'd develop the patience and buy cheap paperbacks on Amazon marketplace or something!

One can never have too many books.

Yes seeker I did say that, what's wrong with it?

Oh, no it isn't the same at all shock. That's like saying watching porn is the same as having sex irl - it's the feel of the pages between your fingers, the joy of bending back the spine for the first time, the smell of a fresh new book, the ruffling through, the whole experience [mmmmmmm]

OK, cool, I get that some people like the physical objects. I like having craft supplies: all lined up different colours of threads, neatly organised knitting needles, bundles of delicious strokable yarn..

My point is that some people (not getting at you personally here, Maryz, just that this is the closest convenient quote in this thread) are clearly saying that they think that everyone who doesn't like having paper books is weird, a bit wrong, and starting to look down their noses at folk. I don't apply this thinking to craft supplies and say that people without even a sewing kit in the house are somehow not quaite nice, that's all.

not going to bother reading the rest of the thread.

I'm a professional bookseller

i say (this makes it a professional opinion) that you can never have too many books, you should make more space for them, 1700 books is bugger all.
amazon are tax dodging bastards and there are other e-readers available

Hmm I think it depends on how much ROOM your books are taking up and how often you go back to them. Whilst I can understand the nostalgia people feel for paper books, most books we buy these days are not beautiful and are basically designed to be disposable.

I have way too many books and did have a secret worry I would end up as one of those slightly mad people who ended up with an alleyway in their house between books and no space. I feel like the kindle has liberated me - I can fill it with loads and loads of books to re-read whenever I want without feeling suffocated by the space they physically take up.

I can also buy a new book whatever time of day or night I finish the last one

Of course a beautiful book is still a wonderful thing to be kept forever.

I HATE when DH keeps books that he's read and is unlikely to read again
he does often read books more than once so don't mind him keeping those ones, but IMO your book shelves should only contain books you are likely to READ! and I only have reference books plus ones I've not read yet, the rest go STRAIGHT to the charity shop! if you don't move em on you can't get more new ones!

Of course a beautiful book is still a wonderful thing to be kept forever.

Yes indeed.

I do wonder how many of these thousands of books can easily be found and enjoyed when they are required. There gets to a physical limit, particularly when you've double-lined the shelves to fit more in, that you simply can't find that treasured volume. And I have a vague idea that cramming books, particularly lovely old books, into dusty shelves doesn't do them any good at all- don't they need airing and dusting a lot to stop them spoiling??

If it is simply about reading, then an e-reader (good point, other gadgets are available) is better because you can get the computer to do the looking for you in a matter of microseconds!

at your service

I agree with Ephiny about flipping back on kindles. Maybe I just haven't figured out how yet, but I find it a right PITA if I want to go back to an earlier chapter and re-read a bit. Paper books are much easier in that respect.

And my books are carefully organised (fiction alphabetically by author, non-fiction grouped into categories) so that it's easy for me to find them.

My kindle seems to store them by most recently looked at / added, which is more awkward, but again, this could be me not having figured it out completely yet (haven't read the manual).

of course you can always find the book! silver
i have each one etched on my brain as to its position in the house (same as i do in my shop) and i know what i've got.

that's just what bibliophiles do.

and you mustn't dispose of books you've read!
books are beautiful, not just words on a page!

i should imagine tha tseeker was pointing out that "her dh won't let her keep hers"

my ex used to make disparaging remarks about me having books - that tended to be the last remark he would utter.
how on earth does she allow her DH to dictate what she is allowed to possess or have to get rid of?

I don't put them in the bin! that would be wrong!

I have no need to display them, it'ld be like having them just to prove I read em! I remember reading them (unless too dull to remember) so no need! I'm not a re-reader!

I currently have my books organised by spine colour, I think it looks nice and I generally know which section (ie the pink the green, the black etc.) any particular book is in:)

"how on earth does she allow her DH to dictate what she is allowed to possess or have to get rid of"

well if you've got a big house its UR to
but when I have to be so ruthless with my own belongings in order for us to live and move in our small home IMO it would be unfair if DH got to keep everything!

I'm 17 and a prolific reader, I thought I was bad with 583 books

Nothing wrong with that at all! and I'm envious as hell.

As for 'You can have thousands of books without having your home look like the back room of a charity shop', how rude. Not to mention offensive to charity shops.