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Original poster

To not understand why some people don't read books and don't have any in the house?

139 replies

Kasterborous · 24/05/2013 20:43

I can understand that people don't read books due to not having any time, or not being able to very easily. But how come other people don't? There are so many different books to read. I don't read anything literary or too heavy going, but I love reading. I even go to bed early when DH is on nights to read. I always remember looking round a house when we were looking to buy one, and this house didn't have a single book in it.

I'm not being a judge or having a go at anyone who chooses not to read, just curious. they probably have interesting hobbies and better things to do with their time.

OP posts:
MrsDeVere · 24/05/2013 23:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BusStopWanker · 24/05/2013 23:12

My house used to be filled with books, everywhere. I love reading and devour at least 2 books a week. But now, I have a Kindle. So all my books are in the loft and my house has a lot more room.

caseycartwright · 24/05/2013 23:14

I recently gave all but my most treasured books to charity and it was awesome! I just woke up one morning and decided I didn't like having loads of books on display, gathering dust cluttering my shelves.

So, off they went.

miffybun73 · 24/05/2013 23:15

YANBU.

I used to read a couple of books a week pre DCs, now hardly ever :( (apart from bedtime stories :))

Sparrowp · 24/05/2013 23:18

My house used to be filled with books. But then it got very cold one winter, and we couldn't afford to put the heating on because of the government, so we had to burn all the books, like in the ole nazi times, just to keep warm. And then we did the bookshelves as well.

So that is why some houses have no books.

Sparrowp · 24/05/2013 23:18

Sleep well :)

Jan49 · 24/05/2013 23:31

If you look at photos of houses for sale on Rightmove, lots of them have no books on show. Either they hide them in the rooms that aren't shown or - gasp - they don't have books. I sold my house last year and there were lots of books on shelves in the photos, but the typical living room on rightmove has settees, a TV, maybe some photos and ornaments, no books. I think a lot of people watch films and read newspapers instead.

I decluttered our books and I think I've read much more since having less to choose from.

caseycartwright · 25/05/2013 01:45

Jan Or they read on their iPad/Kindle/other generic device. I found it quite liberating getting rid of my books. My children read ALL the time, but they all have iPads or Kindle Fires so you wouldn't know if you walked into my house. Except for the fact, 9/10 times you walked into my house, they would be lazing around reading their devices!!

Bogeyface · 25/05/2013 01:54

I bought a highchair from ebay when DD3 was a baby, and went to collect it. I felt really uncomfortable from the moment I stepped into the house even though the guy there was really friendly and welcoming. I assumed it was because this house was pristine, a real show home, even though they had 2 young children. I am one of natures scruffy muffins, we have a very cluttered house and I cant relax in a uber tidy house in case I make a mess as sadly I am also very clumsy!

Then I realised afterwards, there wasnt a single book, newspaper or magazine anywhere! The biggest TV I had ever seen, but not a printed word anywhere. This was 7 years ago so unlikely to be a kindle user at that time!

Each to their own, but I couldnt get my head around the concept of no reading material at all. But then equally, I cant understand the attraction of constant TV watching, or paying a fortune to stand in the cold and rain every Saturday watching men kick a ball, or gardening.

Fuckwittery · 25/05/2013 04:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LittleRedDinosaur · 25/05/2013 04:20

Oh god, we've just taken ours to the charity shop. the electrician coming tomorrow is going to judge us, isnt he?! Maybe a single copy of war and peace subtly placed by the faulty socket could persuade him that we're ok really...... Grin

mathanxiety · 25/05/2013 05:24

I recoiled and did a sharp intake of breath when the agent who was selling my house looked at my bookshelves and told me they would have to go in order to put the house on the market. I personally wouldn't feel at home in a house without books and for me, if I were house hunting, the presence of books would mean I could already see myself being at home there. I don't know why my agent couldn't see that for every individual traipsing through my house shuddering at my books there might equally be someone who loved the feel of a house where books lived. The more time I spent with my agent the more I realised we were polar opposites. She was a paper plates and microwave dinner person too. It wasn't a case of decluttering or depersonalising. She just had an antipathy to books, and home cooking, and anything that might slow you down in any way.

I ended up leaving out only one bookshelf in the home office with favourite children's titles that lent an air of cultured coziness (Beatrix Potter books, Winnie-the-Pooh, etc) and some grown up titles with a variety of topics, and put the rest in bags and boxes.

theodorakisses · 25/05/2013 05:57

I am highly suspicious of anyone who doesn't have books or paintings. There is something a bit joyless about it.

Sparklingbrook · 25/05/2013 06:46

Paintings? I have none. Shock

cory · 25/05/2013 08:35

My mother thinks there is something wrong with a house that doesn't have live music in it. She tried for ages to get me to throw out my fish tanks to install a piano. The fish tanks are my pride and joy. She genuinely couldn't get her head round the fact that there are some people who don't want to play the piano.

Dd thinks there is something wrong with people who don't go to the theatre.

My family think you can't be happy unless you live by the sea.

kelda · 25/05/2013 08:51

I didn't read for a few years when my children were small. I was just too tired and lacked concentration. All of my concentration was used up for studying/working.

Now I am beginning to make up for it.

kelda · 25/05/2013 08:52

cory I would love am aquarium. But I do have a pianoWink

Pagwatch · 25/05/2013 09:14

This thread is a bit cringy to me tbh.
Other than seeing MrsDeVere of course.

If you walk into the home of the best read person I know the most striking thing will be the large tv with some shitey consol game open.
I love books but they are not emblematic of some kind of superior mindset.
A house full of books is a lovely thing to me but to not understand why someone would feel differently suggests that all that reading hasn't particularly broadened the mind.

Oopla · 25/05/2013 09:16

Has anyone done book crossing? You print out a label or handwrite a unique message in an unwanted book and leave it somewhere for someone to find.

I had good fun one year leaving books in strange places!

HabbaDabba · 25/05/2013 09:21

We were once discussing at work the politics and culture of the country where I was born, where visit regularly and where I still have relatives.

One co-worker, on the sole basis of having read a number of books on the subject and a 5 day business trip a few years ago, refused to accept that his opinions were based on the writings of a few left leaning intellectuals.

To me, a "well-read" person with loads of books can often be quite narrow minded.

CouthyMow · 25/05/2013 09:25

I have bookshelves in my loft for the books I don't have room for. My DD has a 4ft bookshelf, full of books. My DS1 has a 6ft bookshelf full, as does DS2, and 2yo DS3 has a 3ft bookshelf that is overflowing...

I could build an extension out of the books I own...

I have a Kindle but I prefer the 'feel' of a book in my hand.

Mrsrobertduvall · 25/05/2013 09:32

I have a huge bookcase with about 700 books on it.
I've had them since late seventies, and keep them with a view to re reading them.
However in nearly 40 years I haven't.

Only John Irving books and The Godfather Sad

so I am planning a big cull in the summer.

I buy about 3 books a week, read them and give to the charity shop, so why I'm hanging on to these 700 I have no idea. I now have a Kindle for holidays which I need to master before tomorrow.

forevergreek · 25/05/2013 09:45

Surely though if they are fiction books once you have read then you know the plot so don't really ever read again ( apart from firm favourites I suppose)

Even before kindles we would buy a book from charity shop/ gift etc, both read then offer to friends or back to charity as we wouldn't read again as know what's going to happen.

The few books we kept are basically reference/ work related and those like I said are neatly hidden in a cupboard.

Personally when I see loads of books I just think a) have you read them b) why are you keeping stuff you already know the story to? Get rid/ exchange for new

themaltesecat · 25/05/2013 09:49

I do think people who don't read good books and other decent printed matter but rely on the TV for their information cannot be anything other than hopelessly ill-informed about most things.

Houses without books look fucking awful. The only person I know who is anti-books-in-the-home is my brother's girlfriend, a non-reading librarian (!). She is, perhaps not coincidentally, the biggest cretin I know.

Peevish · 25/05/2013 10:02

I get a bit freaked out by the people referring to books as 'clutter'. Are you the same kind of people who don't allow anything on your kitchen work surfaces except a single glass bowl with two butternut squashes in it? I mean, practically everything could be described as clutter. My house would look a lot more presentable without my baby and his belongings.

And am now seeing a kind of reverse snobbery from the people who hide their books, and look down on those who have theirs 'on display' as show-offs. Grin