I don't trust people who don't have any books in their houses.

[WayHarshTai]

I think they are a bit evil.

My sister and her DH only have a couple of Jamie Oliver books and THAT'S IT. Freaks.

I get a bit twitchy if I visit someone and I can't see their bookshelf, I have been known to snoop on the pretext of finding the loo or something to put my mind at rest.

I think it shows trerrible character and possibly criminal leanings to not have hundreds some books around the house.

AIBU? I know i'm not really, it's just common sense.

I love having books in the house. I love it when people I like come round, have a nosy and say 'Oh, you've got x, y and z, I've been looking for those' and then I can lend them. (My friends are the kind who bring books back btw). I like talking about favourite books and authors.

I wouldn't be suspicious about people who live in bookless households, I'd feel sorry for them.

Dorange obviously the OP was thinking about houses in this part of the world, not developing countries. Don't go looking for an argument where there isn't one.

I used to own 100's of books, but then I bought a Kindle and all my books got sent to a charity shop.

Kindle is great for personal privacy, it means I can download free and trashy and usually a bit raunchy books and read them inconspicuously on the bus. There's something quite freeing about publically reading soft porn

Mine are stashed in places where they are not on display, but for the big coffee table books.

Where does that leave me?

Must we display them when they can be housed behind sliding doors? After all, my household knows where to find them...or will everyone assume we're duffers? Should I be insecure enough to make sure the Tolstoy is eye line height?

I dont read. I hate books, would rather watch a film.

[shrug]

Usual!

USUAAAAL!

Where is usualsuspect?

Maca - what are your thoughts on people who don't like dogs?

My sister's house only contains the Argos catalogue.

She also takes away the DC's Book-Start books because, "they will only ruin them"

We only have one bookcase as space is limited but we have thousands in the loft and periodically have expeditions to replenish the bookcase with books we need to re-read as well as buying new for Kindle.

what is so ROAR at 3rd world country
?

Dorange I think you may have misunderstood the OP.

and yep
only on MN

by the way, I know lots of OH, so superior, BRITISH people who ccan't even spell, and hate reading, so..

Now, now, are you sure you aren't being a little bit naughty here and posting a well-worn contentious op just cos its a bit quiet on this here Sunday night?

Yanbu. However I don't usually give a rat's arse unless the person whose house I'm visiting is thick. That would definitely explain the lack of books. More and more people are embracing e books & minimalism. Soulless to you, tranquil to them.

The only books in my house (except my children's) are the one's I'm currently reading, once read they are sent to the charity shop, so no need for a bookcase, for me these are just dust collectors. So at first glance you may think all I do is watch tv or surf the web when I'm actually an avid reader.

Mintyy . Heaven forfend I would do such a thing.

I bought "The Panopticon" today but it's all the way upstairs and my laptop is in the kitchen where the wine is so I'll stick to reading AIBU for now

I put all the booker prize and non-fiction in the living room. 3 for 2 in the bedroom.

The good thing about kindles is you can read true crime gore books on the tube without being judged fairly unfairly.

I always wonder whether I should stick a note in our wall of cabinets that says "don't worry, the books are in here, I just don't like dusting"

Hate having books on display because dinner guests steal them when I'm in the kitchen. I can't wait until I have a house big enough to hide them. In the meantime, I keep the penguin editions of Victorian classics which can easily be replaced in the living room and everythingmore esoteric in the bedrooms.

All our books are in the spare room upstairs, so you'd never see them. Apart from DS's books which are in the living room.

Of course books are fab. But i would say lots of books on display - in lovely bookcases no leas - are a pretty good marker of class/cultural capital so be prepared to be yelled at by people who think you're a snob!

Funny enough I am so overworked working on a big library project that I never have time to read... Hey ho.

I have all of our books wall to wall in the study and all of the kids' books in their rooms and den which is upstairs.

If you visited my house, you might think we have no books as you would not go to these rooms. Therefore you would not trust me.

Tolstoy at eyeline? I always make sure there's a copy of Gravity's Rainbow by the kettle. You can never be too careful.

Dorange - i love your post!