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.

[Lazyjaney]

People without books are even more of a red flag than those with odd dietary requirements.

[usualsuspect]

I hate book snobs, I read all sorts of crap.

Easier to hide on your kindle

[DeathByTray]

Does the Argos catalogue count?

[MacaYoniandCheese]

This thread is making me feel a bit panicky. What will a world without paper books be like?! It's akin to a zombie apoclypse and I can already see the signs in my children...they don't treasure beloved books like I do, they don't spend hours after lights-out under the covers with a flashlight, they may never know the confusion and disorientation of missing your stop on the bus because you were so engrossed in a book. I don't think you can have this kind of relationship with a kindle.

[colourmehappytheresasofainhere]

Middle class snobbery, much?!

[Minty82]

The thought that some people see books as 'clutter' actually makes me want to cry...
With you all the way OP.

[pamish]

All my walls have books on, and most of the floors. They make great insulation too.

[MrsJoyfulPrizeForRafiaWork]

The Half-Kilo Book Of Dreams, Tray? Of course it counts!

[noisytoys]

I have 2 bookshelves. Only have all the Harry Potter books though (that I bought on Amazon for 1p ) The bookshelves house DVDs, shoes, computer games, teddies and boxes of junk. I do have a Nook though so lots of e books.

[VaultFullOfTwizzlers]

DeathByTray if you also take away the DC's Bookstart books then you may be my sister

[SubliminalMassaging]

First thing I do when I go into someone's house is have a sneaky rifle through their books and their music collection.

Best to know whether you need to put them down the room 101 chute earlier rather than later.

[DiseasesOfTheSheep]

All my walls have books on, and most of the floors

I'm relieved it's not just me - I have about 6 books within easy reach of my sofa at the moment - and I can't even blame messy children - they're mine!

[grumpyoldbat]

DDS have loads of books but adult wise not many mostly just myy text books. The rest get returned to the library and swapped for others. I used to have 1000s but couldn't keep them when we ended up homeless. Do I still count as evil with criminal leanings:(

[Lazyjaney]

@Subliminal

You forgot The Pretentious Coffee Table Book, used as a drinks coaster...

[Isabelonatricycle]

I have a kindle for the tube on which I have silly books, lots of free classics etc. For good proper history books, fiction which can be read again and again, biographies etc? Needs to be a proper book. Very difficult to flip to the footnotes/refer to a map when using a kindle. Very easy with a book.

I don't think we have a single room without a bookcase (or three) to be honest. And while you can't miss them, I don't think they are "on display", as such. It's not a carefully selected crop of 1st editions/prize winners which are never read, so for us at least there isn't a snob factor.

On the other hand, we have some cousins who are very much "no clutter", so they read something and it goes straight to the charity shop. I don't really understand the "clutter" issue when they're put away though.

As for the opening premise - criminal leanings/evil/bad character? Absolutely with you there!

[midnightinmoscow]

My children had to go to another family as we ended up with no room for them, our home is bursting with books though.

[galletti]

I have lots of books in my house. If you came here though you would find me evil cos they are all upstairs. Apart from the Next catalogue of course

[DeathByTray]

Most of my books are on my kindle. I read a lot, but mainly on the commute, so it is much more practical.

I have a few art books in paper form but DH has literally hundreds of books. I've tried to convince him to get a kindle but he doesn't trust technology!

[Clearlymisunderstood]

I read 3 or 4 books a week. The books I'm reading or have just read are in my bedside table, once I've finished I give them to my sister/mum/ nan (depending on who I think will enjoy it), I don't actually keep any books of my own that I've read though as I don't like to read things twice.
My DD has over 100 books in her bedroom though.

[VaultFullOfTwizzlers]

lol at giving away the children.

I often wonder if I invested in loads of bookcases everywhere on every wall if it would save on heating bills being good insulation or whether it would just be a massive fire-hazard.

[Moonstorm]

Thank you for helping me to illustrate. Point on the other book thread

[usualsuspect]

I rarely read books twice so don't see the point in keeping them

[jessieagain]

We have no adult books at all.

We have about 10 books for ds but we also borrow at the library for him. We don't have a shelf for his either, they go in a toy box.

I used to read when I commuted but when I stopped commuting I stopped reading. So what would be the point of having books if we don't read them