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Original poster

Where are the bookshelves?!

490 replies

Babysharkdododont · 07/04/2021 20:38

Inspired by another thread, do people genuinely not believe its possible to live without shelf after shelf of books in a house, or is it, as I suspect, faux naivety / virtue signalling?

We've not got many books in our house, both adults are degree educated professionals, but feel no need to have books. When I've finished a book I pass it on, as I've no desire to read the same book twice. We've a few shelves in the study with a few technical manuals etc, but these go out of date so quickly as to be obsolete as soon as they're printed, so we go online mostly.

The dc have books of course as they don't tire quickly of rereading, but I certainly don't think we're slobs for not having lots of books.

What are these books people are so keen to keep, and tell everyone that they must have?

OP posts:
Geamhradh · 07/04/2021 20:40

I'm sure it's possible.
No idea how you gave extrapolated faux naivety or virtue signalling from me keeping my books. Hmm

Geamhradh · 07/04/2021 20:40

*have

1Morewineplease · 07/04/2021 20:43

Hmmm... We have a room that has a long wall, floor to ceiling and wall to wall full of books. These shelves are double deep too , so all the books are two deep. We read A LOT and we regularly revisit old books. We see them as old friends. Some are many decades old and in a few cases. Well over a hundred years old.

It's whatever you love.

littlepattilou · 07/04/2021 20:43

I did see a comment on the third thread about that big silver and white house for sale, asking 'where are all the books?' But I have seen nothing else.

I have around 300 books, but half or so are from my childhood/teen years and I never want to get rid. I never judge people who have none (or very few) though. Although it is nice to have a few dozen kicking about if you have children. I think reading/having some books in the house, is essential for children.

As you say though, many people - including yourself, get them, read them, and pass them on. I do with some of them. Smile

Frownette · 07/04/2021 20:43

I still have all my books? If you don't want to, fine.

But you really should understand some people like having bookshelves and books, some people like that.

IndecentFeminist · 07/04/2021 20:44

It isn't the keeping of the books that indicates faux naivety, but the exclamation of surprise that others don't have them. If you don't do that, you're all good.

Agree OP. We have a few books around the house, a shelf of cookery books, a few non fiction that I love and come back to every now and then, a few more I haven't got around to reading. Dh has a few manuals, navigation books etc. Then a shed load of toddler books and DD (10) hoards hers.

But no massive book cases around.

Merryoldgoat · 07/04/2021 20:44

I like books, I like to reread some books, some books are reference books.

What’s with the faux wondering?

FangsForTheMemory · 07/04/2021 20:45

I suppose it's possible to live in a house with very few books, but I wouldn't choose to. I love my books, they're like old friends. I did grow up in a house full of them, though. I will only give a book away if I'm sure I don't want to read it again. My favourite books get reread until they fall apart, and then I buy new copies.

Washimal · 07/04/2021 20:45

What are these books people are so keen to keep, and tell everyone that they must have?

Who is telling you (and "everyone" else) that you "must have" books? How odd.

Also "faux naivety/virtue signalling"? Really? Hmm

What a weird thread.

Kitkat151 · 07/04/2021 20:45

I have several cookery books that were bought as presents....also some gardening books....some poetry books....travel guides for various places we have visited....the collection of Harry Potter books ( another present) ...some fiction books from my own childhood ( I couldn’t bear to part with) ..... some books my Grandad left me from the 1920s ..... I suspect most people have a hitch potch of similar books....why would you think it virtue signalling?? 🤔

Bookridden · 07/04/2021 20:46

If you don't get it, OP (the love of books I mean), that's fine, it really is. And you don't get it, otherwise you would want to re-read certain books, or value at least some books as objects. I do, and have lots of bookcases. This doesn't make me better, or more intelligent in anyway; it simply means I like books enough to want to have them around me. Many of them aren't high status or academic books, and some even fall into the category of guilty pleasures, so it's not to show off. I personally think houses without books tend to the sterile, but that's a personal prejudice. To each their own. Pax.

OverByYer · 07/04/2021 20:46

I used to have shelves of books around the house but had a big clear out when we knocked down walls in the house and got rid of most of my books as they were merely gathering dust. I boxed up a few sentimental favourites and put in the loft and I have to say I don’t miss them.

nocoolnamesleft · 07/04/2021 20:47

I have lots of shelves full of lots of books. I don't buy many books that I would only want to read once. I buy books that I anticipate enjoying again and again. And do. A really good familiar book is like being wrapped in a warm snuggly comforting blanket.

HarkAVagrant · 07/04/2021 20:47

Obviously I could live without loads of books, but I am much happier with them. Currently got 14 shelves with double layers on the landing and 3 in the attic. I often read the same book again, and have rebought books that I have previously given away. You wouldn’t know if you just visited though as the only books downstairs are some of the kids’ books.

AlCalavicci · 07/04/2021 20:48

I have two book shelves, one is full of work stuff so more paper storage than book shelf but the other one has books on it , some old ones that my DD read to me from , a file that contains all the user manuals that come with anything I buy and lots of other books some new some older

daffodilsandprimroses · 07/04/2021 20:49

I’ve hardly any books but it is just because they are all on my kindle. OH isn’t much of a reader though. Ds has baby books.

Original poster
Babysharkdododont · 07/04/2021 20:49

Sorry I've not explained myself well, I see that.
What I was trying to say is, if you want a house full of books that's grand, if you don't that's equally grand. What I don't quite get is people exclaiming that they couldn't possibly live in a house that's not full of books, as though it's some sort of value judgement.

OP posts:
VeryQuaintIrene · 07/04/2021 20:50

When I was a child, I used to go to other people's houses and wonder where they kept all their books.

luckylavender · 07/04/2021 20:52

I'm sure it's possible, just not something I'd chose.

FangsForTheMemory · 07/04/2021 20:52

If I hadn't got a house full of books, I'm not sure what I'd do with myself. Or with the space. Fill it with a huge telly?

Shinyletsbebadguys · 07/04/2021 20:53

In the nicest way open to me you are being exactly what you accuse others of being. I have ridiculous amounts of books because I do see the point in re-reading them. They are comforting to me. Also virtually no one is aware of this. We have remarkably few visitors even before Covid.

In fact its extremely rare that anyone enters other than us. I don't mention it because unless a conversation starts specifically on how many books you have I can't see how it would come up. I have never had that conversation.

Nor do I really think its odd not to have them. Maybe reading isn't your thing , so what? Or maybe it is and like my DP prefer a kindle. I don't I like a book.

I don't assume others are virtue signalling if they have copious books. Maybe if they bring it up every two seconds but the same could be said of them bringing up that they are vegan.

Also enough with the rubbish about education , DP mother hasn't got a single qualification of any description and that woman reads far more voraciously than we do and her house is piled high with books. You don't need to be educated to be a reader.

TechnoDino · 07/04/2021 20:53

My books are upstairs, so anybody visiting may assume I don’t have any.
My MIL keeps a carefully stocked bookcase in her hall, it’s all Eyre and Bronte and Byron. She desperately wants to project a certain image.
Neither or these first impressions for visitors is anywhere near correct!

MapGirlExtraordinaire · 07/04/2021 20:54

YANBU OP and I love all the pp on this thread so busy falling over themselves in eagerness to tell you how many shelves of books they have that they don't read your OP and actually answer your question!

You're right, IMO, that there is a type of person who loves to go on about how many books they have as they think it makes them sound intelligent / cultured / risqué etc etc. I am friends with some of them

There are also people who read many different books who are all those things but don't feel the need to loudly go on about it. I am also friends with some of them. I know who I consider to be the really cultured intelligent ones Wink

GreyhoundG1rl · 07/04/2021 20:54

You seem quite defensive about it, op. Why?

ShinyMe · 07/04/2021 20:54

I have lots of books, and I'm always a but surprised by houses without books. I'd never say anything though, because I get that not everyone wants them.

I'm like that with plants though! I see pictures of people's houses and wonder where the hell are all the plants? But then I have... lots of plants.

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