Where are the bookshelves?!

[Babysharkdododont]

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 We've a few shelves in the study with a few technical manuals etc, but these go out of date so quickly as to be obsolete as soon as they're printed, so we go online mostly.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?

@abraxan but my comment wasn't intended to be judgmental. That's just your spin on it. I was literally looking at the space where my bookshelves are and wondering what I'd put there instead. When I first moved in, the tv was there but I moved it upstairs to make room for the books. I literally have nothing at all to play music on because I'm deaf and there's no point. If I didn't have books there, it would be the telly, or framed pictures, or nothing.

So maybe you should be a bit less judgmental yourself.

@Thewinterofdiscontent

weedoogie any idea what shade your floor is please? I’ve got to replace my 3 strip beech laminate but I really love the honey colour. Unfortunately mostly it seems to be shades of grey oak around. I need something cheerier.

My floor isn't wood, I'm afraid, it's a vinyl; although it comes in "planks" that click together. It came from Howdens and I like it better than wood, because it is harder wearing and will never need sanding, polishing, oiling or varnishing.. I think it's this one: Quick-Step Livyn Chestnut Luxury Rigid Vinyl Flooring

It really does look just like wood - and I've got underfloor heating and it has been toasty in the winter. 😊

I think people are funny about books and reading in general, presumably because being a 'reader' is viewed as worthy and intelligent and so people either want to emphasise their reading or defend their apparent lack of it.

I read over 100 books a year and only physically have about 30, my all-time favourites. I just don't have the space for my Beauty and the Beast library. I used to love pulling books off my parents' bookshelves when I was a kid.

When I mention reading a book I usually get the same response - oh I don't know how you find the time, I never get to read anything I'm SO BUSY. Like I said, people are just funny about books because they think they're being judged. Noone cares how many hours you spend watching TV or how many TVs you have.

Your interior decor seems to have caused a frenzy, weedoggie

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

Books about art, history, natural history, biographies, autobiographies, classics, classic science fiction, anthologies of poetry and short stories, travel books, cookery books..........

weedoogie Thanks!
I rent so not bothered if it’s not wood. I want something that will look good. ( I also like the bookshelves,)

I couldn't imagine not having books. We have 4 big bookcases full in the house and many boxes in the loft. We did send quite a lot to the charity shop when we moved house 5 years ago, but I'd struggle to get rid of any more!

I know exactly what you mean, it's like people are trying too hard to show how intellectual and cultured they are.

I've always been described as highly intelligent, and I read a lot. But I can't stand clutter or clinging onto things for no reason. I use a kindle and keep any reference type books in cupboards because they look messy out on display and drive me crackers.

People should fill their homes with whatever makes them happy. And they should also know that making statements about a lack of books in other peoples' homes does nothing except highlight their own ignorance and lack of class.

@Meowchickameowmeow

What virtue do you think is being signaled?

Being well read and well educated.

Not sure if it's been mentioned in the thread yet but I saw something on TV that said during the first lockdown, used book sites were seeing huge orders. Some people were ordering hundreds at a time and specifying colours and sizes rather than content to create a certain background image for video calls. I guess it's this attitude OP is on about.

I think keeping and rereading is quite normal though. Saying that, a lot of people have switched to ereaders now and might have little to no physical books anymore.

We have piles of books all over the house on side tables and in piles by the side of the sofa - no bookcase though! Our house is very tidy otherwise so we avoid looking like hoarders (I hope!)

I do judge people spending £15 a pop on BLANK books with fake designer covers for ‘decor’ oh, and the heinous practice of painting books white or grey

A relative of mine has a book lined living room and no tv. I do know however that they do watch TV on a laptop. But it's like they don't want people to know they do.

I couldn't care less if people own no books but you seem to have a problem with people who do?

No she doesn't @cocogreen. Read the OP again.

A few years ago I ran out of wall space for bookshelves.

I must be virtue signalling then or naive as I have a huge bookcase full of books. I often read the same ones over and over, but I have so many that I don't get bored. I lend them out and will borrow other people's if they recommend it. Why are you so condescending and patronising because people enjoy/do different things to you OP?

Impassioned defender of middlebrow fiction here: crime fiction is amazing

Yes!
I love a good Anne Cleeves. Wasn’t Wilkie Collins considered the first crime writer? And isn’t he considered a classic author?

Anyone who says "but where are the books/bookshelves" is trying to imply the house owner doesn't read and therefore that they must be a bit thick. Or at least that’s the way I've always interpreted it. It isn't a comment that makes the writer come across well

I agree. It comes across like that to me. And I say this as someone who is sitting looking across at a couple of bookshelves.

I love reading travel books @motheroftwoboys.

I know exactly what you mean, it's like people are trying too hard to show how intellectual and cultured they are.
I agree. I couldn't care less what anyone else has in their house.

I don't understand the people who think that if you like watching telly it renders you incapable of reading a book either.

@CounsellorTroi

A relative of mine has a book lined living room and no tv. I do know however that they do watch TV on a laptop. But it's like they don't want people to know they do.

I’ve done that for years, much before it was a thing. Nothing to do with not wanting people to know you’re watching tv. No more than hiding books in cupboard/getting rid of them is about not wanting people to know you are reading books. For us, It’s about the fact you are choosing what. You are watching rather than mindless scrolling. It could be because everyone has different tastes and watches something different.

You should be careful not to transfer your way of looking at things onto others

I’ve done that for years, much before it was a thing.

I hate watching TV on a laptop. The three of us have been watching The Terror. It is far more comfortable for us to lounge on our settess watching the TV than to huddle round a laptop. And the sound quality is rubbish on my laptop.

Settees

I can spell

I love books and I love bookshelves, I will always have them because I have many books I am attached to and enjoy rereading, and bookshelves make me happy to look at and give me cosy vibes, which is just how I like my home. Other people might like a games console or something else like gym equipment or whatever.

Why judge people who like books and enjoy having books in their homes? What's it to you?

I grew up with a room lined with books, and really enjoyed being able to pull down a classic, either of its time, or a true classic. Plus reference books. My mum is a huge history buff, so there were always books I could refer to for school, plus we had an Encyclopedia (remember those?!?), which was brilliant for little bits of research (even if it was 15 years out of date!). Wherever I wanted to travel, my mum would have some kind of travel guide for it, and a road atlas.

I recently moved to a house where the entrance room is lined with shelves, so it's our own little library. We also had several book shelves, which I'm now struggling to fill with stuff, as all our books are in the 'library'. My DD is now doing the same as I did, leafing through things, pulling out the Complete Works of Shakespeare, or an illustrated guide to the Met in New York. As much as we have oodles of info at our fingertips via the internet, sometimes leafing through a book just allows you to discover more.

I also love browsing others' shelves to see their tastes - 'ooh, I've read that', or 'yes I know they're into their politics and they appear to have every biography going'. I'm not so fussed on keeping silly chick lit, since having a Kindle, I don't tend to buy those kinds of throwaway books - now if I buy 'real' books, the intention is to keep and share.

I don't really care what other people do, although most of my friends do seem to maintain bookshelves full of books still, perhaps it's an age thing, and those younger who have been more brought up with e-devices won't want to keep books in their home (although both my teens have shelves full already and won't get rid...).

Why judge people who like books and enjoy having books in their homes? What's it to you?
The OP isn't judging people who have books. She's judging people who judge people who have no books!

For a thread full of bookworms the comprehension of the OP is very poor

I read a lot...10-12 books a month. There's no way I could keep them all. I give them all away. Curating books for my friends is one of my greatest pleasures.