Is this what 99% of mumsnetters homes look like

[Damaged27]

After all these interior design threads this is what I'm imagining everyone on mumsnets homes look like. Just curious if I'm way off because iv never been in a home like this. Maybe if the person is in their 80s. Do people really have bookshelves?

I've been dumped because I owned books and liked readings
🤯

I am 80 next month but my hundreds of books have been accumulating and changed over 60 years. Yes I had fewer at 20 than I have now but that doesn’t make me a better person at 20. Also I don’t know who called OP snobby. Someone who can’t appreciate books can’t be aspired to. I won’t say what I was going to see next!

Yes exactly.

Ironically I know why I was dumped because my ex was going on about it to a casual friend of his, the casual friend, who read a lot and thought my ex was a bit of a knob thought to himself "she sounds interesting", and introduced himself the next time he met me (part of a wider friendship group)

Reader, I married him...

Some of the nicest people I know wouldn't dream of reading a book.

I have an elderly neighbour who claims to have not read a novel since he was in school yet he’s the most fascinating and wise person I’ve ever met. And I mean the wisdom that comes with emotional intelligence - the sort you’d get from reading about loads of characters and their different experiences of life. He certainly wouldn’t be narrow minded enough to go “Eh?! Some people don’t have books?!”

Book lovers love owning books, connecting with other book lovers ( and yes, even discussing quotes or passages they have read and re-read) just as music and sport lovers enjoy connecting.

I totally understand that. I'm a book lover.

But I take issue with some of the superiority on this thread as if books and book loving is THE CORRECT way to function. And it is horrifying to not be interested in books. Or it seems, not to own any.

I agree: one of my DC reads everything and the other doesn't read much. The one who doesn't read is just as intelligent/interesting because he gets plenty of information from videos, podcasts, movies, the internet... Books aren't the font of all wisdom as they used to be, when I was growing up.

I think there are some horribly snobby book owners on this thread - some saying they are trying hard not to be rude - would a book on manners help?

We have penetrating damp so sadly all our books are in dozens of boxes until we get our house damp-proofed move.

Sorry OP, but judging by some of your spelling and grammar, I think you could use a few more books in your house….🙈

We all love books in this family so have loads of bookshelves - we have bookshelves in every room - and countless books, but I'm struggling to picture going into someone's house and judging them for having no bookshelves. I wouldn't even notice, the same way I wouldn't notice if they didn't have a Kitchenaid or a piano or golfclubs or dog toys or whatever.

We have bookshelves because we like books, is that so strange an idea 🤔

Is this some kind of weird 'bash people who love books because they are all snobs who judge the rest of us' thread?

I think to be fair it’s cutting both ways on this thread. There have been a few such comments, but much of the suggestion it is somehow superior to love and own books is actually being pedalled by the anti book brigade. I got called the smuggest person on MN simply for giving an estimate of our stash. The suggestion it was something to be smug about was, ironically, theirs.

I don't have a single bookshelf. Oh wait. I've one inside a kitchen cupboard for cook books. I read a book then get rid or download it onto kindle.

Maybe take a leaf from the books of the normal book collectors who dgaf about what other people do?

Steady on. A bit mean …

Books aren't the font of all wisdom as they used to be, when I was growing up.
I think people who get their information by reading have a better vocabulary though. That's just my opinion.

I don’t disagree, but reading isn’t just limited to physical books any more

True @ZebraPensAreLife but I mean reading rather than watching videos whether that be a book or digital content.

How unnecessary and nasty.

Surely you realise that while you’ll probably forget even saying this by tomorrow, it could play on someone’s mind for some time.

I have noticed very neat houses without books presumed bookcase in bedrooms.
I think I'm quiet good at moving on books once read but I've plenty love to keep. Reference books some children books with memories ECT.
Atlases are my favorite especially as they different over years so love looking back on older maps.
Cookery & travel books too

We have loads of bookshelves. I suspect we also have pretty similar stuff in our home to what you have, it's just that we have bookshelves as well.

Sorry Op, didn’t mean to offend you! OP doesn’t seem like she takes offence too easily though, so I think she can handle it…

Are you saying you were brought up not to read for enjoyment, or around books? My parents weren’t literate enough to be able to read more than the very basics (I wrote my own sick notes until I taught my mum to read and write more easily etc) and there were no books in the house at all until I figured out the library was free. I became a voracious reader. Books transformed my life. I make a living from reading and writing, and my house is full of thousands of books.

I’m just saying you don’t have to be just a product of your early environment.

@Pupsandturtles

Literally just talking about the perceived superiority of 'book' people. And in you wade. 👌🏼

Send one to @Pupsandturtles please.