how many books do you actually own? and keep in your house?

[juicychops]

i have about 250 books in a book shelf in my front room. ive read about half of them, and the other half i will get around to once ive finished my degree at the end of the year- im planning on reading straight for a good few months! but they do look quite cluttered now

but the thing is, i like keeping the books i read. i dont know why, but i just do. i would rather buy and keep one than borrow it from the library. and when i read them i like to keep them all nice and neat and try not to bend the spine too much so that they still look reasonably new on my shelf

does anyone else keep loads of books like me? or am i just silly?

About 4-5,000; half of those would be children's books. We are slowing down on what we buy now.

I've never counted ? but 100s in each room. Ragwort's comment about expecting to have to clear out her parents' books in due course has struck a chord, as mine have 1000s.

However...can I recommend a book called 'Howards End is on the Landing' by Susan Hill? She decided not to buy any books for a year but to re-read as many as possible of those she already had, & then compile a list of her top 40. Have not yet had the courage to try it myself, but think it would concentrate the mind wonderfully.

Prob about 2,000 inc childrens books. My parents also have thousands, lining the walls in many rooms. God know what will happen if I get bequeathed them. I cannot throw away books. Likewise records/tapes/CD's, not to mention photos. A whole house stuffed with memories crap thats me

As a young 'un with no money I raided the libraries. I eventually had to change memberships from my wee local library to a bigger library in a neighbouring town because I'd read all the books my local one had.

But owning books and being able to dip back in whenever I pleased, and not suffering the rage of finding a beloved book rented out by some other reader-person - oh how I aspired to that. I saved all my pocket money and began my collection. I think I literally bought nothing else for my whole adolescence. I think my parents (not particularly great readers) were vaguely bemused by my voracity for words, but indulged my obsession; probably rightly figuring that there were far worse things for me to be so delighted by.

I still recall the anguish of my maternal grandfather dying while we were on holiday and my aunt (to spare my mother and her other sisters the trouble) clearing out his house - including his incredible library of musty leather-bound antique tomes by throwing them away. I missed the walls of books as much as I missed my grandfather, terrible as that is to say. I am grateful to this day that before he died he had trustingly loaned me everything he had by Sir Walter Scott and (randomly) my late grandmother's Mrs Beeton (said Mrs Beeton is now 104 years old) and I have them in all their frail glory. Gems of my collection. For the books themselves and for the memories.

I am very bad about letting go of my books, rarely giving them away and never lending them out if I am remotely attached to them (except to one BIL who also adores books and can be completely trusted to return them in precisely the same state he received them) the only books I have ever donated to charity have been cheapie paperbacks which I have thoroughly not enjoyed - quite a small list really as I do love reading all manner of things.

DH jokes that we may have to buy another house just for my books one day. DH may find one day that he is not really joking at all. When we moved in together I brought 30 tea crates of belongings - 27 of those crates were chock full of books (the others were full of shoes well, and some clothes and my good kitchen knives) and the collection (books, not shoes or knives) has only grown over the years.

I'm not particularly attached to anything else, but my books are very, very precious to me [insert silly twat emoticon here?]

I have lots, probably in the 1000 area, but I'm quite good about disposing of stuff I'm not going to read again. Mention of libraries earlier made me think about my two favourites, non-real and would love to have one of these, the library in Disney's Beauty & the Beast my favourite scene in the film and favourite real library is the one at Arundel Castle!

Is it a competition who has more? Why you keep them at home? It doesnt mean you like reading. YOU LIKE KEEPING . I think, if you really like reading, you can go to the library. There are lots of books....

Thousands, and would probably have more if my mother hadn't callously thrown away all my Famous Five and other Enid Blyton books ie the Mystery series, the Adventure series, etc., that I meticulously collected as a child.

She threw them out after I left home to get married in my 20's. I was heartbroken...and it still rankles now that I am 50!

I used to keep all my books, even the trashy chick-lit ones, but I have learn't to be more selective in my dotage. But I still have all my university books - I was known for buying all my books instead of queuing up for the few copies that were available in library. Was I mad? I just thought they would be good for reference during my career, but I've hardly ever gone back to them and their ideas/practices are probably now out of date!

On reflection, probably a good time to have clear out and make room for some new books!!!!

We have about 1.5 - 2 thousand I should imagine - they are everywhere

I cannot give books back either

Many. Maybe even LOTS.

Ikea Billy tall bookcases times 5 plus a little one which is all cookbooks in the kitchen. And the "To Read" shelf in my bedroom - about another 10 on there at any one time!

Then there's the boxes which are actually not in my house but still at my parents' place - enough to stock a reasonably sized branch library with child/teen friendly books, I think.

That's just mine. DBoyf is just as bad, and there's even an overlap!

2 bookshelves in the living room, at least 2 large packing boxes in the loft and 2 more at mums house, keep meaning to give some to the charity shops but can't bear to, so happily donate clothes, shoes, bags etc instead :)