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Original poster

Must Stop Buying Books

18 replies

isitsnowingyet · 13/12/2014 21:48

I seem to have a problem, in both buying real books or kindle books at the moment when I already have plenty lined up to read.

The 3 latest are 'Flowers in the Attic' - never read it, but people go on about it a lot

A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry - read 'Family Matters' and thoroughly enjoyed as he is an outstanding writer - excellent in fact, so I know this will be a good one.

Uncle Silas by Sheridan Le Fanu (prob. spelt that wrong) which looks intriguing, love a good gothic tale, and have read Wilkie Collins already.

I think for 2015 a good mission would be to not buy any more books, but just read all the ones I have already (quite a few more I haven't listed)

I know I'm not alone in this book-buying but not reading before the next purchase - please share to make me feel better less guilty !!

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PoinsettiaGordino · 13/12/2014 21:50

That's going to be my new year's resolution too

Including from the library, because obviously I have to prioritise those as they are due back a few weeks later, so all the other books shift down the list again. Feel a bit bad about that as I want to support the library, but my unread books pile is out of control

carlywurly · 13/12/2014 21:52

You are definitely not alone. I have well over 100 unread books and more on my kindle app. It's a real addiction. I need a year off work to try and get through them all. Confused

Original poster
isitsnowingyet · 13/12/2014 21:56

Oh yes - the library. I have to go there as I run a book club, so there's that once a month, and then I usually pick up a couple from the library too. And as carlywurly so rightly says Confused

The kindle is partly to blame, as they sometimes have such good deals on, or free books, it seems a shame not to!

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waycat · 14/12/2014 04:21

I am guilty of this too - just can't resist books!

I have to try and curb my buying in favour of using my local library, which is due to close in April next year unless local volunteers can be found to keep it running in come capacity.

DuchessofMalfi · 14/12/2014 06:00

Another one here whose book buying got out of control Grin, especially after I got a kindle. I am making a New Year's resolution to catch up with myself. Maybe not stop buying but ensure that, if I do, I read it straight away and then read several from the already bought pile.

I also try to support the library and borrow books too. We're lucky to have a big library properly staffed but so many locally have either been closed down or are now open short hours staffed by volunteers. It's sad the way they have been treated in recent years.

I like to borrow audio books and ebooks from the library's website too.

CoteDAzur · 14/12/2014 17:54

Stop buying books? Why? We have the Kindle Christmas sale to look forward to Grin

Southeastdweller · 14/12/2014 19:16

I've also got this problem. I love browsing and buying books in charity shops, libraries and bookshops and my tbr pile can't keep up with the amount of books I actually read (about five a month). I see there's some books out in paperback in a few weeks that I've been waiting to read (The Miniaturist, You Should Have Known) but I want to hold off from buying them until I've read at least ten of my pile that are currently sitting on my shelf.

CoteDAzur · 14/12/2014 20:19

eReaderIQ is great for delaying purchases. You write down the books you want to buy, and they send you an email when those books drop in price. It's great. Not only do you delay purchasing your books but you also buy them at reduced prices.

MiddleAgeMiddleEngland · 15/12/2014 17:43

isitsnowingyet I have A Fine Balance on my to read pile as well Smile I also have Mistry's Tales from Firozsha Baag in the same pile.

Have you read Susan Hill's Howard's End is on the Landing about how she resolved to only read books she already owned for a year?

Curioushorse · 15/12/2014 17:49

Just about to move house, mainly because we need bigger space for our books. It's pretty bad! We're only in our 30s too....so it'll be interesting to see how bad things have got in 30 years time.

PetiteRaleuse · 15/12/2014 17:58

I need to stop too. It's terrible. The to read pile is getting ever bigger. I still haven't read the stuff I bought in the Kindle sale last year actually, as I have pretty much given up on my kindle.

Mouldypineapple · 15/12/2014 18:05

I get 2/3 emails a day about cheap/free kindle books. So I have about 100 in line.. Bit embarrassing when I see one I like click it and it says I already bought it several months ago but I haven't touched it!

Also have a large shelf of real books waiting to be read. Mostly charity shop ones.

Bit of a bargain book addict here!!

photocop · 15/12/2014 18:34

I used to have tons of unread books.
Eventually I put them in a pile by my bed to serve as a reminder, instead of having them mixed in with all the "read" books.
Eventually I realised I was buying new ones all the time because the ones in my "to read" pile didn't really appeal to me that much. So now, if it sits too long in the pile, it gets charity-shopped. This means all the "worthy" books that I feel I "ought" to read, no longer stare at me making me feel inadequate! And so actually the pile by my bed, six or so books only, are all books I really do want to read. And I'm less tempted to shop for books. I do keep a list in my diary of books I want to read, so that I won't forget them. This includes books I read reviews of, or books I spot in bookshops. This means I don't buy books because I'm worried I'll forget I want to read them one day, IYSWIM.
Anyway, works for me! I have definitely cut down on my book buying.

Postchildrenpregranny · 15/12/2014 18:41

I too have lots of books stacked up on my Kindle.I love my Kindle especially for travelling but the titles on it don't call out 'read me' like real books .As an ex librarian I also use the library a lot and request a lot of new titles and as a previous poster says, I have to prioritise them so as not to pay overdue charges .Plus I now volunteer in an Oxfam bookshop,which is another temptation .I find the Kindle 'wish list a useful place to note titles I want to read,especially if the library sadly increasingly common,hasn't

Postchildrenpregranny · 15/12/2014 18:44

Bought them ....I read about 5 books a week on average -I'm retired-I think it's an addiction,but even so I can't keep up

PoinsettiaGordino · 15/12/2014 21:50

"Have you read Susan Hill's Howard's End is on the Landing about how she resolved to only read books she already owned for a year?"

stop it! if i buy it i will fall over with the irony!

Postchildrenpregranny · 15/12/2014 21:58

Yes the Susan Hill brilliant (Love all her books too )

Original poster
isitsnowingyet · 15/12/2014 22:15

Erm - quite. The irony I can see, as I really like Susan Hill books too, and no, I hadn't heard about that one.

I have read Howard's End though (yes, it was very good also)

Thanks for the tip photocop - that sounds a good way of paring them down a bit. I've got 'Moby Dick' on my kindle, but have put off tackling it for around 3 years. Trouble is, I do still think I would like to read it, if I could just get started on it. Before kids, I seemed to have a lot more time for leisurely reading. Ho hum,

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