Too many books, not enough time

[Papergirl1968]

I love books and I have far too many, as apart from the odd one I might have in duplicate, I can’t bring myself to send any to charity. I probably have several hundred books but don’t buy many these days as I prefer to borrow from the library instead of filling the house with yet more books.
I’m quite a slow reader as I’m a single parent and time is limited. And I admit I spend far too long faffing about on mumsnet.
So I try to have one library book and one of my own on the go at the same time, with the idea being that at least some of my own can then be chucked. Not my favourites, just the ones which are only ok. But it’s a slow process as it probably takes me a fortnight or so to read the average book.
I recently turned 49 and I’m now thinking that I’ll never read them all before I die!
Am I overthinking it? Does anyone else have similar worries?
I don’t really like reading ebooks before anyone suggests getting those instead!

This is as much to me as to you, but get off the internet. Have your book open nearby when you'd otherwise be on your phone / tablet. I reckon we all spend far more time online than we realise.

I know just how you feel, 3 books on the go atm! Library book, own book & kindle. I've got a bag with Too Many Books, Not Enough Time on it.
I give a new book 50 to 75 pages, and if it hasn't caught my interest by then, that's it, and off to another. I use my dh's library card plus mine so thats 14 books, then the shelves, and shelves, and shelves of books in the house, and 70 on my kindle.Wish I had two or three pairs of eyes!

I know, Hope. I’m addicted to mumsnet! And the Daily Fail...
Our library lets you get 20 books, Carrie. Some of them I’m ashamed to admit I’ve had for about a year.

Unread books are your future! Watch video from a 'booktuber' about the joy of having unread books. It will make you feel much better.

Did u see that Bill Nighy film where he could time travel and he basically just uses it to give him time to read more books? I would love that.

I get the bus to work and while others would Mins about how long it takes I love that I can normally get an hour and a half reading a day (ok an hour and the other half on mumsnet!)

Have you read Howard's End is on the Landing by Susan Hill?

It inspired me to just read books I have at home but I have to say I failed miserably. I mean, buying secondhand books doesn't really count, nor do books bought to soothe when feeling stressed and...

Still, I loved it (even if Hill is a bit of a name-dropper). She has a new one out Jacob's Room is Full of Books which is on my Christmas list.

I know how you feel. Every month on Mumsnet there is a 'book of the month'. Quite a lot of the time I've never heard of the author, but enjoy their book and then find out that they have written 10 or so others as well. It's like that quote that used to be on Waterstone's bags - "When I read a good book, I wish that life were 10,000 years long".

Oh yes OP. I can't resist books from charity shops and I've got a bookcase getting more full each month. I'm also a frequent library borrower. I can get through 10-12 books on a two-week holiday, and leave them behind to be read by someone else. Don't go on enough holidays to get through my stash though! I often think how nowadays far more books are published and how can I ever read them all? Hate to think I might miss something good, although I find that only a couple of books each year merit a 5* rating on Goodreads.

Thanks, all, for making me feel a bit better about what i acknowledge is actually a very first world problem!
I’m going to try to read more, surf less, watch less crap tv, and give up on any books that are rubbish instead of struggling through to the bitter end.
My new year’s resolution, eight weeks early!

Sounds like a good one Papergirl1968!

Sometimes I depress myself by measuring out the rest of my life in how many books I can read (if I average 50 a year) and how many more dogs I could have.

DH thinks I am barmy

You're not barmy at all, Edna, sounds perfectly normal to me! ( unless I am barmy, which is possible, as Alice says, " all the best people are" )

20 books! Papergirl you lucky thing!

I could have started this thread. Exactly the same problems. Except I can get 30 books out on my library card. And I use both my teenage sons' cards. That's on top of hundreds of books I own and lord knows how many on kindle

I have found my people. I have far too many books on my kindle, plus I borrow books from the library and yes I do worry I'll never get around to reading them all. I also have some books in multiples - Lord of the Rings - on kindle, paperback, all 3 books in one hardback and 2nd editions (couldn't afford the 1st editions) hardbacks of each book.

I am so happy to have found 'barmy' people like me. I love books, and am always panicking that I do not have enough years left to read all that I want. The books are now piling up on the floor I have so many, but if DH complains I point out that studies have shown 500+ books in the home equals six extra years of education for your kids. Happy reading ladies

This thread has just prompted me to count how many unread kindle books I have...113!! I love looking in charity shops and second hand book shops and usually have 3/4 library books out at any one time, need to get round to reading those I actually own though!

I have a 5 shelf bookcase which is full, a sizeable pile hidden in the airing cupboard, and about 50 books on my ipad. I can't resist buying more. Our doctors surgery now sells donated books for charity so I keep adding to my collection from there. I think either I need help, or more hours in the day. Problem solved.

I recently deleted books I won’t read, mostly free ones. Feel much better for it. Still a hundred or so though. Also culled lots of books I’ve outgrown. I think if it as my charitable giving. Going to try and read more of my own stash. I have trouble resisting the shiny new library books though and the library digital downloads too.

To be honest with you I just think this is a bookworms problem. I have even taken to stashing books (and unread copies of National Geographical) in the doors of my car just in case I breakdown!

I have so many books on my shelves that I haven't read yet (I love books from charity shops) plus I work opposite the library so often pick something up from there.

I'm slogging my way through Moby Dick at the moment which is taking me much longer than most books do.

We subscribe to the Economist and although I don't read all of it that takes me a while to get through each week. I still have some two-year-old copies of National Geographic on my iPad to read as well. I would have read them by now if they'd been physical magazines.

I always feel like I am missing out on a good book and get annoyed/stressed that I am never going to be caught up.

I have 3 books on the go at the moment and this feeling is taking away from my enjoyment a bit.

I need to give up and accept no one can ever read 'all the books'

I have book FOMO!

I feel like I’ve come home.

Not being able to read all the books before I kick the bucket has been a concern of mine for quite some time!

In this digital age, almost noone has the time to read books and instead would prefer watching videos.

I have about 2,400 books in the house and have them all on an excel sheet breakdown, good at to keep track on
What you have bought and how much you have spent
What you have read,
I read book a week, not a TV fan, plus have to travel to London for work twice a week, 1hr 35 minutes either way and I will work one way [to work] and read on the return journey, the 30 minute tube journey is also a great time to read.

Nothing wrong with keeping the books, they are part you and your history.

Goodness, that’s very organised, ewb.
Unfortunately my early New Year resolution to read more and waste time on the internet isn’t really succeeding...
My dd does have two appointments every week when I can sit and read in the waiting room so apart from 20 mins or so when I go to bed, that tends to be my only time for reading. I just need to prioritise it and put down the darned iPad.