Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

Is anyone else addicted to buying books?

38 replies

BabyJellyShark · 28/04/2023 11:15

It's a bad habit that I really need to stop, especially as I'm not reading all that much at the moment but book hunting is just so satisfying.

I've bought 45 books in the past month. They didn't cost me much as I got them from a charity shop that's currently selling books 5 for a pound and from a library sale, 50p a book but I really need to cut down. In my defence though I did get rid of dozens of books last month.

Does anyone else enjoy book hunting as much as they enjoy reading(Possibly even more)

OP posts:
mdh2020 · 28/04/2023 11:17

I have collections of books on various topics - Samuel Pepys, T E Lawrence, WWII, Antarctic exploration. I’ve got rid of 100s of books and simply replaced them. What no one can see is the unread books on my iPad. All three of us, sisters, buy books and we think it is because when we were growing up we could never afford to buy.

8roses · 28/04/2023 12:15

No, I don’t buy a new one until I finish the last one I’m reading

Pashazade · 28/04/2023 12:48

I'd be buying those kind of figures if I had a good supply OP! I try and offset this tendency by getting them out of the library. My long suffering OH (in this respect!) just sighs when a few more arrive. I do have regular clear outs too as I find after a few years some loose their hold. I've taken to keeping the first one in a series and disposing of the rest so if I want to reread that is a jumping off point/reminder that I enjoyed it, and I can source the rest from the library or second hand.

pjani · 28/04/2023 12:51

5 for a pound is an absolute bargain and you really had no option there. If you can afford it, you're buying second-hand and clearing out as you go (so no hoarding), this sounds like a very pleasurable activity and I'd say go for it! I actually think the smell of books in a second-hand book shop is a mood booster.

If it's ever too expensive or you're getting cluttered, I quite like a long browse around a really good, big bookshop with couches, to record the books I want to go and put on order at the library. And library browses can be just as enjoyable.

Ohow · 28/04/2023 13:14

Yes me! I have a whole bookcase of 'to read' books in order!

Giggorata · 28/04/2023 13:52

I seem to have slowed down on my reading lately, although not on my buying rate.
I have a lot of books and used to be able to answer yes truthfully to the inevitable question about had I read them all. Not now. Dunno why.

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 28/04/2023 13:53

I'm on a book buying ban because I buy and don't read. It's obscene.

Original poster
BabyJellyShark · 28/04/2023 18:54

Thanks all. It's interesting to hear what others do.

It is very difficult to resist when it's 5 for £1 and the money goes to charity or the local library. I don't feel quite so bad about it now as though I have a huge pile of books to get through, I do regularly get rid of others. I will try to make more of an effort to read though.

OP posts:
Original poster
BabyJellyShark · 28/04/2023 18:55

I do use the library too and I'm trying to go in there more often though it was doing that which resulted in me buying 15 of the books!

OP posts:
Easterbunnywashere · 28/04/2023 20:14

Yes I buy far too many. I had two arrive in the post today. I do think it is an addiction because I really don't have time to read them all.

LysHastighed · 28/04/2023 20:22

I never let myself buy new books as I wouldn’t be able to stop and I can easily read a novel a day. At 5 for a quid you were unreasonable not to buy more. I don’t really understand the concept of having two many books in the house, surely wall to wall books is perfection.

ThedaBara · 28/04/2023 20:48

My friend and I are doing no buy this year because we are both addicted to buying books and have full shelves. Its been very interesting so far, I've realised that I've kept some books without reading because I actually didn't want to read them, the moment when I had been interested had long passed (Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse had been on my shelf for a decade, I gave up 50 pages in).
The only bending of the rules is being allowed to accept gifts, DH got me a couple for mothers day.
It's gotten me out of a reading slump and I have a list of books to buy at the end of the year

tobee · 28/04/2023 21:20

Yes!

I'm always looking for that pot of gold at the end the rainbow; a satisfying book that I can't put down.

I haven't bought any books since April 11th and before that March 26th. But I've made a conscious effort and now just put things in my wish list. It was my birthday in March so I took that as a signal to over indulge then.

My shelves are totally full and I have piles on the floor.

Damn, just remembered I also got a book subscription book in early April but I'd technically bought that last year.

😬

TattiePants · 28/04/2023 21:42

Yes! I can’t walk past a charity shop without having a rummage through the books and 2 or 3 times a year I have a trip to a localish secondhand bookshop and rarely come back with less than 25 books. I have at least 250 physical books waiting to be read and I’ve just started buying kindle books too.

justprance · 28/04/2023 22:31

Yes.

Am both horrified and delighted that the book depository has closed. Am not in the uk and English books are premium.

Might start tackling the piles of books next to my bed now...

Kanaloa · 28/04/2023 22:38

I was going to say oh that’s not a bad habit but 45 books in a month when you don’t read very much seems a bit pointless. It’s just buying for the sake of buying really. I think because it’s books it’s seen as ‘worthy’ but really it’s no different than going out obsessively buying clothes or toys or cooking utensils when you don’t really use them.

My new year’s resolution a few years ago was to only read from the library (either online library or my local/uni libraries). I read a lot so it was a challenge but very helpful in terms of clutter and cash. I did end up buying a couple of books I couldn’t access through the library but nothing like what I usually do. Even now when my bookshelves are cluttered I have a clear out rather than just double stack. I only keep books if they have sentimental value or I think I will reread them.

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 28/04/2023 23:40

Yes. I have thousands of books and no time to read them, but I can't resist a 'bargain'. I usually buy from discount book sellers.
I'm better at resisting than I used to be but I still buy too many every year.

madamehooch · 29/04/2023 21:08

I have stopped buying books both to save money and because of lack of space. However, I am a Bookseller, and on a Friday, the publishers release their lists of advance reading copies which we can request. I have saved money but, unless I use my car as a mobile library, there is nowhere to store any more books, plus the postman hates me ...

Izzy24 · 29/04/2023 21:09

guilty

ExtremelyDetermined · 29/04/2023 21:11

Yes, I find it hard to walk past a charity shop without browsing the books, I buy 99p deals on Kindle all the time and use Borrowbox a lot too.

Yuja · 29/04/2023 21:11

I have this tendency, especially in charity shops - I love looking for books for me and DC. I force myself to borrow at least half my books from the library to try and counter this!

ChessieFL · 30/04/2023 13:36

Yes this is me. I have hundreds of unread books and yet I cannot resist looking in any bookshop I pass. I keep saying I need to stop buying books but I always manage to convince myself there’s a good reason to buy this particular book.

Moro93 · 30/04/2023 14:27

I have bought over 30 in the last few weeks! I’ve just got over a reading slump and it’s made me excited so I started over buying books…
I’m stopping now though and just adding things to my wishlist. I won’t buy more until I’ve read a decent chunk.

I don’t see buying books as a bad thing (except for finding the space). I think it is worthwhile if you enjoy reading. I like doing through my bookshelf choosing what to read next. Books don’t expire either so if any of my kids are into reading when they’re older then there will be plenty of choice 😂

I have a good tip that I seen that might be useful to some of you, myself included. Add a penny per page for every book you finish to a ‘book fund’. So for example, if you finish a 300 page book add £3. This is all you can use to buy books, which will encourage you to read more!

revealmyjackpot · 30/04/2023 14:28

Yes. It's an addiction.

Moro93 · 30/04/2023 14:28

*going not doing

Swipe left for the next trending thread