Can There Be Too Many Books?

CAN THERE BE TOO MANY BOOKS? I recently did a deep dive spring cleaning throughout my entire house.  Cupboards, drawers, closets, EVERYTHING!

I have unread books tucked EVERYWHERE!  58 books to be exact and I keep a list in a journal of the books I want to eventually read that I have not purchased or borrowed yet from the library.  There are 100+ books on that list and is being added too every day.  And this does not count being a member in two monthly book clubs; any new books that come out from this day forward; friends handing off books to me once they have finished reading a “really good book”; and throughout the year, we have a variety of published authors - local, self-published and big name, successful authors - who come to the area for meet and greets. These functions are great fun.  We learn all sorts of things about the writing process, and you get to buy autograph books. 

UGH!  I will not live long enough to read everything. 

Talking to others who love to read, we are all the same – numerous books in our possession and lists of books waiting to be purchased or borrowed, just waiting to be read. For clarification, I am not an e-book reader.  I want to hold the book in my hand and physically turn the pages and breath in the smell of the books.

Why do I have the want to go out and buy new books recently published? Why can’t I wait until they are available to borrow from the library?  It’s not like I don’t have anything else readily accessible to read.  And it’s not like the books are going to expire – never to be available ever again.  Heck, even banned books are available to purchase or borrow from the library.

Everyone who knows me knows I have the patience of a gnat. It can take up to 30-60 days for the library to get any new published books into the building.  And there is not a guarantee they will get any specific book.  Then if they do get a bestseller, there is a waiting list that can take weeks until the notification comes in that it’s your turn to borrow the book.  Then there is the points reward program at Barnes and Nobles.  For every dollar spent you earn points and after so many points you receive cash to apply for your next purchase.  It’s a ridiculous amount of dollars you have to spend to receive enough points to pay for one book.  In my mind it kind of justifies buying the newest published books once they hit the shelves so I can earn those points.

I have come to believe that I have a book addiction, and it’s not limited to one genre!!! One of the book clubs I belong to is pick your own book.  We all agree on a genre and then we each pick our own book in that genre to discuss.  This has opened up a whole new world for me with actually liking books I would never ever consider looking at let alone reading those books.  Thus, adding to the addiction.

To help control my book addiction, this day forward, I am going to try to write in the book journal, all future books that come out that I want to read.  This is going to be a very difficult challenge for me.  So, wish me luck and a long life. 

Until Next Time!

Kathy