Book Buying Addicts Anonymous discussion

I worry sometimes that I buy books which are somewhat over my abilities and those books end up neglected on the shelf. I have managed to read some but they can be quite intimidating to pick up to read I think perhaps that I need a better filter when I buy books, which is something I've been working on and I'll often stand in a shop leafing through a book asking myself 'now, am I ACTUALLY intending to read this?'. :-) I have put back a lot of books using this method, though being scrupulously honest with yourself isn't easy!

Does anyone else do this? And do you end up buying the book anyway if it looks nice (Folio Society history books are a real weakness of mine!). I'm currently trying to resist buying a Folio edition of The Phoenicians at the moment, I already have nine from the series so want them all but I've only read one (The Hittites) and it was quite hard work in places. I'm longing for someone else to buy that copy but am also yearning to buy it myself!

Alternatively: is it actually a good idea to stretch yourself in this way, to force yourself to sometimes read books which are difficult?

I too have been seduced by Folio editions. They look good, feel good and smell like real books and they certainly do furnish a room!

But do I ever re-read or even in some cases read them at all? Not all by any means, after the first browsing. I've now stopped buying them - it's too much like locking treasure or gold in the vaults for future indulgence. It's sheer materialistic greed, frankly, and that's not the way I want to lead my life.

What I need are books that draw me in by their content and, to use a corny expression, 'touch the heart.' I want to become another person through inhabiting an alien consciousness, see life freshly via one who has suffered or been to places (metaphorically) that I'll probably never reach.

IMO if you can afford it, I see nothing wrong with buying books that look good on the shelf even if you don't think you will read them. it's no different than buying paintings to hang on the walls to me. if you have the space and the money, I say go ahead and collect nice sets.

If you really want to read them, or just stretch yourself, reading slightly out of your comfort zone each time will get you there. It also feels quite fun, even if you might need something easier in between.

I do exactly the same thing. I saw a two volume set of "Remembrances Of Things Past" by Proust in a local charity shop for £3.50 and at some point I plan to read all 2500 plus pages of it. I'm just not ready for that kind of commitment yet, at least not without getting a bit further ahead on my reading challenge.

Joseph wrote: "IMO if you can afford it, I see nothing wrong with buying books that look good on the shelf even if you don't think you will read them. it's no different than buying paintings to hang on the walls..."

That's something I really want to avoid though, buying books as decoration is really jarring for me - I don't want to become someone who buys 'leather-bound books - oh any old thing, just as long as they match my leather furniture'.

Virginia wrote: "If you really want to read them, or just stretch yourself, reading slightly out of your comfort zone each time will get you there. It also feels quite fun, even if you might need something easier i..."

This is kinda what I've thought, although sometimes I look back and think that I was kidding myself if I thought I was ever likely to read some books!

Good luck with the Proust Virginia! I've seen copies in shops and I don't think I'm ready to attempt that work! I certainly am avoiding Joyce after reading some comments on his work!

I've never been into buying books because they look nice on the shelves, but I do buy books thinking that I'll read them one day. Right now the Divine Comedy is staring me down. I do want to read it, and I'm sure I will, but I think it will be an in between book. After I finish each book I'll read 50 pages of the Divine Comedy before moving on to something less daunting. I tend to finish a book every 4 days so I'd never put it down long enough to forget what was going on.

I like to collect books almost as much as I like to read them. There's just something attractive to me about having complete sets or various publications of favorite classic titles like "Treasure Island." I don't go so far as spending great amounts on it, I collect more at the pricings of library used book sales than antiquarian used book stores. If I can get a complete set for a couple of dollars I'll often grab it, but I don't spend hundreds of dollars on single books.

I love the sight of overflowing book cases. It is candy to my eyes but far from the only reason for acquiring them. Books are brain food and just like a well laid pantry, a copious library is an investment for the future. One never knows when the desire to explore the world of the written word becomes an itch that must be scratched.

I do try to avoid buying books I know I am absolutely never going to read just so my shelf looks pretty but I have several books on my shelf that I know I'm going to have a harder time reading and really understanding, but I don't think that is a reason not to get the book. I think you need to challenge your reading abilities from time to time not only to stay out of a reading rut but its good for your brain and learning and trying new things is something we shouldn't stop doing.

Yes - I am overly ambitious about my book choices and my reading plans. A few years ago I thought it would be great to follow "New Lifetime Reading Plan" by Clifton Fadiman- about 130 books, starting all the way back with The . And of course, I wanted to own all the books. I got about 20 books in, and decided I needed a break.

My latest phase was I decided it would be great to read (of course, and to own) the Pulitzer Prize winners. I was thinking about the Pulitzers for History because I had read by Rick Atkinson
and loved it. Then when I started exploring the Pulitzers list - I realized I also liked the General Non-Fiction, Biography/Auto-Biography, and Fiction categories. I think I'm way over my head right now as many of these books are serious reading!

But, this has all led me to be reading about WWI now, as we are reaching the 100 year anniversary of the start of the war in August. At least I'm enjoying myself!

That's certainly quite ambitious Donna, I've found a copy of the list and there are some very heavy tomes on it! I've read a few and have some others already on my to-read list but not that many!

I think and you certainly are going to have some head scratching to do with those and the Pulitzers (there are a lot even if you just read the history ones!) - I raise a glass to you for making the attempt at reading them all!

I am a little picky on the condition of the books I buy, that said I buy books I intend to read at some point. I keep the unread in a different location though the piles get rather large at times. Size doesn't matter as long as it is good. And I do reread.

Each and every books I buy is one that, at the time, I am quite certain I will read, lol. Of course books are like food in a buffet line, at least for me. Sometime I think I am capable of more than I actually am. I read a wide variety of authors and genres and try to read at lease one new to me author each month. But I read for myself. What I enjoy... and don't give a rip what anyone else thinks of my choices. I have one room in my house that is a dedicated library and worry that when I pass on, no one else will care for my books and they will end up at Goodwill.

I love this group - you are my people. Like everyone else, I intend to read everything I buy, but ... The biggest example of unrealistic ambitions is the ten volume Story of Civilization by Will Durant. Any historians reading this will say, "But there are eleven volumes." Well, that just shows how long I've been carting these tomes around with me, intending to improve my mind. Truth in advertising: I love to read - FICTION. but even there, I get overambitious; for example, the writings of William Faulkner also remain on the shelf.

I recently (and not for the first time) spent some time purging my library of books it was obvious I would never ever read. Not all were too heavy, though most were; some were just by authors I no longer have any interest in.

A few years ago I came to the realization that, for example, I didn't really Want to become learned in the French Revolution, important though it was and dumped the books I had on that subject. Life is just too short.

Similarly, I donated the biography of Barbara Bush (who I admire, but don't need to know that much about), the woman who got breast cancer at the South Pole (title escapes me), etc.

At this stage, I'm more into relaxation that learnedness I guess.

As to collecting books because I like to look at them, yup. I get (at library sales, etc.) vintage books (well over 100 yrs old, generally in mediocre condt) on subjects of interest to me and shelve them in my library. Some I read, some I don't. But I like the sense of owning them for some reason. Personally, not into sets but everyone to their own.

MissJessie--former librarian wrote: "I recently (and not for the first time) spent some time purging my library of books it was obvious I would never ever read. Not all were too heavy, though most were; some were just by authors I no ..."

I feel the same way! Only books "I" want to read and learn by. What my heart "yearns" for!LOL

MissJessie--former librarian wrote: "I recently (and not for the first time) spent some time purging my library of books it was obvious I would never ever read. Not all were too heavy, though most were; some were just by authors I no ..."

This sounds all so very, very familiar. I tend to get interested in a subject and buy loads of books but never end up reading them all before my interest moves on… something I hope doesn't happen to my interest in wildlife given how many books I now own on the subject!

Paulfozz wrote: "MissJessie--former librarian wrote: "I recently (and not for the first time) spent some time purging my library of books it was obvious I would never ever read. Not all were too heavy, though most ..."

Oh my - this is my story. I was all geared up to read about WWI since this is the 100 year anniversary. I got a ton of books on the topic - fiction, non-fiction - (many from Paperback Book Swap - PBS), so I didn't feel so bad.

Now that I've read about 3 non-fiction, and 2-3 fiction, I'm over it! And I am being sensible and posting them back out on PBS.

I really had a hard time with Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. I don't know if it's because I'm not British or because it was over my head intellectually. I didn't understand a lot of the lingo. Maybe I need to start reading more British authors.

For me reading is what I do for pleasure. Read what you enjoy

Sometimes I just get the philosophy of 'If I don't challenge myself, then I'm never going to go anywhere'

Given this, I decided to embark in an extremely difficult one: To read The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, or at least the first volume (first two books).

It's such a daring task that it's even dangerous: given that it's in audiobook, there is a very good chance it will even make me drowsy while driving if I did not sleep well before.

Patricia wrote: "I love this group - you are my people. Like everyone else, I intend to read everything I buy, but ... The biggest example of unrealistic ambitions is the ten volume Story of Civilization by Will Du..."

I also left Faulkner on the shelf for many years. tried several and did not get into them THEN I READ AS I LAY DYING and I was sold on his works and have read others since. try it, you may have to make yourself fight thru the first half but then it all gets easy to follow his style of writing.