21st Century Literature discussion

To a certain degree, many of us collect (or, let's say, accumulate) books. Are there any other items/objects/souvenirs/etc. that you collect (intentionally or unintentionally)?

Tickets to events. You can pin them to a cork board. A way of chronicling a life, and one that is going extinct. More and more tickets are electronic because it's convenient to do so. Just flash the barcode on your phone and enter.

I guess cds but I have listened to them all.

Like Robert, I have far too many CDs (and records and cassettes most of which are older), and have listened to all of them at least once, though in recent years I have almost stopped listening to new music, as reading has been taking up so much time. I also have a large collection of maps, quite a lot of which have never been needed for walking.

Shoes and socks - I have many more than I need or will ever wear out but, like with books, I find them hard to resist.

Vintage photography ranging from early daguerreotypes to 1940s snapshots. For a while, I was working on a project where I took photos with names on the back, researched the names to locate descendants, and then return the photos to them. I also collect Criterion Collection Blu-rays and old indie rock, punk, and hardcore records.

The same as for books, I have a fairly big collection of CDs in classical music & opera with favorite composers or performers. I love listening to other music genres, but I stopped following the trends since the grunge/early 90s.

LindaJ^ wrote: "Shoes and socks - I have many more than I need or will ever wear out but, like with books, I find them hard to resist."

Socks! Relatively cheap, comfortable clothing in such variety of colors and patterns and best of all, you don't have to try them on first! Can't say that for shoes though....

Yes, shoes are problematic. Sometimes they feel great on but then after an hour of walking, when they can't be returned, you know they are destined for Goodwill!

I collect postcards, specifically cards with art from the museums and galleries that I have visited around the world. I have a lot of art on my walls, but there is not enough wall space to hold all the pictures I love, so postcards are the ideal solution.
When I lived in the UK, I collected old postcards of City of London views, especially those no longer there because of bombing or redevelopment.

Marcus wrote: "I collect postcards, specifically cards with art from the museums and galleries that I have visited around the world. I have a lot of art on my walls, but there is not enough wall space to hold all..."

Marcus, I do that too! I have a little booklet that I add to!

I don't really own any books, but I do collect rubbers and toilet paper. I have a box full of rubbers of different shapes: anything from food, stationary, animals, and just random objects, as well as rubbers that I used in school, high school and university.

As for the toilet paper, it's not used! When I go out to restaurants, cinemas, hotels or people's houses I take two squares of the toilet paper if it's a pattern I haven't seen before. I have a card where I stick all the paper so I can leaf through them later on. My favourite is one my sister brought back from Finland with sudoku printed on it!

Oh you mean erasers 🙂

Ah yes, in New Zealand we call erasers rubbers! I had a friend from the US who had a fit of laughter when he heard that...

Maria wrote: "Ah yes, in New Zealand we call erasers rubbers! I had a friend from the US who had a fit of laughter when he heard that..."

I had a good giggle as well

I guess I would say fabric. I started quilting a few years ago and I’ve found that I’ve bought more fabric than I will probably ever use - similar to my book collection.

Overalls.
Between my early retirement a few years ago and the pandemic this year, I've been spending a lot of time at home. I wear comfortable overalls all day long. I can't resist them. If I find a pair in a color I don't already have . . . Well, a girl can't have too many overalls, I say.

Tamara wrote: "Overalls.
Between my early retirement a few years ago and the pandemic this year, I've been spending a lot of time at home. I wear comfortable overalls all day long. I can't resist them. If I find..."

omg this is a perfect example of how we form full, complex views of friends we've not met in real life, which imagined versions are accompanied in equal parts by assumptions and blind spots. I did not have overalls anywhere in my Tamara Profile. this is a simply lovely variance from my inaccurate image of you as ever-sophisticated, possibly scarf-wearing atop the black-white-ecru palate, and with fabulous shoes always. lol

books, only, for collections, but if finances allowed, art and furniture -- particularly bookcases -- would be on the short list.

Carol wrote: "I did not have overalls anywhere in my Tamara Profile. this is a simply lovely variance from my inaccurate image of you as ever-sophisticated, possibly scarf-wearing atop the black-white-ecru palate, and with fabulous shoes always. lol..."

Ever-sophisticated??? OMG, that's hilarious, Carol. And as for "fabulous shoes," the only footwear I grace my chubby feet with nowadays are heavy-duty, comfortable hiking boots--with the requisite arch support, of course.

Carol wrote: "omg this is a perfect example of how we form full, complex views of friends we've not met in real life, which imagined versions are accompanied in equal parts by assumptions and blind spots ..."

LOL. And I am still scratching my head over Linda's and Nadine's fascination with socks. In a way, I compulsively buy socks as well but only because I also compulsively lose one in every single pair. Overall, I have only 3-4 complete pairs of socks at a time, with countless others waiting for their match to be discovered somewhere in the house. Earlier this year, we had Tolstaya's story collection as the moderator pick where she had a story about missing socks. I laughed out loud, it felt like looking in the mirror :-)

Vesna wrote: "Carol wrote: "LOL. And I am still scratching my head over Linda's and Nadine's fascination with socks. In a way, I compulsively buy socks as well but only because I also compulsively lose one in every single pair...."

Oh my goodness, Vesna. Cast off the shackles of matching socks!

Nadine wrote: "Vesna wrote: "Carol wrote: "LOL. And I am still scratching my head over Linda's and Nadine's fascination with socks. In a way, I compulsively buy socks as well but only because I also compulsively ..."

I endorse this solution. signed, another sock loser and lover

Carol wrote: "Nadine wrote: "Vesna wrote: "Carol wrote: "LOL. And I am still scratching my head over Linda's and Nadine's fascination with socks. In a way, I compulsively buy socks as well but only because I als..."

Alright, that then makes two of us, Carol!

Nadine, thanks for the tip :-)

A dissenting voice here from another sock loser and lover.

I keep a sock even if it's missing its partner because I know the second I throw it away, its partner will show up. I can just see its forlorn face, its accusatory glance. "You did what? You threw my partner away? How could you? After all we've done for you? This is how you treat us?"

I couldn't bear the guilt. I have a special place reserved in the back of my drawer for all the single socks waiting patiently for their partners to show up. I know it's just a matter of time before they find their way home. Like the prodigal son, they will be welcomed back with open arms. And all will be forgiven.

Tamara wrote: "A dissenting voice here from another sock loser and lover.

I keep a sock even if it's missing its partner because I know the second I throw it away, its partner will show up. I can just see its f..."

They are consigned like Cinderella to the back of the drawer, never to join civilized company again until they find their partner. This seems so intolerant. so sad. But it's far better than sending to the city dump based on their single status. I think Nadine and I win this one on a social justice basis. All socks matter.

I wouldn't have thought of it until this thread, but I'm definitely a sock collector! I've had to divest myself of some because I just had too many. In terms of colors and patterns, men's fashion tends to be pretty boring, but I like that you can have fun/obnoxious/bright/whatever socks on and often, no one but you knows!

I don't collect them, but I have a strong affinity for mugs (and yet very little actual use for them as I don't tend to drink hot drinks too often).

Bookmarks and possibly musical instruments are the other collections. I never buy bookmarks--they're either freebies, gifts, or I turn mementos into them (postcards, event tickets, artistic business cards, etc.). It's not that I consciously collect music instruments, but for someone who can barely play any of them, I seem to have an awful lot (smaller, less expensive ones like harmonicas, a xaphoon, a pan flute, my stepmom's guitar I "borrowed" and never returned... )

As others have mentioned, music is one of the few collections where everything has been used/listened to at least once.

I don't know if I'm so much a collector as a packrat with some things. After a couple decades, those things seem to form a collection...

Carol wrote: "Tamara wrote: "A dissenting voice here from another sock loser and lover.

I keep a sock even if it's missing its partner because I know the second I throw it away, its partner will show up. I can..."

I swore to myself I wasn't going to contribute any more to the sock discussion that I'm sure is delighting EVERYONE on this thread, but I'll never have another opportunity to confess this, so.......

When a long lost sock finds its mate I always sing the chorus of 'Reunited' by Peaches and Herb as I fold them together.

"Reunited and it feels so good
Reunited 'cause we understood
There's one perfect fit
And, sugar, this one is it
We both are so excited 'cause we're reunited, hey, hey"

Few things feel as rewarding as re-uniting socks, especially if you've held on to a loner for years. I'm seeing a music video in the works, Nadine. :D

Do NOT hold back. This is a chance for us all to delight in socks, music, postcards, vintage photography, event tickets, CDs, etc.

Has there ever been a thread about items found in second-hand books - do people keep them or throw them out or remove from the place they were found? The mention of tickets made me think of that - love to find airline tickets as bookmarks - they make me think about the places other people have travelled.

This sock discussion is really making me laugh! Now that Marc mentioned it, I think I could say I collect mugs, and am very particular about having them match my mood. I spend more time picking out a mug than I do, say, socks. :-) And I say, it's a pandemic--let's be really radical and pull two out of that special place in the drawer where the pre-reunited and it feels so good socks live, and just wear them unmatched!

Marcus wrote: "Has there ever been a thread about items found in second-hand books - do people keep them or throw them out or remove from the place they were found? The mention of tickets made me think of that - ..."

The first time I checked out a book from my new local library, I found a signed $1000.00 check in it!!! I bought literally a ton of socks!! Just kidding, I gave the check to the librarians so they could buy socks for themselves ;)

Marcus wrote: "Has there ever been a thread about items found in second-hand books - do people keep them or throw them out or remove from the place they were found? The mention of tickets made me think of that - ..."

I would love a thread dedicated to this!

Nadine wrote: "The first time I checked out a book from my new local library, I found a signed $1000.00 check in it!!! I bought literally a ton of socks!! Just kidding, I gave the check to the librarians so they could buy socks for themselves ;)"

Nadine, this made me laugh out loud!

Nadine wrote: "Carol wrote: "Tamara wrote: "A dissenting voice here from another sock loser and lover.

I keep a sock even if it's missing its partner because I know the second I throw it away, its partner will ..."

Oh, you are cruel. Foisting that earworm on your friends. smh

Carol wrote: "Oh, you are cruel. Foisting that earworm on your friends. smh..."

But your socks will love you for it.....

Nadine wrote: "Carol wrote: "Oh, you are cruel. Foisting that earworm on your friends. smh..."

But your socks will love you for it....."

IKR? 😉🤣

I collect stamps. Also, any sort of entrance tickets / ticket stubs... also public travel tickets when I'm out of the city. I have a separate theatre / stage ticket collection, because I am obsessed with theatre and I was a theatre major (good thing is that in my country, all theatre is affordable, even the more popular ones) and one collection for every other type of ticket :).