I’ve finally made a breakthrough in understanding my personal psychology when it comes to book-hoarding…Books, to me, are so much more than stories. They are memories, markers of events, reminders of friendships, notable birthdays…and that is why, I can’t get rid of them. Even after I’ve read them and know it is unlikely that I’ll not do so again. Or, that I don’t think it possible that I’ll read them at all.
This thought struck me the other day when I was glancing at my bookshelves. In my head, as I took in the titles and authors, I began thinking over the pertinent information I associated with the books. That one was a present from my Nan and Grandad…I bought that one in that bookshop in Shrewsbury that’s no longer there…I remember picking that one out after a lecture in my first year at university in the Waterstones on campus…I was given that one after my Dad had read it and said he thought I would like it too…I was reading that one when we went on holiday to [insert destination here]…
Now I understand why I have so many books taking up so much space in my small home. And with this dawning of understanding, I have realised that no matter how hard I try to whittle away at their numbers, I will always be fighting an uphill battle, because I’ll not only be rehoming my books, but my memories also.
Sammi Loves Books 
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It’s wonderful that you can remember all those connections! And I agree, books are a very reassuring thing to be surrounded by.
I was at a training workshop at the university library yesterday and ended up “sneaking” upstairs to find another bathroom when the one near our workshop had a line. It took me right into the stacks, and I just stopped and SMELLED those books. It was such a viscerally wonderful feeling just to be walking between those high shelves of books. It’s been so long since I’ve been in a library, why? (Oh right, because I have so many books and videos at home right now that I haven’t read or watched yet.)
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It’s been a few years since I’ve been in a library myself, though I do love them. But yes, it’s far too tempting to be surrounded so many books I’ve not read…
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Yes indeed — I was almost overcome with the desire to take them home with me by the armload, and that was just when glancing at their spines! Thank goodness I restrained myself and didn’t actually pull any off the shelves. 🙂
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I understand where you’re coming from. When I had to downsize (redundancy and ill-health) I tried to hold onto all my books. Impossible. I hadn’t the space, and needed the funds selling would bring. Oh, but so difficult to choose. I kept the non-fiction, sold only the fiction. And ever since, I’ve missed my friends.
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I think keeping non-fiction over fiction is a sensible idea – it’s often easier to replace fiction, should you later want another copy, or even replace it with an ebook version. I find non-fiction ebooks harder to work with than fiction…
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As I am finding. I like to flick to the relevant passage, or to consult the index. So much easier with hardcopy. Yet something the size of a tome and a half is so much easier to handle as a Reader. Swings and roundabouts
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