We like books. We have a lot of books, 64 feet of book shelves full of books and that doesn't even count any of those that are stacked on bedside, coffee, and end tables. We don't just like books, we love books. I have anxiety attacks when I get close to the end of a book if I don't have a new one to take its place. Late night emergency runs have been made to the grocery store to find another book if it looks like I might finish one just before I go to bed.
We spent a good part of the day culling books. We just can not justify moving that many books to North Carolina. I am certain there are more books in High Point. The library is only a few blocks from our new home. It has over 40,000 books in it. There will be reading material. But is so so hard to part with my books.
Many books are saved. Old friends like the Pigs in Heaven, The Chimney Sweeps Son, the Dune Series, and the Doomsday Book make the cut. Margaret Attwood, Maya Angelou, daily readings with Rumi, Mary Oliver, and Tich Nhat Hahn, all stay. An eclectic mix of books. I need these friends to go with me because I need the continuity of these books always being there for me. I need their familiar faces. They are like old friends. I have visited their pages over and over again and will visit them again.
Others books are bagged and ready to go. They are off to Goodwill. Actually many of them are returning to Goodwill. I hope they make new friends.
My children all have Kindles or things like that. I even read several chapters of a book on my daughter's Kindle not long ago. I liked it and it would certainly save on those emergency book runs. But I still love the feel of turning a paper page. I love the look of the spines of books all lined up on the shelf. I love poking through a book shelf to find a book, maybe something I've never read, maybe an old friend that I would like to visit again.
I wonder, am I the only one who has this strange and deep attachement to books?
18 comments:
You are NOT alone - I have books stashed EVERYWHERE . I was just talking to another blogger as when we were both little we had our own "libraries" I had a little envelope and crad in every book I owned. I can't help myself.My husband calls me a book waster because I finish them in a day or two. My oldest has a Kindle - and it is pretty awesome - but nothing can match a real book. I even use old books to wrap my store goods and to craft with!....Now I feel like a crazy book lady....My favorite - aside from Pride and Predjudice....Is an old book called The Egg and I - I have read it about 300 times and it still makes me laugh hysterically - just a simple slice of life sort of book but I love it.
I know what you mean ... I love to flip through the pages ... I always start at the back and go forward. I should have that analyzed! You'll make new "book" friends in N.C. They're waiting for you to caress their crisp pages!
It is a must for me to have a book on an airplane and on vacation....like you, panic sets in if I can not read before bed when I am a way. I am not sure about a Kindle either, I love the look and feel of a book and being able to turn an actual page.
Hey LeAnn, I'm sure you are in good company with your book love! Hope the packing is all going smoothly for you.
You must be really looking forward to getting this move done right about now! Take care.
(hand flying up) me! funny, the kids and i just had this conversation... i think nooks are a great idea... but i love holding a book... i am so visual and tactile a person - i like to put post its on pages... i feel your pain - each of my kids has 2 bookcases... and i cannot bear the thought of parting with even the small child books... our 50+ berenstain bear books even! your contributions will make others happy - and your keepers get to be travelers!
I've had to let go of physical books in recent years and I empathize with you. But,remember, a good book is always in you.
I am afraid I have moved into the modern age. I love reading books on the kindle with apple devices.
Bless of luck with the packing and sorting.
I fantasize about having another room in our house that i can make into a library. A place where i can have all my books in front of me at once, instead of in a basket near my chair in the living room ( now spilling onto the floor) in a tote by my chair on the front porch, at my desk and in my studio. I would even love to have all the childrens books back out on the shelves instead of packed away in boxes. I bow to you, I can't part with books either!
Ah, LeAnn you sound just like my sister. If I put something down I can consider it read by her. And like Patty, we played library when we were kids. Recently I found one of my old books and it still had the card in the back with the date to "check" it out. :-) I know your books will go to new homes where they will be read and loved.
Books are like beads..how can anyone give any up! Books are like wise old friends who wear may faces and many fragrances. I love books too but have really tried now to buy anymore these days unless I have to buy one! I agree with Judy theres something good about turning a page and then another. They are like old friends arent they?
You definitely aren't the only one - I even have a hard time getting rid of books I didn't even like! And as much as I appreciate the computer and technology - there is nothing like the quiet swish of pages turning...
High POINT is such a beautiful beautiful town... How lucky you are....
You are not alone in your love for books! My most special book is by Edgar Allen POE.... YES I did love his writings..but this book is from a highschool library in 1962 and MY MOM stole it....hehehehe.. when she passed away I found it hidden on a book shelf..it made me smile!
Take care,
and have a wonderful day!
The reason I ended up buying a Nook was so I could have all the books I wanted and not have to listen to my husband gripe about the books taking over our little house. Now the only books that cross the threshold are pottery or jewelry books. Those MUST be full sized. I thought I would miss the feeling of holding a book in my hands, but once I get reading I'm too engrossed in the story to care how it is being fed to me. I got the Nook so I could check out library books with it, and it has been well worth the investment.
You are definitely not alone in your love of books. I too had to cull our collection when we moved to VA and it was hard. Of course, now I have built it back up!! I do love bookstores and libraries. I don't think I would be happy with a kindle or nook - I like you love to look at them and feel them as I read. Good luck at culling - I am sure you will make many people happy and good luck on the move.
Oh, LeAnn, don't worry about the books you are leaving behind. I will find them and give them a new home. I can already see myself reaching for one of your friends on the bookshelf at the Goodwill store. He will enjoy the ride to his new home, my super stash of books. Maybe he will make a new friend in my "never to leave the house" pile or the ever growing "I need to share this book" pile. With modern technology we can keep in touch with the tap of the keys, but some friendships need the full physical experience of turning the page and hiding the last paragraph so as to not peek at the end of the story.
I know, right? I love books! I also have a hard time parting with my books and magazines, but every year I go through my books and donated them to the local library. They sell the donated books...to buy more books! Go figure! I know it's tough but I definately would want to "move" them.
You are not alone - books are keepers and it is always heartbreaking to let them go. I had to give away a lot of them when we moved, but to be honest I replaced them all:-)
I have lots and lots of books too, they're everywhere. I always carry a book with me. I love the paper book even though I read some electronic books too. I keep only the books I might read again, the others I give away.
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