I have the funniest story to tell about me and my books. I started reading about 5 years ago. I read 2 to 3 books a week. Everytime I fineshed a book, I would just set it a side, not wanting to give it up. Then I also have this habbit once I read a book I like, I seem to buy as many of that authors books I can find.
So now here I am 5 years later with all these differant stashes of read and unread books through out my house.
Well let me tell you, my husband started crabbing about all the little piles of books he could see laying through out the house. When I showed him the closet and the HUGE cabinet I had filled he said to me that the house was going to start tipping that way if I did not do something with all those books. We both laughed a good one.
The next day I came home from work and he had every book he could find in the middle of our family room floor in stacks. He told me that I had to get rid of them. It took me 4 days to go through them all. I saved 100 that I had read and could not part with, 75 that I had not read that I wanted too and gave the salvation army 553 books.
I had such a hard time parting with them, I wished I would have saved a few more but I am finally learning that I do not need to keep them all.
Now if I would stop buying books and read some of the ones I saved to read I'd really be doing good LOL.
I hope other people out there have a funny book story to share.
Good for you, Kathy! That's an inspiration for me. You see, I'm currently packing up the house to move. When we had the movers come in for an estimate, I asked how many book boxes they thought I'd need for the books in our bedroom. I thought the guy would say, oh, 10, maybe 20 boxes. With a totally straight face, the man said we would need about 47-50 boxes! ACK! (And don't ask me how he landed at such a specific number as 47!!)
And last week, I hit up my daughter's elementary school for some recycled boxes and had been so proud at the stash of 12 boxes I brought home. Little did I know I'd need something like 10 times that number (or more...)
You can see what we're doing this weekend! :)
My trouble is, I get inspiration from the most random sources. I have so many of those "Eyewitness Books" for kids. On the middle ages, on costumes, on weapons... The stack just rises and rises.
— veronica Sun, 06/08/2008 - 8:41am
Well I don't know if this is a funny book story but I do think it is somewhat related. Okay I'm a reader addict and I'm not afraid to say it. I love buying books and reading and re-reading them as many times as I can. I have 3 bookcases and several boxes of books that I have bought over the past 5 and a half years. I have 824 books that I have bought of the past 5 or so years and the numbers keep rising because every author that I like has a new book coming out every month or so, which I keep track of because I want to buy them. I am a member of Barnes & Noble so I get a discount on my books but I think over the past couple of years I have probably spent more than $ 2,000 on books both in Hardcover, mass market paperback and trade paper back.
Romance Readers & Writers Forum and Talk About My Favorite Authors
— Phoebe Jordan Mon, 06/09/2008 - 10:12am
Maybe I should have titled this crazy book stories because I know exactly what your saying Phoebe. I am almost the same as you, except you read twice as fast as I, LOL! This week alone I have ordered from Amazon and been to the book store. I have a 7 page wish list at Amazon and a list of books coming out every month this summer to order. I know I am an addict, but I think if I have to be addicted to something, books are a good one.
— Kathy Young Tue, 06/10/2008 - 3:09am
Well listen to this, a couple of years ago I decided that I should keep track of all the books that I buy so I know how many books I have after I buy more. So I have a couple of lists to keep me organized. I have a list of all of the books in alphabetical order from the authors last name and I have divided it by what books I have in each bookcase and box and I have also the prices of the books included so I know how much they were worth when I bought them. I have another list just like the first list I described but this time this list doesn't have the prices of the books but the description of each book from the back covers or cover flaps. I also have a list of books that I know will be coming out for each year by the authors that I automatically know I will buy their books. I also have a list of books that I will be reading so I can keep myself organized on what new books that I've bought I have read. This probably sounds very long and crazy but I have admitted that I am a reading addict. I also agree with you Kathy books are something that I tell my family is good to be addicted to because they help me with my reading comprehension which is very useful for my college classes.
Romance Readers & Writers Forum and Talk About My Favorite Authors
— Phoebe Jordan Tue, 06/10/2008 - 6:45am
Oh My Phoebe! Huh Huh Huh, I have lists too, but nothing that detailed, WOW! I could never be that organized. I just keep a list of the books I give away (not in any order) The one's I want that are out now and the one's that will be out soon.
READING IS A GOOD THING! It is my way to escape the everyday dulldrums and I love it.
— Kathy Young Tue, 06/10/2008 - 12:36pm
I started keeping a spreadsheet, with rankings and everything, but I always forget to add my books to it after I finish them! sigh...
— veronica Thu, 06/12/2008 - 12:51pm
LOL!! I know you guys already talked about this but since I am new to the site I thought I would add as well. When I packed up my tiny apartment I thought this is going to be a breeze. Until the books entered the picture. I had books on my built in book cases but I also had storage downstairs in the apartment building. Dear God I could not believe I had so many books. Where did they come from? And I realized I not only had 10 tubs of books but some of the books I had not read yet! Yes they all came with me. LOL! When I moved in with my boyfriend I tried to hide my tubs embarassed that I had all these books but he was impressed that I loved to read so much (God bless his soul he doesn't know I am an addict). I have poetry books, historical books, medicine books, books on past lives, times travel, magic, Native American tales, Irish tales , African tales, autobiographies the list goes on and on and on. And now Romance novels. LOL!!! I have been stashing books here and there and I am afraid that I am going to have to give some of these books away unless I can find another hole. LOL!! Wish me luck ladies!
— bttrfly29 Sun, 11/16/2008 - 4:51pm
Sounds like an amazing collection!!! Are you a writer? All that randomness sounds like my bookshelf!
— veronica Mon, 11/17/2008 - 3:21pm
No, not a professional writer. I have so many things that I find interesting! and I am a professed addict.
I do dabble in writing and I have several unfinished stories laying about. I get so easily distracted and mostly stressed with work that by the time I get home the thoughts and energy that has brewing in my head seems to just die. It's extremely frustrating as I find myself needing the creative outlet more and more.
I don't know if I will ever see myself published. I would have to finish a story first! LOL
~Lizzie
— bttrfly29 Tue, 11/18/2008 - 6:52am
I've always been easily distracted myself! Now I just tell people it's all in the name of research. LOL.
— veronica Thu, 11/20/2008 - 11:49am