Inspired by Christopher Schoppa's article in the Washington Post.
“What tomes are waiting patiently on your shelves?“
I have a definite problem when it comes to buying books, adding them to my TBR shelf and not reading them. The main problem is my uncontrollable need to own books – books I love, books I think I may love, even books that I think I may like a little bit. I am also unable to avoid book sales – store sales, library sales, church sales and even the SPCA annual book sale – really who could turn down a 25 cent book when you know it will help feed a starving kitten.
I’m also afraid sometimes not to buy a book, because I think maybe in the future I may want to read it and will be unable to find a copy (neurotic I know) It doesn’t help either that my hubs indulges my habit and seems oddly proud of my book collector-like status. Being a hockey card collector himself, he seems to like searching out and finishing off sets of books for me (completing my Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark Hunter series seems his main priority lately)!
So what’s sitting unread on my shelf?
- Tons of paperbacks that I had to have. (what was I thinking?)
- Anne Rice’s Vampire Series (I’ve read 3 but really I’ve no plans to read the rest)
- Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (a phase when I needed anything Vlad-related)
- Portable Atheist by Christopher Hitchens (2am – airport – impulse buy)
- Entire Left Behind series by Tim LeHaye and Jerry Jenkins (no idea, really none)
- Set of 10 books on major artists throughout history (I love art)
- Entire Stephanie Plum series (hubs saw me glance at 1, then got me the rest)
Honestly, at the time that I got these books I had fully intended to read them, but I’ve never looked twice at them, except when re-organizing, moving or dusting.
© 2008-2010 Joanne Mosher of The Book Zombie. All rights reserved.
24 comments:
I'm fortunate in that I seem to have gone further down the pike than you and now I can control my book-buying to a great extent. It helped me to join a place like Paperback Swap so that I actually have books coming in, I just don't have to shell out a lot of money for the pleasure.
I have books listed on PBS that aren't moving, and since there are 200+ copies of them in the system, I don't think they're going to move for another decade. I'm going to take those off my bookshelf and donate them to the library. I just can't afford to build a library addition to the house, so I have to make room for the books that are never going to stop coming by releasing the ones I've read out into the wild.
I'd say (very gently) that if you have these books and haven't looked twice at them since their appearance, you might want to swap or donate them, too.
I know. It's hard!
I myself have not read them but the Left Behind series is liked by many people, my husband is one of them. I might have to check them out myself.
Drop whatever else you're reading and read Elizabeth Kostova in the fall, while Halloween is in the air. It's a gorgeous, totally engrossing spooky vampire narrative. Reading it in the fall is perfectly atmospheric.
Entire Left Behind series - LOL! I read up to 8 I think (my dad has them) and then I noticed they were seriously stretching out the narrative to sell more books...
I read the Left Behind series, mostly because I'm stubborn like that. The latter ones are padded a good bit. However, the first few are good.
There was a time when I though my husband was going to organize an intervention for me to break my book-buying habit! But I have learned to control myself as I've aged. Phew!
I loved the Historian but only like the Plum series.
I also have a very big book buying habit. Right now I'm at the point where I have more books on my shelf that I haven't read then I have.....sigh... oh well. Sadly I still need more, and I plan on visiting the used book store very soon.
Joanne, you must read and review The Historian. I *think* I want to read it but I've been reading such mixed reviews lately.
I just read a review of The Historian that made me want to read it. Unfortunately, I think my "Wish List" is actually bigger than my to-be-read pile of books. One wonders if they'll ever have time to read all of the great literature out there.
I've got loads of Anne Rice books that I've had forever, and I'm seriously doubting I'll ever get around to any of them. I read Interview with a Vampire in high school (longer ago than I care to admit), and I've since tried to read Lestat 4 or 5 times, never getting beyond about page 200. I've also read The Mummy and the first couple of Mayfair Witches books, but the rest have been sitting on my shelf for at least a decade...
I really enjoyed The Historian, but it was drastically different than Anne Rice. Aside from the fact that it had vampires in it, there really were no similarities in my mind. As for the Left Behind books, I've read all but the last 2. The first 3 are really good. Four and Five are pretty good. Six is not bad, and then it just gets to the point where you start to really get annoyed at LeHaye and Jenkins for adding more to the series than ever should've been done.
I feel so guilty when I don't feel inclined to pik up certain books!
Tomes patiently waitiing to be read
I know! That's another problem, I don't feel bad giving money to libraries. I just end up with so many books! I think I have to start avoiding the bag sales. I don't mind paying a few dollars to get a couple of books I'll actually read, but walking away with a bag of 20 or more that I got for $2-5 isn't good for me or the library!
The Plum series might be good to start during the readathon. Although I got tired of the series after about four books, I have fond memories of giggling so hard I couldn't catch my breath.
I've read almost all of the Vampire Series by Rice. I liked many of them.
I have the entire Stephanie Plum series because my mom sent it to me when she finished it.
I loved the vamphire series and also Stephanie Plum
"The main problem is my uncontrollable need to own books."
Sigh, I hear you. It's really getting out of hand, and I know I have to stop. But I also know I won't :P
I enjoyed The Historian, and for me it was one of those chunksters that go by really fast.
PS: As one of the Official Read-a-thon Reminders, I'm here to tell you not to forget about it, Or Else :P
my husband loves that i collect books and read a lot too- so I guess with all the books I have he must love me a lot! :-)
Oh you are such a book addict! LOL It warms the cockels of my heart to know I am not alone in buying anything that looks remotely interesting because I believe I am actually going to get to it. I recently did a book sweep- I boxed the ones I wanted. The ones that were left probably wouldn't fill a box. What was the point? I'll just keep them all.
I think the same way. What if I need it 2 years down the road?
I will second (or third or fourth) other's reccomendation to read THe Historian sooner rather than later. It is a great read...perfect to cozy up with this time of year.
Quite a diverse stack you have! I do have to say that most of the books I have on my shelves I have collected from paperback swap. I need to get rid of a whole stack--but getting to the post office to mail them is hard now that I am working full time.
Happy Reading--
*smiles*
Kim
I definitely have to read The Historian one of these days... it's been sitting on my shelf for way too long! LOL.
I can't believe you haven't read the Anne Rice series yet...they're so worth it!
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