Can a person read too many books? Is the phrase too many books an oxymoron?
Have you ever bought the same book twice? I plead guilty, but I blamed it on the fact the publisher gave the novel a handsome new cover. Still, shouldn’t I have recalled the title by an author I liked.
A friend gave me some sound advice. A prolific reader, she told me she jots down every book title and author and indicates whether or not she enjoyed it. I started my own list several years ago, but somewhere along the way I forgot and am I’m back to my old haphazard ways.
Around my birthday in July, I decided to treat myself and I ordered several novels online. My sister kindly brought me more books as a present. Around at the same time, a book arrived wrapped in flimsy brown paper with only the return address, from a small town in Maine and the name C. Sonia. No receipt and no note inside. Weird.
Eventually, I noticed on an Amazon receipt that I’d ordered the book; apparently it was from an independent bookseller. Odd that the person didn’t wrap it with more care, put the name of the bookstore, or include a receipt. Still stranger is the fact that I’d ordered a book I’d already forgotten about. Not a good sign.
I use the public library but I often underline phrases and insert question marks, so I wish to hang on to the book. I do sift through my collection occasionally and put books I’ll never read again in the giveaway box. Yet it doesn’t stop me from accumulating more.
How about you? Have you developed a system for remembering what books you’ve read, including those you’ve borrowed from the library? Did you move into a house with a basement bookshelf you’ve managed to fill as we did? Still have your kids’ childhood books that hold sentimental value to you but not to them? Is there any use in hanging on to a set of outdated encyclopedia Britannica? These photos are just the tip of the iceberg!
Leave a comment and enter to win a book from the Legacy of Lancaster Trilogy. Three lucky winners may choose their choice of Leaving Lancaster, Pennsylvania Patchwork, or Forever Amish! USA and Canada. Winners have one week to respond.
Congratulations to last week’s three winners: Sharma D, Lois A, & Rose G! I will email each of you. Thank you everyone who entered. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your comments!
I would love to add one of your books to my bookshelf. Would feel honored to read the book. Thanks for the chance. Blessings!
I would be honored to have you read one of my books, Lynn! Thanks for entering the book giveaway and good luck!
I love overfull bookshelves, which I had until we found out we are moving and had to get rid of a bunch of them, so I donated a lot to our local library. I did belong to a book club where I could get books for free if I read and reviewed them. I love reading, and have already read two of the books on your list. Would love to read the other.
Thank you so much for reading two of my books, Cherie! If I had to move I’d be in a real pickle. Good luck in the giveaway!
There is no such thing as too many books, in my humble opinion. I love “getting away’ and “getting lost” in a good book. I would love to win a copy of Leaving Lancaster. Thank you for another wonderful giveaway.
Me too, Mary, I love stepping into another time and space, preferably with characters who resolve their difficulties in a way that teaches me something. Few things worse than a go-nowhere ending. Thanks for writing and entering!
I loved to read since I was a little girl but back then, we moved very often and no matter how I tried, a lot of my books disappeared by the time we were in our new home!!! I keep a notebook to keep a record of how much I enjoyed a book! But for over a year now, I have been unable to buy anything, and my last move was from Missouri to Florida, and sadly, my books were not in Florida! I have asked one or two authors if they could send me any books they might have laying around. They did not answer me! I don’t know if you could help or maybe one of your other readers could! I would be so blessed to have one or two of your books!!! I hope that you won’t mind that I wrote this, if it is a problem, please just let me know and I will re-write my comment! Mine is just the opposite of too many books! I hope that I win the book but I still wish every one Good Luck and God Bless U All!!!
I don’t mind, Frances, but I don’t have extra books as my publisher sends them out. But you just entered a book giveaway, so who knows? In my neighborhood, people are putting out miniature lending libraries. So cute, and I found a book I’d never read recently. Also, the public library is a terrific resource! Good luck!
I have enjoyed the first two books of this series, but haven’t been able to get the the third. There is no such thing as too many books. I have multiple copies of books on different eBook platforms. I have also purchased some as paper books.
Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway, John! Good luck!