My thirtieth BTT:
I’ve asked, in the past, about whether you more often buy your books, or get them from libraries. What I want to know today, is, WHY BUY?
Even if you are a die-hard fan of the public library system, I’m betting you have at least ONE permanent resident of your bookshelves in your house. I’m betting that no real book-lover can go through life without owning at least one book. So … why that one? What made you buy the books that you actually own, even though your usual preference is to borrow and return them?
If you usually buy your books, tell me why. Why buy instead of borrow? Why shell out your hard-earned dollars for something you could get for free?
I’m a buyer. And a borrower. But mostly a buyer. There is just something about the feel of a book in your hand. I’ll buy new. I’ll buy used. I don’t discriminate. I love them all. I’m a buyer because I want to own them all. I want my house to be covered in them. (I haven’t moved in a while, so I don’t have the heavy reality of the weight of books in close remembrance.) There is a finite amount of space in one’s life, though, so I do try to buy books that I know I’ll read and love. I feel like buying books is an investment. An investment in education and entertainment.
I love, too, the library. I usually go about once a week. I like to haunt the staff recommendations and the book sale corner. My husband says I’m the only person he knows that goes to the library and buys books!
Let’s just say that I love books – no matter the source – and I’m willing to shell out money for that love.
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{ 7 comments }
I refer to books as my substance abuse problem.
I am both a buyer and a borrower. A weekly visit to the library was the norm for me all the time I was growing up, and the habit has more or less stuck with me. I love being able to use the inter-library loan system to get pretty much any book I want to read, no matter how rare. I love that the library is free (or almost, if you add in the late fees that I can’t seem to avoid entirely).
I also love bookstores, for browsing and buying. Sometimes I’ll snatch up something new by a favorite author and sometimes I’ll take the chance on an unknown find. But if a book I buy disappoints me, I tend to re-sell, give or donate it as opposed to keeping it around in my personal library.
While I have this image in my head of a home or room filled with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves on every wall (this fantasy also includes good wine at hand, a blazing fireplace, and world music playing softly in the background) money, space, and practicalities of living interfere with my dream. The books I buy and keep are my much-loved, often re-read favorites, as familiar and comforting as old friends.
“I’m a buyer because I want to own them all. I want my house to be covered in them. ”
I can relate.
The first place I go in the library is the used book sale shelf!
I’m with you. I like having books all over the place.
I gotta own too! No other way.
Must buy!
I also own and borrow, but mostly borrow. If I knew that I would love every book I bought, I would buy all the time. But, it’s like I’ve got this level set out for myself in my mind, and if the book doesn’t reach that level, I won’t buy it. For this reason, most of the books I own, I’ve actually never read; meaning, I’ve never read that actual copy. The copy I read is back on the bookshelves of the library! My husband also thinks this is weird.
Here’s mine!
http://ceceatitagain.blogspot.com/2008/11/why-buy.html
- Cesia.
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