Bookworm! I never considered the label offensive, even as a kid. What’s wrong with that, I’d think. Why would anyone be embarrassed about reading? Attractive covers, catchy titles, interesting stories, promises of knowledge – how could you not love books? Even today I’m attracted to the physical features of books—a sensory feast for eyes, touch, and smell. I have been known to open books and breathe in their papery aroma. They have their own particular smells depending on age and even country. I guess it’s the different kinds of paper and ink, but during my travels, I could swear that a book from Russia or Mexico or Israel all had distinctive scents.
When I first began on this minimalist journey, I considered my books off limits. Books are not clutter, I told myself and others. They are a part of me, closely tied to the various stages of my life and my identity. One of the highlights of my childhood was the Saturday visit to the library. After giving us our allowance, my mom would drop my brothers and me off in our small town center, where we’d wander around the stores buying candy and trinkets before meeting up at the library for a new supply of books. (Those were more innocent times when children were often left on their own for hours, no protective adult hovering nearby.) The library habit continued into my teen and adult years. Going to the library was a chance to pick out a stack of books for the week–novels, biographies, history–hours of free entertainment!
Eventually, I had a bit more money, so bookstores became a big temptation. I also have a Kindle now, and the ability to click on a book and have it delivered within a minute still seems like a minor miracle. That didn’t stop me from buying actual books, though! I had bookcases in the study, living room, dining room, and every bedroom. However, my small house will hold only so many bookcases (and my budget only so many purchases), so . . . I’ve had to bite the bullet and begin the process of evaluating my precious library.
This is one of the hardest tasks for us bookworms. In the last half year, I’ve gone through my shelves at least a dozen times, consolidated my library to one area, and gotten rid of 7 (yes, 7!) bookcases. The process has pushed me to read some books that I’ve had longer than I care to admit, and when I finish each one, it goes into the donation bag. Hope someone else enjoys all my books at the public library bookstore!
I’m still in the bookworm club. We bookworms don’t understand people who don’t experience pleasure wandering through shelves of books, be they in a library, bookstore, or home. People who aren’t voracious readers often look at our collections of books and foolishly ask “Have you read all these books?” Of course we haven’t. Our book appetite is always bigger than the time we have to read or the space we have to store them. It’s the lure of the unread book that’s exciting.
An older friend of mine once mentioned how a relative had hinted she should stop buying books at her age as she’d never have time to finish them all before, you know, she died. She faced him boldly and declared, “I hope I’m buying a book the day I die!” I agreed wholeheartedly with her at the time. Now that I am deliberately downsizing my book collection, I no longer have a vision of buying books as my last action on earth, but I sure hope I have a stack of library books nearby.
Cozy reading corner
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This is exactly wats going on in my life rite now…I’m also biting the bullet n have decided to part with my book collection. Much as I love them…too much space goes n the dust…kindle is far better…no clutter! So sad really…the books that I love so much .. that were at one tym my pride n joy…am giving them off!!!
I still love books, but I’m keeping many less than in the past!
I LOVE beautiful photography in books, travel..cookbooks..gardening…spiritual…these I’ll never get rid of. I love to buy books wherever I travel, and I see no need to give my books away. They aren’t clutter to me.
One person’s clutter is another person’s meaningful possessions! I’ve never considered my books as “clutter,” but I have curated my collection so that the books I do have truly add value to my life.
O, my, I’m a bookworm. I usually read a book from a library or several at the same time, love it and go buy it. So, I can say I rad all my books and keep buying them. My kids are the same. We also, have hundreds books in Russian that my husband brought but i know nobody nobody will read them ever again. But can’t talk him into parting with those.
I’m definitely a bookworm! However, I have reduced my library by about half and now try to use the public library or my kindle more. I’m sure some people would say I have too many, but not for me. BTW – I also have books in Russian (just a few now), Spanish, French, and a lot in German (my field). I’m a language nerd, so I’m keeping them!