Tuesday, May 17, 2011

A Very Healthy Problem

I am keenly aware that I enjoy acquiring books more than what one may deem a 'normal' person does. But I never really felt it was a (as Nate so delicately puts it) problem that needed to be addressed.

We are in the seemingly never-ending throes of transforming our house from a house built for 2.5  into a house for 3.5 which means lots and lots of moving, re-organizing, throwing, packing away, etc of stuff. We have historically used the soon-to-be nursery as a catch-all: one part office, one-part Lucy, and one part....Greta's library.

Obviously, all of that has to change--EVEN though Lucy does not seem to be wanting to relinquish control of that room. So we get rid of the big comfy desk and get a tiny little glass desk, and move it to the guest room. We are working on Lucy.......

And then the 'library.' In an effort (at least this is how I see it) to prove his point that I have a "Book problem" Nate proceeds to take every book I own and dump it on the guest bed to give me some visual stimulus of the issues we have going on.

Now, before you give your verdict on whether or not this is normal I need to present a fair description of whta is going on:

1) 95% of these books have not been read yet.
2) The majority of these books have been purchased at a library book sale for $1.00 or less.
3) All of the books I read get loaned to friends and then donated to Open Books
4) I love books.

So what's the verdict?

Do I have a 'book problem' and should I fix it by getting rid of these thousands of pages of entertainment?

7 comments:

Scorpicon said...

It's only a problem that you haven't read them. Get readin'! Once you've read the book, then you can decide if you want to keep it or sell it.

iuli said...

Don't get rid of them! That would be sad! See my problem is that I cannot get rid of books once I read them. Hence why 99% of my books have been read and why they are still sitting on my shelves. In my own defense ... of all the books I read each year (and last year's count was at like 275ish) I think 1/3 are re-reads!

Anonymous said...

Books, unlike milk, won't go bad. Well if they are bad they are bad from the beginning. Compulsive book buying (no matter what the cost) combinded with not reading 95% of them - guilty. I suggest speed reading or get them to Open Books you will feel warm and fuzzy knowing the books are stimulating someones mellon rather than being ignored by a book hoarder. You should really think of the books feelings. OR...the books could be used as insulation on an outside wall - or incorporate them into furniture.
Uncle Todd

Anonymous said...

a couple of well placed and designed bookcases should solve the problem...kind of like my fishing rod collection...can never have too many fishing poles...or books in your case...

Anonymous said...

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BOOK PROBLEM.
(hands start shaking at the idea of anyone ever trying to tell me so) ;)
Keep them all, and you know that Open Books appreciates them when you are through!
(also speaking of...don't forget to bring home ROOM. I'm dying to read it) heh.

Anonymous said...

OF COURSE YOU DON'T HAVE A 'BOOK PROBLEM'...COME TO IOWA...I'LL SHOW A BOOK PROBLEM!!! YOU HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO GET TO A BOOK PROBLEM!!! LOVE BOOKS AND YOU CAN'T GO WRONG...BOOO KINDLE/NOOK...TOF

Sina Teskey, RD, LD said...

It is not a problem. It's actually impressive. I love borrowing your books. You can store some at our house ;)