I have piles in my bedroom and in the study. In fact, looking around now I realise just how many of the books on these shelves are unread.
By the way, this word hit the internet back in July so you may well have read about it before, or even written about it yourself, but it's only just got to me. (Internet's very slow in Wales, y'know.)
I happened upon it very recently on Facebook I think but on that occasion it was described as the burden of having unread books. It was the idea of it being a burden that made it stick with me. What absolute nonsense. How could having a pile of books to read be a burden? Unless you're a student and need to read them within a time set.
Quite the opposite, a pile of unread books is a safety net, for use in case of emergency supply. They're comforting and welcoming, warm and inviting. True some of them will probably never get read. The ones I bought because I think I really should read them because a) they've won prizes, or b) they're classics. But mostly they're a variety of light to medium-weight fiction, romance or mystery, bought in charity shops, sometimes because they were on the '50p each or 3 for £1' stand, and what's a woman to do when you're talking that sort of bargain?
They're safe reads. I use the library for my more daring choices. Will I like this? Well, if I don't I can take it back unfinished. (It's only comparatively recently that I've allowed myself to not finish a book I started. I think Midnight's Children was the last book I made myself finish because it was a gift.) (I did finish Wolf Hall* but I'm not sure why.)
As well as actual piles of books I have lists of books I want to read. Which I never remember to take with me to the library.
I have a friend. You can go to her house and there's not a book in evidence. Now that frightens me.
* In Wolf Hall Hilary Mantel changes from character to character without making it clear who's speaking leaving you to struggle to work it out. I suppose she gets away with it in the name of great literature ...
P.S. I know most of my readers will be nodding their heads and looking at their own piles of books.
5 comments:
oh yes indeedy, I can so relate to your piles of unread books LOL I did have quite the clear-out before we moved but the pile is slowly but surely growing once again! Most of my "real" books are craft ones but I have masses of fiction tucked away on my Kindle :D
I never have more than half a dozen unread books, mainly because I'm very picky about what seems worth reading. But Jenny has dozens and dozens of unread books - she's the opposite of me and takes a fancy to a book very easily. She also reads five or six books at the same time. How she manages to keep track of the various plots and (academic) arguments I don't know.
Our MP Came to visit once , saw our several thousand books and asked if I had read them all. My reply was : no but I wrote nine of them ��
I can't imagine a home without books. but I suppose in the coming century they will become a memory.
I admit I have a kindle now (a gift) and I can make the print larger! and the lighted screen is lovely. so I'm getting spoiled. but I look over at my bookcase and have to say... I've read and re-read most of them! so you're not alone in your love affair with them.
have you read 'Goodbye Things' ??? I'm a minimalist so it didn't shock me. but it's an interesting take on why people have books! (and other stuff!) and it's interesting to see how he lives. but I'm too old now to not have some furniture. still. I love his concept.
I have forced myself to stop buying books "on spec" in the hope that I may "read them some day" because some day may take years to come and in the meantime those books take up a lot of space! Now I just make an endless "to read" list.
I never read "Wolf Hall" but I enjoyed the TV series very much!
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