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Location: My head
Voice: Me
Time: Earlier today
"Books.
Books, Books, and still, more books.
Do I love it? Yes
Can I read them all? Hell, no.
Why am I keeping them? I have a problem
A problem? Yes, an addiction.
An addiction? Yes, an addiction to collecting books.
Perhaps you need to see someone? Perhaps you are right."
This is the conversation I have in my head on an almost daily basis. As I get older and more aware of the space issues I have in my house, I realize that there is no way I can house this many books any longer. My house is tiny. My family is busy.
We fill up every inch. I need to down size.
But how? How do you ask an addicted book lover like me to part with so many books that I have not read?
Logic. That's my answer.
Let's break it down. I have, probably 400 books in my possession. Let me clarify.
400 books that I HAVE NOT READ. Yes.
So, if I only read what I own and average 1 book per week, I'm looking at roughly the next 8 1/2 years of my life dedicated to only the books I have right now. That's 8 years of books I am going to overlook outside my house. Holy crap, I am now having an anxiety attack over this.
Can't be done. Won't be done. See I'm not just the average little ol' lover. No.
Number 1:
I am a library employee. That means I see a ton of books cross my path that I have access to for FREE. I can't possibly be expected to resist this temptation!
Number 2:
I am also a bookstore employee. Same thing. I see a ton of ARCs come in. I hear so and so co-worker recommend a great book. A customer comes in looking for a good read. I open up new product. The stimulation goes on and on and my powers in resisting new books fail me.
Number 3:
Oh yeah, did I mention that I'm a book blogger? Hello? The worst temptation there is! Email after email asking "Do you want to review this book? It's great! It's free! I'll send it to you!"
(sigh)
So, I am admitting defeat. There is no possible way I can read all the books I own. And conisdering I have had some of these books on my shelf for OVER A DECADE, I think it's fair to say, they've had their time. Time to go to another home where they MAY get read.
My mission is for March to become Make it Happen March. I am going to give away a large chunk of my books. I am going to donate them to my library. I am going to sell some of them to my bookstore. I am going to give away many of my old ARCs to my family, friends and my book club ladies. Take them. I don't want them back. Be gone.
I will keep atleast 20 books that I know I really want to read. For example, A Game of Thrones by George R. R Martin, Kite Runner, The Shadow of the Wind and Ahab's Wife.
Will I cry during this purge? Probably.
But it needs to happen. The opportunity to get more and more books is there and probably will be for a long time to come. ( knocking on lots of wood)
So, any words of support, encouragement or wisdom would be greatly appreciated. Maybe a rollicking version of "We are the Champions". Whatever. I'm game.
Happy Reading to you all, and as always, thanks for stopping by!
red headed book child
