Okay, admit it, how many books do you own?

Forgot to add that I understand the value of rare editions and the pleasure that some derive from owning such copies. I'm only interested in the content of the book.

I have no idea--I have literally been on the road for 9 years--and of course I kept buying books--lots of books. I stopped once 2 years ago--and had so many books--that I sold
15 boxes full of popoular, but not worth saving, fiction. I still have 25-30 boxes. Haven't bought any more books. I only have one with me now. A signed 1st edition of Carl Sandburg's Collected Works--date 1950 (I was born in 51). That was a present from my daughter.

kate

one very full bookcase (4 shelves, 3 feet wide, 1 foot deep)
I also like to give books away..but every time I get paid, my money seems to find its way to a used bookstore.
I like keeping books that I really enjoyed, because chances are I will read them again. Some just have sentimental value, and some I keep on the shelf because they look REALLY cool.

I have a bunch of dr. seuss books. They make me very happy.

ma-ny...

For cataloguing your books:
www.librarything.com

See my collection: www.librarything.com/catalog/mizbooks

Free up to 200 books, then pay a one-time $10 lifetime membership fee to add unlimited books (over 200). :o)

It's awesome!

I unfortunately need to catalog which will NOT happen till I move into the new house (better be soon grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr)
But from the rubbermaid totes filled & too farging heavy to budge I'd say ummmmmmmmmmmm a few ;}
Love, Light & Laughter to all
>^,,^<

Hi! Wow, I found my heaven-site, lol, I thought I was like weird or something. :) Glad I'm not the only book addict.

Have about 2,000 plus books (guessing, probably more) and one posted that they should have hired help to move their books, oh do I know That feeling. It took us a big truck to move ours. And I still purchase books, and read daily.

I prefer to find books in used bookstores and thrift shops however, new books are somewhat costly. Also found that many of the stores just don't carry books I'm needing so by the time I pay extra for shipping it just pays to find them in used bookstores.

Own everything from classics, to very old books (hard to find classics and non-fiction/political/philosophy/sciences), fiction (not pop fiction though, well have a few but mostly I tend to stick to multi-cultural and foreign writing, journals and biographies, etc., tons of non-fiction in political theory, Russian and European politics, American politics, labor, gender, race, ethnicity, war, you name it.

Also geography, anthropology, tons of poetry, drama, theatre, plays, art and art theory, philosophy, Russian lit, religious and spiritual, etc etc etc. Love Granta journals, and all other types of journals and

especially love finding books given away for free or that are thrown away. Seriously, found five boxes one day in dumpster, couldn't believe it, and they were like new, history (oh I forgot to mention history) and political/international. Some people are like crazy you know, lol...throwing away books.

I even like the smell of them, the paper, the feel of the ink on the page (esp older books)...

if there is a heaven, I hope its a huge library with good coffee and fluffy pillows, lol. And of course, eternity to spend talking to all the authors and artists and poets. Hows that for addiction, lol. :) One word of caution however, don't marry anyone with the same passion for books, if you ever divorce, it could be one nasty ass custody battle.

PS.... I love this discussion, btw! Great to know I'm not crazy -- that there are others out there just as obsessed as myself!

I dread the day when I'll have to move -- last time we moved (2 years ago) I had about 20 boxes of books. That's when my collection totalled somewhere in the 400s. Being over 1000 books now, I fear I'll have to do as others have mentioned, and hire someone else to help me move my precious babies. ;-P LOL

Books, books, books,

Our downstairs neighbor used to comment on the possibility of the floor collapsing as we lugged boxes of books up into our tiny apartment. We have book shelves in every room, maybe 400 books here now. The other half of my books are in storage, and my partner only has about half of his here as well.
And this is after getting rid of just about every book that wasn't some kind of reference.

I love books!!!

Childrens books included, round and about 1500 leave or take a few

Including the childrens books, round and about 500, but that was the last count about 6 years ago, I think it could easily be double now.

<<What's embarasing is that I only own about one hundred books. Once a year I sell every book that can be sold and donate the rest. I'm a poor english major, planning on remaining poor my entire life, so I can't really afford to have books hanging around, even if I can only get like $50 for it. >>

Don’t be embarrassed !!!

I like this idea… It's like the sports fishermen who “catch and release” allowing others to opportunity to read your books rather than have them selfishly sitting on a shelf..

Exactly!