Book Hoarding
I often save books I know will be fantastic (e.g., the latest Anthony Horowitz book) for either a rainy day or when the next book in the series comes out. I race out to buy it, but only to put it on the shelf and read the last book in the series that I’ve been holding onto in case I needed the perfect book.
The ChickieNob has pointed out that it means that I never get to the stuff I’m really excited about, holding onto it and reading stuff I’m happy-enough to read instead. Touché.
About once a year, we go on a big book-buying trip. This year, I have 19 books on the shortlist. I will not buy all 19, but I will sample the books and choose the ones I absolutely need to own. The question will be whether I can break myself of this terrible habit and read them first. To not hold onto anything that looks good and instead consume it immediately. It goes against every fiber of my being, but I also know that I feel happy when I get to the really good stuff.
3 comments
I was reminded today that life is to be lived, and delayed gratification only deprives us of things that would make us happy now. (It’s not as if you never exercise willpower, after all.) Give yourself, and read at least one or two of the books you are excited about.
That said, as I type this I am looking at two books I eagerly bought a year or more ago, and I haven’t read them yet. So do as I say, not as I do!
Why wouldn’t you save beloved rereads for those days? You already know they’ll make you happy. (I’m reading whatever is on top of the pile first. I don’t care – I hope they’ll all be good.)
I like the idea of shuffling your pile every once in a while. I am a terrible book hoarder, but I have different piles — the shelves with my biggest collection of TBR, a stack that’s all books Bryce got me, and a shelf with books I’ve pushed up to read sooner than later. Sometimes I ask Bryce to pick a book for me from the three places, which randomizes it. I feel you though, because sometimes I feel guilty reading a new book when I have all these ladies-in-waiting on shelves.