Sunday, May 6, 2012

Just How BIG is My Problem?

Many of you already know that I have put myself on a book diet for the 2012 calendar year and I’ve committed to reading 100 books this year. Each time I tell someone new of this goal, they look at me in amazement. But what I try to get them to understand is that I’m trying to catch up with my book buying habits. I have way to many books in my possession that I have not gotten around to reading and it is entirely too irresponsible to continue buying when I’m not keeping up with the consumption of what I have bought.

So, how bad is it?

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Sometime last year, Amazon granted us the ability to organize our Kindle books/documents into folders. I figured now was the perfect time to really sit down and figure out how many books I have unread while I organized. I really needed to do this as I also have the habit of downloading the first chapter samples so I can decide later if I want to buy the book. I needed to get all of those samples out of the way. Next year when I lift my self imposed book diet, I will start going through the growing list of samples to determine what will be bought and definitely read in the future.

For now, I have 32 unread Kindle books, 39 un-listened to audio books in my iTunes account (most bought from Audible), and 128 unread or partially read physical books in my home (as catalogued in my Delicious Library program). I also have a read again list going but I won’t even think about those books for now. For those of you quick on your feet, you’ve already added up my damage.

Yep, I have 199 books to read. Books that have already been bought or gifted or obtained for free. Most have been bought. I don’t even want to think how much money that means I have spent with no return. BUT, that return is to come soon. Unfortunately, my book diet may need to last longer than a year, but we’ll see how things look as the holiday book sales approach. And just as a comparison and to prove that I actually do read some of what I buy, my total book collection sits at 493. This does not include technical books that I’ve been holding on to. So there! I know I still have a problem.

Please tell me that some of you are just as bad.

6 comments:

  1. Wow!!!!! Ok yes....you are not allowed to buy any new books for this goal. Get to reading what you have. I don't feel so bad anymore about my stash of books. I maybe have 20. Lol

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    1. I know! I just love having books all over the house. Thank God for the Kindle. Now I can gather electronically and not take up more real estate in the house.

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  2. 1 bookshelf unit in LR. 22 books per shelf, 5 shelves full, 110 books.

    2 bookshelf units in my craft room. Assume same numbers, 220 books in shelf units. 4 shelves doubled in books - 88 additional books = 418 books. Now 14 boxes unpacked and 3 boxes in my room on floor - let's be conservative and say 25 books per box, 17 x 25 = 425 so I'm over 800 and still counting. I do need to purchase and install the hardware for my wall o' books.

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    1. That should make me feel better. I knew there were people in my circle that had more than me. I can't imagine moving with 800 books! I do hate to part with them though so I may be meeting you at that number one day. I'm just hoping most of them will be on the kindle. :)

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    2. I have a Nook with 93 additional books on it. Actually I think in hard copy books I'm probably over 1,000. When I moved from AR I gave away to 2 local libraries over 18 boxes of books. I also took a huge amount of books to McKay's in Chattanooga - enough to have almost $70.00 in credit plus almost $30.00 cash for what I took to them. So feel better, April, I think I've gotcha beat. I've made a trip to McKay's here in Nashville too. I like the store down there more.

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    3. Gail, I think you have everyone I know beat. I think you may need to join me on the book diet!

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