"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island." - Walt Disney

Friday, June 28, 2013

Feeding My Addiction

When I get a little money, I buy books. And if there is any left over, I buy food.”
-          Desiderius Erasmus
A hardcover book costs about the same as:
1)      One-fourth a ticket to a professional sporting event.
2)      Half a pair of pants.
3)      One steak in an up-scale restaurant.
4)      One-third of a haircut in a ritzy salon.
5)      One ticket to a minor theater production.

A paperback book costs about the same as:
1)      A couple of lattes from Starbucks.
2)      One tube of lipstick.
3)      One 12-pack of beer.
4)      A small meal for two at McDonald’s.
5)      One CD of Fleetwood Mac’s greatest.
ebooks can be anywhere along the spectrum depending on author and genre.

I must admit, books are my biggest vice – chocolate is a close second. Even after cleaning out my closet and passing on about seven dozen books, I have hundreds left. Only about two-thirds of them have been read.

Every time a friend publishes something, I buy it and read it. I love to support them, but since I read them ASAP, it pushes my TBR pile a little farther behind. Of course, I have friends and family that pass books along to me as they finish which add to the pile, and then of course, it’s nearly impossible for me to be near a bookstore without a purchase.

Five years ago, I lost every book I own in a flood. Yet, somehow, I still have multiple book cases that look like this picture.

What about you? How bad is your reading addiction?

10 comments:

Sheena-kay Graham said...

I'm crazy about books as well. Sorry about those that you lost in a flood but at least you got more books all over again.

Anonymous said...

It isn't reading my addiction it's music. I do buy books but only if there isn't any good albums released.

Yvonne.

Sharon Himsl said...

Same problem. More books than I have time to read...but love it. Fell in love as a girl with those giant book cases in Jane Eyre.

Britney Gulbrandsen said...

Yup. Same problem. I own more books than it's possible to read. And the stacks keep growing because I can't pass a bookstore and NOT buy a book. It's a serious problem. My motto: money spent on books doesn't count. Perhaps THAT'S my problem.

Erin Kane Spock said...

ebooks have been bad for my budget, if good for the industry. I'll buy one and then look at the suggested titles and be all, "OOOH! I should get that..." which is exactly what those crafty marketers want me to do. I do like hardbacks in books that I love. That same connection is just nto there win an ebook.

shelly said...

My Kindle is overflowing. So is my book shelf.

Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly

Unknown said...

Oh losing books would be heart-breaking. Yes, love buying books, not only to support the authors but because I'm a shameless book hoarder. Is there a support group for us?

Patrick Stahl said...

I have almost the opposite problem. I love reading, but I have to nudge myself to actually read. Faster paced stuff I can typically fly through, but epic fantasy, one of my favorite genres, takes me months per novel. At this point, authors are writing new books that I add to my Reading List faster than I can read.

Elizabeth Varadan, Author said...

I'm a bonafide bookaholic. Book shelves in every room, and don't even ask about the basement . . . it looks like a used book store. But books make me so happy. I can't think of any other addiction that could give so much genuine pleasure.

Nicole said...

Books are definitely my biggest vice. I always tell my family to skip the big stuff and just give me a book for Christmas. It'll end up being my favorite gift. ;)