Books read by year

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Thursday, June 9, 2011

BTT (#6) ~ own or borrow?

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All things being equal (money, space, etc), would you rather own copies of the books you read? Or borrow them?
Even if I don't want to read a book again, I often quote from what I've read.  If I knew I had room for the thousands of books I've read over the years, I'd keep them all.  Especially those with my notes in the margins and/or underlining of the most interesting passages.

The "etcetera" in the question would be having the time to catalog and shelve my books — or the money to hire someone — to keep them orderly so I'd be able to lay my hands on exactly the book I need at exactly the moment I need to refer to it.  As it is, even keeping track of my notes from some of the excellent books is a problem.  Thus, my desk piles up with stacks of paper and book notes.
on

5 comments:

  1. llevinsoThursday, June 09, 2011 2:20:00 PM

    Oh, that etcetera part is very important! Here's my answer: http://femalebookreader.blogspot.com/2011/06/me-buy-books.html

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  2. SallyThursday, June 09, 2011 3:28:00 PM

    I’m a big re-reader so I like to own my books but I wish I had a better way to organise them as it takes me forever to find the book I wan't.
    Sally.
    http://theelifylop.blogspot.com/2011/06/booking-through-thursday-21.html

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  3. Helen's Book BlogThursday, June 09, 2011 8:02:00 PM

    I like to own the adult books I read, but am fine borrowing the YA books. Maybe that's because the YA come from my own library where I work so I feel like I own them?

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  4. Bonnie JacobsThursday, June 09, 2011 8:31:00 PM

    That's an interesting thought, Helen. Could be. Since I read for ideas -- and that's usually my subject when I write, teach, or speak before a group -- even the YA novels have quotes I can use. It's the "fluff" books that I wouldn't need to keep around.

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  5. ShirleyThursday, June 09, 2011 9:06:00 PM

    I am trying to downsize so prefer borrowing to owning. However, if it is an extra special book, I buy it. If I am having problems finishing a book before it is due back at the library, I also like to buy it to reduce the stress of trying to finish it on time.

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