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