Admittedly, I have a problem.In Friday's post, I mentioned seven books I've recently won, all of which arrived in the mail, and I just found out this morning that I've won another book, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds, from Anna's book blog, Diary of an Eccentric. I've also been receiving other books in the mail, from authors and publishers, as well as a few that I've ordered.
On Sunday my daughters and I ventured to Barnes & Noble, armed with a couple of gift cards and my membership card. (Whenever I go to a bookstore or the book section of a store, I can't help but smile as I see many of the books I've posted about or read about on other blogs. I want to tell everyone around that I'm a book blogger, but at most I tell a salesperson or two.) As far as purchases go, my daughter bought a joke book for her teacher's birthday, and I bought one book, Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin, because I've decided that I must read a book by this author.
But, enough is enough! While I love getting new books, I already have so many books waiting to be read, and my gargantuan to-be-read pile is growing every day. It's getting to be ridiculous! Maybe I should impose a moratorium on getting any additional books.
Sometimes, I wish I were more like the protagonist, Liesel Meminger, in The Book Thief. She has only a few books, reads them one-at-a-time, lingers with each book, gets to know each one deeply, and greatly appreciates each book. Too often I feel as if I am racing through my books, not savoring them enough. The sight of so many books waiting to be read causes me to feel a bit anxious and guilty at times. How will I ever be able read them all? And yet, I keep entering book giveaways, I keep finding more books which interest me, I keep purchasing books, and lo and behold! I keep finding more books in the mailbox.
This is my fourth official Mailbox Monday, a terrific meme where readers share the books they've recently acquired, hosted by Marcia from The Printed Page. I'd ask what new books you've gotten lately, but I'm afraid that I'd discover intriguing new titles to add to my to-be-read pile!
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I agree while reading is a great thing too much of anything can be overwhelming. Still moderation is not easy.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the wins!
LOL...Love the banner, but the concept is frightening Susan :)
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about getting too many new books, but I can never help myself. LOL
ReplyDeleteI just gave you an award :)
MY TBR pile is scary. But I can't help myself.
ReplyDeleteHere is mine
Great books! My mailbox is at The Crowded Leaf.
ReplyDeleteYou see how well we all understand and sympathize? There really isn't any hope for us. We try. Sometimes we cut back for awhile. But completely control ourselves? Never! Because we really don't want to. I'd rather be surrounded by a pile of unread books than have no books at all nearby.
ReplyDeleteAcquiring new books is an addiction! Good luck with your moratorium! I can't believe you saw Ozzy yesterday - you should do a post about that!
ReplyDeleteI am just like you when I go into book shops; I get so excited by all the books I have read or seen blogging and I do go up to people and tell them they are good.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the moratorium. I'm hopeless. I do get excited when I see books I have reviewed on the store shelves.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, I do stop and savor the book I am reading, I make sure not to rush through it.
ReplyDeletelol, I do the same thing at the bookstore, when I recognize a title someone blogged about, I cant help but smile.
nice button! happy reading :)
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
I totally hear you about the book addiction! I have so many to be read that I am a little embarrassed at times. My husband told me that from now on, I have to get two books out the door for a new one to brought in, but I am still finding new books to covet everyday! I think it's just a hazard of being a book lover. Too much is never enough! I will wish you good luck with your moratorium though. Hopefully you will do better than I have!
ReplyDeleteI read a number of James Baldwin books maybe 40 years ago-I liked them all and will be very curious to see your reaction. I try to control my book addiction by not buying anymore books in a month than I read in the prior month. That means in February I can buy 11!
ReplyDeleteDCMetroreader, congrats on your recent win, too!
ReplyDeleteDiane, thank you. I had fun with this post.
Yvonne, thanks for the lovely award.
Brooke, those TBR piles quickly turn into mountains, don't they?!
Alayne, thanks for your visit. Your blog is quite elegant.
Gwendolyn, well-said. Many of us seem to share the same "problem".
Bermudaonion, I'm half joking about the moratorium--I love getting new books! Sorry I wasn't clearer: I saw Ozzy's book yesterday in the bookstore.
Vivienne, it's a joy to enthusiastically talk about books with others, isn't it? Online or elsewhere.
Beth, I'm hopeless, too. : )
Naida, thanks for your nice comments as always.
Zibilee, I really do love discovering and getting new books, but I want to appreciate what I already have, too. I probably should give more away.
Mel, your idea makes a lot of sense (but you read much more than me!).
Thank you all very much for your comments. More are welcomed.
Eeeeek! Just say no?! I don't think I could do it LOL! It's like an alcoholic saying no to a sip of wine! You must have A LOT more willpower than I do!!!! Enjoy the books that you won. :-)
ReplyDeletexoxo~ Renee
Congrats on your wins! I know how you feel about the growing tbr pile. I have a huge pile now and feeling overwhelmed!
ReplyDeleteRenee,the truth is, I can't say no to books either!
ReplyDeleteNatalie, thanks for your comment. :)
Suko, what a coincidence! I've been wanting to read Giovanni's Room too! But the book is not available at my libraries, so I've been thinking if I should buy it.
ReplyDeleteSuko, your post made me smile! I know you meant it, but really there is NO way you can say no and NOT add books to your TBR piles. This guilt/ anxiety is a part of any readers LIFE :) :)
ReplyDeleteSo cheer up :) :) and stop thinking about all of this, there is seriously no way out ;)
I feel the SAME way when I enter a bookstore. I love seeing all the books I've reviewed or seen reviewed and I want to tell everyone about my blog. Glad I'm not the only one who feels that way!
ReplyDeleteLuckily we don't have much money so buying too many books isn't a problem. LOL. That's awesome that you won so many books. I think total since I started entering giveaways I've won over 30 books. The trick is to do as many extra entries as possible and enter as many as possible. After entering a giveaway I search the net for other giveaways of that same book to up my chances even more.
However lately I have been careful to enter only a few because I have enough books to read.
Mee, I hope you read it so we can compare notes.
ReplyDeleteVeens, you are so right--I guess I should learn to enjoy the guilt!
Callista, thanks so much for sharing your tips on how to win books, and for stopping by! Hope to "see" you here again.
More comments welcomed.
I know how you feel . . .it's like an addiction getting new books. But is also stresses me out seeing the ever growing pile!
ReplyDeleteSadly, I also had to say no to a good-looking book today just because I'm already fully booked (hehe, it's my turn to pun) for the next couple of months. Oh if only I had more time and could read much faster :(
ReplyDelete