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Buying Books I Don’t Read

Sometimes I am annoyed by myself. The reason is simple, I buy books that I don’t read. Ever. I never really go for a book shopping for more than two books a time, and once or twice I have been I made sure that I have read them all. But there are some books or the other when in time I glance on my shelf that brings back the happiness of buying it but the guilt of not reading it. I must day, I like buying books. Books which are lesser known. Books in series. Books with yellow pages, rusty covers and that smell!

I don’t think I am harming them in any way even if they are lying soundlessly on my shelf. That’s what we readers do and we do it by having good intentions in our conscience. We have the best of intentions and never the worst of intentions when buying books. Sometimes it is a result of a peculiar obsession. Either obsession with the cover, or that smell, or the writer.

Sometimes I think there is a kind of an enzyme in every reader which only works and reacts when they are buying books. When the see a bookstore or a sale on a used-bookstore. Some of the titles I can remember buying but never reading.

I know, I know.

This one and eleven others by the same author Tom Clancy. It has been a long time since I bought them and I think they will be staying on the shelf for a long time more.

It has been almost six months and it is still waiting to be picked up in the front row. Patience, my dear Mr. Hardy.

What are some of the titles you acquire but are waiting to be read?

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amacknificentview says: July 22, 2015 at 12:17 AM Sometimes I get the urge to add up the amount of money I have spent on books. Separately, those I've read and haven't read, and collectively. Just to see how much of my "hard earned" money is sitting amongst my shelves throughout the house. Eh, either way, books are good. They're fun to read or to use for decoration, and I heard there was some study that the more books in a house where a child grows up, the better they do developmentally. Either way, I will continue to buy books I don't read and continue to be pulled both ways in my feelings about it. A good post! Check out my blog if ya want, I like to read too. 👍🏼
hallenterprises132 says: July 22, 2015 at 12:18 AM When I buy a book it gets read immediately by both my husband and me. Not at the same time, but we take turns with the new tresures! Jeanette Hall
NymphadoraWinterfell says: July 22, 2015 at 12:21 AM I know this feeling too ahaha :)
radicalhope says: July 22, 2015 at 12:44 AM Like me pick out a few I am going to read. I just haven't got to them yet. Jonah's Gourd Vine by Hurston, Tried By War, by Mcpherson, Childhood's End by Clarke, Tar Baby by Morrison, so many more because I am creating a library.
amusing2write says: July 22, 2015 at 3:00 AM The worst is when after repeatedly trying to get into the book, you realize its just not for you. Watership Down falls sadly into this catagory. I got about half way and realized it is a well written, much beloved book but its not my kinda book. Others were impulse buys from the dollar stores.
hrh66 says: July 22, 2015 at 3:13 AM I so can relate to this! I'm a book hoarder and have lots on my shelves that I keep saying 'one day I'll read that one,' or else it's a book I 'saved' (like my parents were going to throw it away or a charity shop was and I hate the idea of still readable books going in the bin) then I get more books and read them instead! Currently, I've the Battle Royal novel to read, Some Stephen King novels that I've had for years that I've not picked up and the whole of the True Blood series, which even though I've watched on DVD I'm still going to read them at some point.
shininlight says: July 22, 2015 at 4:29 AM I'm sure I have too many to go check but I know I bought the Goldfinch and I haven't read it yet. I also tend to buy books I see as classics that I will go back and read or just want to own.
leeduigon says: July 22, 2015 at 4:37 AM Not reading "The Color Purple"--I salute you!
May Dayao says: July 22, 2015 at 6:49 AM Shantaram has been on my shelf for years! I even bought the ebook version. I'll get to it one day and all those books crammed into my bookshelf.
Records of the Ohanzee says: July 22, 2015 at 8:38 AM I have an entire (albeit smallish) bookcase devoted to my "pile of shame"--aka books I've bought and not read. I will read them, someday. I had The Night Circus for 3 years before I read it! Mostly, the books are parts of series I'm reading and I'm just waiting for another one or two more to come out so I can binge read them (like Netflix bingeing, but for books haha). PS-I think there's something about the scent of paper and ink, new or old, that activates a primitive hunter/gatherer instinct in a bibliophile's brain. ^_-

Sometimes I get the urge to add up the amount of money I have spent on books. Separately, those I've read and haven't read, and collectively. Just to see how much of my "hard earned" money is sitting amongst my shelves throughout the house. Eh, either way, books are good. They're fun to read or to use for decoration, and I heard there was some study that the more books in a house where a child grows up, the better they do developmentally. Either way, I will continue to buy books I don't read and continue to be pulled both ways in my feelings about it. A good post! Check out my blog if ya want, I like to read too. 👍🏼

Aman(@amanhimself) says: July 22, 2015 at 4:14 PM Thanks for sharing the link. Oh, please. I don't even want to open that door of summing up the money I have spent on books, especially those which are still unread. :) Books are great to be around with, I feel both for a child and for an adult too. Thanks for reading the post!

Thanks for sharing the link. Oh, please. I don't even want to open that door of summing up the money I have spent on books, especially those which are still unread. :)
Books are great to be around with, I feel both for a child and for an adult too. Thanks for reading the post!

When I buy a book it gets read immediately by both my husband and me. Not at the same time, but we take turns with the new tresures!
Jeanette Hall

Aman(@amanhimself) says: July 22, 2015 at 4:15 PM Great to know that you don't leave any book unread!

Great to know that you don't leave any book unread!

I know this feeling too ahaha :)

Aman(@amanhimself) says: July 22, 2015 at 4:15 PM It's a part of being a book lover.

It's a part of being a book lover.

Like me pick out a few I am going to read. I just haven't got to them yet. Jonah's Gourd Vine by Hurston, Tried By War, by Mcpherson, Childhood's End by Clarke, Tar Baby by Morrison, so many more because I am creating a library.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: July 22, 2015 at 4:16 PM Great! Having books around is always fun, and entertaining & good for the mind.

Great! Having books around is always fun, and entertaining & good for the mind.

The worst is when after repeatedly trying to get into the book, you realize its just not for you. Watership Down falls sadly into this catagory. I got about half way and realized it is a well written, much beloved book but its not my kinda book. Others were impulse buys from the dollar stores.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: July 22, 2015 at 4:18 PM Yeah, I remember that feeling. I even experienced that a few days ago when I was reading one of the Virginia Woolf's. With that feeling, afterwards, comes a feeling of disappointment.

Yeah, I remember that feeling. I even experienced that a few days ago when I was reading one of the Virginia Woolf's. With that feeling, afterwards, comes a feeling of disappointment.

I so can relate to this! I'm a book hoarder and have lots on my shelves that I keep saying 'one day I'll read that one,' or else it's a book I 'saved' (like my parents were going to throw it away or a charity shop was and I hate the idea of still readable books going in the bin) then I get more books and read them instead! Currently, I've the Battle Royal novel to read, Some Stephen King novels that I've had for years that I've not picked up and the whole of the True Blood series, which even though I've watched on DVD I'm still going to read them at some point.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: July 22, 2015 at 4:21 PM Once I bought quite an amount of Tom Clancy's war novels from a flea market a few years back. Last week, somehow I managed to gather enough courage to move them from one shelf to another one. Yeah, it always feel like that some them will be read later on, and out of those some of them are read later on.

Once I bought quite an amount of Tom Clancy's war novels from a flea market a few years back. Last week, somehow I managed to gather enough courage to move them from one shelf to another one. Yeah, it always feel like that some them will be read later on, and out of those some of them are read later on.

I'm sure I have too many to go check but I know I bought the Goldfinch and I haven't read it yet. I also tend to buy books I see as classics that I will go back and read or just want to own.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: July 22, 2015 at 4:23 PM One time, someone said to me, 'owning books is good, reading them is better.' I guess, my mother said that to me a few months back when I confessed that I haven't read a pile of books yet. I think I can never help the temptation of buying books.

One time, someone said to me, 'owning books is good, reading them is better.'

I guess, my mother said that to me a few months back when I confessed that I haven't read a pile of books yet.

I think I can never help the temptation of buying books.

Not reading "The Color Purple"--I salute you!

Aman(@amanhimself) says: July 22, 2015 at 4:24 PM Haha sir, some day it will be read and you will be the first person to know :)

Haha sir, some day it will be read and you will be the first person to know :)

leeduigon says: July 22, 2015 at 8:39 PM Mu brother-in-law had to "teach" this monstrosity to a huge captive audience of college students, year after year. *sigh*

Mu brother-in-law had to "teach" this monstrosity to a huge captive audience of college students, year after year. *sigh*

Aman(@amanhimself) says: July 23, 2015 at 11:53 AM I can understand.

I can understand.

Shantaram has been on my shelf for years! I even bought the ebook version. I'll get to it one day and all those books crammed into my bookshelf.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: July 22, 2015 at 4:24 PM One day, is what everyone of us look forward too. :)

One day, is what everyone of us look forward too. :)

I have an entire (albeit smallish) bookcase devoted to my "pile of shame"--aka books I've bought and not read. I will read them, someday. I had The Night Circus for 3 years before I read it! Mostly, the books are parts of series I'm reading and I'm just waiting for another one or two more to come out so I can binge read them (like Netflix bingeing, but for books haha).

PS-I think there's something about the scent of paper and ink, new or old, that activates a primitive hunter/gatherer instinct in a bibliophile's brain. ^_-

Aman(@amanhimself) says: July 22, 2015 at 4:27 PM Yes, you are absolutely right. There is something about them that activates the instinct in a bibliophile and I think it is my personal observation and a realisation that whenever i see books, everything goes blurred, the surroundings, the people, the chitterchatter, my focus is humongous at that time of buying books.

Yes, you are absolutely right. There is something about them that activates the instinct in a bibliophile and I think it is my personal observation and a realisation that whenever i see books, everything goes blurred, the surroundings, the people, the chitterchatter, my focus is humongous at that time of buying books.

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