If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know that I just moved. If you haven’t been paying attention, no worries, I barely pay attention myself. However, this latest move really brought home (ha! Pun!) a harsh truth. I have too many books. Although, really, are there ever too many books? The movers who carted my stuff from the old place to the new place might say yes. They might even add in some colorful sentence enhancers.
After my last move, I downsized quite a bit and no longer have the “houseful of stuff” I’ve had in the past. I’ve narrowed down my possessions considerably. Still, it doesn’t seem to have made moving any easier. You see, I had only two different categories of boxes for the movers to sort through: fragile and books. The fragile items include a teacup collection, a vintage/antique plate collection, and other such sentimental possessions. I’d have to say though, the books won. You know, if we’re keeping count. Which I suppose we are.
I loathe giving up a book. In the past, I have donated a select few to a nursing home and a preschool. But in general, if I like a book enough to buy it, I like it enough to keep it. So here I am, surrounded by books and fragile things. Not sure what that says about my state of being, but there you go.
If I’m honest, there’s really something comforting about being surrounded by books and if you’re an avid reader, I’m sure you can relate. I guess it’s why I love libraries and bookstores, and my own “not quite to the hoarding point” collection. I’ve always dreamed of having a library the likes of which are scene in Beauty and the Beast. There’s just something about mountains of books that feels like home.
To start, there’s the soothing smell of an old book. Hell, even brand-new books have a comforting aroma. I’m willing to bet that you know exactly what I’m talking about. Next, there’s the satisfaction to be found in a page flip. As you progress further and further into a tale and flip a page, a feeling of accomplishment that’s almost addicting always follows. I’m not even going to get into the sheer excitement of delving deeper and deeper into a good story and the need – the absolute need – to find out how it ends … I mean, that would probably be showing a bit too much of my “crazy.”
To say I owe a lot to books is probably also showing a bit too much of my “crazy.” Doesn’t make it any less true though. I’m able to look back and see every book, every story, every adventure, and connect it to the time in my life when I first read it. When I need to reconnect to that time in my life or that feeling, I re-read certain books. Some books are just “comfort food” for my soul. Others take me on an adventure or thrill me with the ghosties that I love so much.
Heaven for me would be my own little kingdom of books, books, and more books. Nerdy? Yes, but it’s my thing. We all need to find that thing in life that brings us joy and, for me, that’s books.
Musings from a Tangled Mind 
So funny, I’m dealing with exactly the same situation and realization with my move –
I don’t have a lot of
Fiction – but he books I do have offer me adventure and I am glad I saved the ones I did save. Sometimes I miss s few I got rid of – but for the most part – I was able to get rid of hundreds over the last few years – and it has been a good feeling – but not sure if it would feel
So good without the huge bookshelf I have left. I know exactly what you mean by the emotions that can be erected – the memories – or sometimes I just want a certain author in my head and for me – that can happen digitally too – but not like you said – there are times for the aroma and touch of real
Pages.
Best wishes on your move 📚📚📚
No such thing as too many books, ever
You need to see my wife’s collection. We had a 4th of July backyard pool party and one of our guests whoi is a professor of history at the University of South Carolina said to me as he looked around our home, you know I don’t see a surface in your house that isn’t covered by books. I just nodded and sighed.
My first intercontinental move reduced my books to one large box ☹️. Several moves and years later I had about 15metres of books again (you see, they’re easiest measured in shelf side) and then decided to give them all away (with the exception of about a metre and a half of my real treasured ones) before the last move – and I am still looking for some of them, but they have gone. It is almost like a lost person. BUT, my eBook collection is growing, so I can at least re-read them, but it’s not the same, sigh.
A long time ago now, I was asked to try to understand addiction by identifying something in my normal daily life I never want to be without. The answer came immediately… a small pile of books waiting to be read as soon as I finish the one I’m in the midst of.
40 years later that is still true.
I love my tablet and how many books it can hold, but I always have to read a paper and ink book every now and again. It’s like a craving, and I have A LOT of books. Books that take me places, books that teach me things, books that do both, books I color in, signed books, old books, damaged books…..Like Bubba from Forest Gump, I can go on.
If I go to someone’s house for the first time and they have no books anywhere, I won’t see them again.
NEVER get rid of the books. Let the movers grunt and swear, but the books make a home a home, just like your dogs and cat.
Yeah, I know that feeling all too well. When we moved from the BIG house to the much, much smaller house last year about 90% of my books went into a storage unit. I cringe every time I think of what I’m paying every month to keep them until I can move back into a bigger place, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to throw any of them out or give them away!