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I hate books-salon.com

SFG75

SFG75

Well-Known Member
I hate books


So now my library is static, stuck in the past; if you want to know what I’m reading now, I’d have to show you my iPad. Someday I could eliminate the static archive entirely. I certainly fantasized about it during the last move — the first title for this piece was, “What if I got rid of all of my books?”
But I probably won’t. I came of age right before most media stopped being physical, and so I’m stuck with a backlog of bulky objects freighted with meaning. Physical books have memories attached to them that they’re unlikely to accrue for someone 10 or 15 years younger. In some cases I just won’t be able to separate the memory from the object, and the object, however heavy, will have to stay.
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Bolded portion-what it all comes down to.
 
Fortunately I lack sentimental attachment to objects and I ruthlessly parted ways with all my books about a year ago. Everything is digital.
 
Moving is definitely one of life's lesser pleasures. The last two times I've done it, I start with the books. I have boxes and boxes of them. Honestly, I don't mind and it's less of a chore for me mentally as opposed to tackling the mattress. I hate to think about doing it now as I'm a homeowner and have added many, many books during the past seven years in my humble abode.

The Salon article reminded me of a New Yorker cartoon. Two wealthy men are staring at a library wall "collection" of two kindles and the rest is bare. The caption read: "Great collection Thurston, great collection!"
 
Meadow337 said:
Fortunately I lack sentimental attachment to objects and I ruthlessly parted ways with all my books about a year ago. Everything is digital.
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Cough..cough, just finished dusting shelf loads of books, some of them older than me 'cause they belonged to my father.
 
Gita V.Reddy said:
Cough..cough, just finished dusting shelf loads of books, some of them older than me 'cause they belonged to my father.
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I would also have shelf loads of books had I the space to keep them, but I don't and I needed to lighten the load so the books went. I do have nearly all of them in digital format now (and plenty more besides). It just annoys me how difficult it is to get older books in digital format and I have some firm favourites I hate being without. I definitely would not have nearly 1800 books in my house, but I do have them on my e-reader. It's fantastic having a library in your hand!
 
I am a book collector. I have an e-reader but I will always have my personal home library. I have lovely signed first editions of some excellent author's books. There are beautiful leather bound and fine press bound books. I love the feel of the book in my hand. I love never having to worry about when the book will run out of batteries. I love the smell and tactile pleasure of "real" books. I agree, it is great to walk around with 400+ books in your hand but... I also love the way my books look in my home. We moved not too long ago and bought 40+ feet of floor to ceiling bookshelves and a library ladder. It is heaven. All my books are out of storage - now I need more bookshelves. But, I will always have my collection.
 
I moved in December and sold or donated many books. However, I could not part with them all, nor will I ever. I love my Kindle and my Kindle app on my phone, but they could never replace some of the books that I have in my library. Besides, my library sure would look funny with nothing in it save my Kindle when it's not in my hand. I keep a growing collection of first editions and other rare gems from authors I love. They not only add aesthetic value, but are an investment as well.

I hate to shop and don't buy many things, but books are a weakness. They're my only "impulse purchases. I can't imagine a house being a home without a few bookshelves.
 
I still haven't actually gotten rid of my physical books; Some are in bags, others still on shelves where they will stay but my budget is such where having a library bigger then what it is, well is not possible.

I see myself getting rid of most of my books (They're all paperback) and keeping about 50 or so of my favorites.


If I was rich, I'd have a grand library but I'm not and when I die, I don't want to have people have to move my giant storage of books to the dump or worse, burned.
 
I could never get rid of my books, I have many old, beautiful books that belonged to my grandparents. I moved around 1000 books to Germany, around Germany, and then back to the USA, one of the first German phrases I heard roughly translated to "shit, that's a lot of books" :)

I just could never put all my faith/books onto an electrical device, putting all posiible sci-fi calamities aside, we do get some nasty storms and what if my power was out for awhile, stranded with nothing to read is my most horrible nightmare :eek:

I even have a few books stashed in my car and always carry a couple in my bag, just to be on the safe side.
 
Why I love my e-reader, but still like to keep my physical books:

I have a great fear of an impending apocalypse whereby all electrical (digital) media will be rendered useless. Cue Snake Plissken: He enters code 666.

Or how about:
Someone decides we should just scan and digitize all the great works of art in the world. Museums and art galleries become banks of computer terminals with the latest in visual technology. Users spend hours, days, months, even years virtually viewing the amassed art collections of humankind.

Eventually all physical copies are deemed irrelevant and redundant, thus allowed to disintegrate into dust and rubble. Any remaining copies in personal collections are deemed too bulky and cumbersome- especially if you have to change residences - and therefore destroyed.

. . . Fast forward . . .

Extraterrestrials attack the earth. They obliterate all technology with a super-charged electromagnetic pulse, plunging earth and its inhabitants into darkness.

. . . Just sayin'.
 
Ell said:
. . . Fast forward . . .

Extraterrestrials attack the earth. They obliterate all technology with a super-charged electromagnetic pulse, plunging earth and its inhabitants into darkness.

. . . Just sayin'.
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<3

That's why I still buy deadtree books. :D
 
I agree, I agree, I agree, but for me at this moment an e-reader gives me access to books I wouldn't have without it.

Future visions of beautiful rows of books aside.

It's like instant food vs home made - the one tastes better, but sometimes you just can't beat convenience.
 
Gita V.Reddy said:
Cough..cough, just finished dusting shelf loads of books, some of them older than me 'cause they belonged to my father.
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And that is what is so great about a physical collection. There are stories and memories behind some of those books, things that are significant and which cannot be replicated by an e-reader.
 
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