How many bookshelves do you have in your home?

[MichaelCorfman]

One of the historical signs of an avid reader is the presence of bookshelves and books in a home. Although that is becoming less true with the emergence of ebooks. Personally, I'm still rooted in the world of hardback books. And it shows. I just took a walk through my home and counted 18 distinct bookcases containing a total of 80 bookshelves.

For this week's poll I thought it would be interesting to ask about the relationship between GPWA members and books. First, with the poll question about how many bookshelves there are in your home. But, please elaborate with how many bookcases you have, and your general thoughts about possessing and reading actual physical books.

Michael

[Pokerface]

I actually have no shelves in the house either for books or otherwise. Shelves in closets or in garage are the only place. I also limit the number of possible drawers. Reason? If I have a shelf or drawer chances are I will fill them. I try to be a minimalist so this works best for me. One "junk" drawer in the kitchen .... LOL

[Cash Bonus]

I have 25 bookshelves in my house and most of them are filled with clutter (only some have a handful of reading material) from years ago and I hardly ever access them. I don't really have any need for them as everything is pretty much on the internet now.

[mickyfu]

I think a more fitting question would be "how many books do you have in your house?"

These days many probably fill their bookshelves with things rather than books. Of course not everyone, some like to read, personally myself I don't like to read, apart from online / news.

[nwalker]

I now have one shelf with 5 books on it. We moved two years ago and we got rid of about 500 books - took them to a boot fair to try and sell them and the ones that didn't go, got given to a charity shop.

For interest, the charity shop said that they just send them on for shredding as they get so many and no-one really buys books in bulk anymore.

[Mattbar]

I've got two large bookcases with 8 shelves total, around 200 books. Not that I read them much these days but perhaps when the kids have grown up I will revisit a lot of them.

[chaumi]

There are probably half a dozen places dotted around the house where books are kept, plus some boxes in the loft which rarely see the light of day.

My son has a large collection. He was an avid reader from age 4 or 5 up to around 11, but sadly is more into FIFA 21 and the others now.
My wife reads a lot, mainly novels.
My office contains a handful of fairly recently published books around breathing techniques, nutrition, sleep.

But aside from the pleasure, relaxation, knowledge building aspects of reading, I believe the most important one is in emotional associations.

So, I have, as examples.....

Piano music literature from the 1800's, early 1900's once owned by my grandmother
Timeform Black Books (horse racing manuals) from 1960's and 70s, once owned by my Dad
A book on butterflies from which I created a first written project book aged around 7
One on ancient civilizations which I was given as a prize for being a good speller in primary school

Lots of people will have similar.

So I think it's this emotional engagement that's the real draw. You get it, on occasions and from 'good' books, from the actual reading of course. But books are tangible, they're real. Just the touch, the handling, or even the thought can be enough, in some cases, to evoke a strong emotional response. They can be a link to a time, people, or place that has value to the owner. In whatever form that value takes.

For me specifically, even though it has no 'value' to anyone outside of me, those specific examples mean something. However illogical or pointless that might seem to someone else. They're part of me, a part which would seem kind of dishonorable to let go.

I would gain nothing from losing those associations, even though no one else would see what I would gain by keeping them.

[newcustomeroffer]

Not got any 'shelves' as such, however there's a bookcase in the office and also storage units that double up as bookcases in the kids' rooms.

My wife uses a kindle now exclusively for reading books so we don't accumulate many nowadays and the kids spend far more time on their electronic devices than reading, despite our best efforts, so I'm not sure we'll ever need any other solutions.

[drifter8]

I love books, since I was 6 years of age and do not have place at home where to put them all

I am an avid reader, reading 3-4 books simultaneously, but do not have enough time for this ( all these daily routines an tasks
I have to agree with people thogths before me - it is all about the emotion and feelings you are having while reading or keeping the memories about read books.
Before interner and TV( mass- media) , books were windows and another universes for open-minded people

[agsgroup]

I have 2 book shelves - i love books but never get to read as much as i'd like to! I find that I can only really enjoy a book on holiday, on a plane etc (but guess how many times ive been able to do that in the past 2 years (hint = 0!) and as drifter says, tasks and work always seem to get in the way.

I left a about 100 books in Malta when I moved back to the UK and am trying to get my collection going again . I like books in the home - call me old fashioned (and yes I hate reading on electronic devices!)

[CasinoVIPOffers]

Even though I am a big reader, I only have 1....space is definitely an issue for me. But I am an avid reader and that is why I read mostly online - helps with the space issue and it's a big convenience.

[Valerie Meshko]

You know, I've always dreamed of having a huge library at home, as in Hollywood movies sometimes meets, a library of the whole house It's cool, you go there and there's quiet, calm, peaceful, books smell, just a little dream.

[kasinoarvostelut]

I still have around 10+ bookshelves in my house. But nowadays I rarely read books anymore. I used to love reading books but nowdays I dont have "time".. I also tried ebooks but they just lack the feeling of a real book.

[ocreditor]

I have around 100 books at home, mostly books I wanted to keep after reading.
I used to read lots of books but recently my reading is migrated to the screen and I find myself read a lot more on my devises (laptop, iphone, iPad..).. ok now I start missing reading a real good book I can hold in my hands

[drifter8]

Called me old-fashined, but I do not like reading books on mobile devices ( phones, laptops ot whatsoever

I love the smell of a new book.

Holding book in your hands - this is an emotion that cannot be compared with another.

[ocreditor]

Called me old-fashined, but I do not like reading books on mobile devices ( phones, laptops ot whatsoever...

I don't like too but I have not much of a choice... also my eyesight was damaged as a result..

[Yuna]

私は30冊のビジネス書を持っています。

English translation: I have 30 business books.

[Yuna]

私の家には約30冊のビジネス書があります。以前は漫画しか持っていませんでしたが、年を重ねるにつれ、ビ ジネス書を増やすようになりました。最近はフリーマーケットのアプリケーションが人気になり、本を安く購入 して読み終わったらすぐに売れるので好調です。電子書籍はいいと思いますが、紙の本が好きです 。

English translation: There are about 30 business books in my house. I used to only have manga, but as I got older, I started to increase the number of business books. Flea market applications have become popular these days, and they are doing well because you can buy books cheaply and sell them as soon as you finish reading them. I like ebooks, but I like paper books.