My library has reached "wife says she has filled out the divorce papers and will sign them if I bring home another damn book" size. I'm a collector. I like having complete series' and all works in an author's oeuvre. And to be clear, I don't just collect books. I read everything I buy.
Used book stores are getting rarer these days, but whenever I'm in one, I zero in on authors/series I know I'm missing a volume or two in. But I have so many at home that I sometimes forget if I already have a copy. So I will often pick one up "just in case."
This has led to a separate but similar complaint: Apparently, there's something "wrong" with having two copies of the same book. I know. Crazy. Like, you could have TOO MANY books? No idea where that idea is coming from. And I'm going to eventually figure out where I have dupes and sell off the extras. Eventually. I mean, I'll keep a few duplicates, just in case one of them gets ratty from too many re-reads. But sure, I'll get rid of the rest of them. Someday. Maybe.
Anyway, this is less of a question than a confession. I have a lot of duplicate (or triplicate, or more!) copies of some of my favorite authors' books. For good reason, though. You really can't be too sure.
by hendergle