I absolutely love collecting books that I’ve read and enjoyed. There’s something deeply satisfying about seeing a shelf full of stories that have left their mark on me. But ever since I got a Kindle, I’ve noticed that so many books I want to read are readily available on Kindle Unlimited.
Here’s where my dilemma kicks in: when I come across a book that turns out to be a four- or five-star read, I instantly feel the urge to have a physical copy on my bookshelf. At the same time, I know I might not reread it anytime soon, so it ends up just sitting there. And that sometimes feels… wasteful?
To all the book collectors out there, what’s your approach? If there’s a book you’ve read, loved, and want to own but might not reread anytime soon, do you still buy it? Or do you reserve your shelf space for only certain kinds of books? I’d love to hear how you navigate this!
by Confusedmind75
2 Comments
My bookshelves are a mix of books I’ve read and loved in the past and books I intend to read (largely acquired from library book sales and LFLs).
I own two bookshelves and they’re jam packed because my intent and my follow through are very different things, so I don’t think I’d recommend my approach 😂
But bookshelves are a very personal thing and I think you can do whatever you want with them — one way to think about your own dilemma is that buying a physical copy of a book you loved that you borrowed via KU is a nice way to give extra financial support to the author, and you’d always have it on hand to lend to a friend.
I used to fill up shelves with books. I’ve donated and sold most of my physical books now and kept only a few that I’d want to have at all times in case all my electronics die because of some freak cosmic event. I like the switch to digital. I can travel easier and have all the books I love with me at all times, including the audiobook versions, and read them whenever. Though it lacks the tactile pleasures of physical books, it’s just way more convenient because you can have your notes, highlighted quotes and everything. For me, that trumps physical books in most situations.
If you’re bothered by the wastefulness of not reading your favourites again, maybe dedicate a week every other month to revisit some of those books and make it a habit