immigrant who's been raised since they were a toddler in a different country but im in my first year of university now and unfortunately, it is highly improbable for fresh grads to secure a job here so ill probably have to migrate to yet another country once im done to erm not be homeless & unemployed😭 my parents may not stay back once i move.
anyways the point is i've just gotten back into reading since the end of 2024 and im very conflicted about ownership. i've currently got about 25 books physical books of which i've read about half and the rest of my reading has been done digitally. knowing that i'll only be here for the next 4-5 years, does it make sense to buy even more books?
i guess i could ship them but that's risky and expensive. i know i might be thinking too far ahead because who knows, i might stop reading before then lmao but the reason i choose to buy and not just go to the library (that unfortunately don't carry the works i want to read 💔) is because i feel like these are my "defining years" as i get back into reading and i want to have a physical reminder of the subjects i resonated with and will have maybe shaped me into the person i'll be in the next decade. i've even considered buying books that i've already read before but loved and are now being sold at discounted prices though im not sure what i'd do with my digital annotations.
i thrift or buy during sales so they're not a huge dent in my pocket (using current exchange rates, the most costly book i've got is less than 8$) but i'd say 70% of my reading is done online because i either don't have access to or can't afford what i truly love to read.
now im questioning every purchase which… is good but i mean that im worried about my books once im done reading. ill probably have to sell them but then that means i cant annotate/tab, or ill have to sell them for dirt cheap but im already upset that im giving away my faves and now i wont even get back my money's worth 🙁
by goutdemiel
3 Comments
Why don’t you get an e-reader and annotate there? It weights nothing so moving with it would be easy. Yes, it’s not the same as physical books, but when one needs to move multiple times, physical books become a nuisance to carry around.
Probably not the answer you want to hear but I am in a similar position, moved a ton as a kid and now live “abroad” and not sure of long term plans, and as a result I just don’t collect books.
I’ve embraced being ebook girly and both buy and rent library books there. Honestly it’s very freeing not to have to worry about a collection, my collection can come with me as needed and weighs like 200g (my ereader).
I do read physical sometimes but only my fav books of those get kept (I brought 5 physical books with me when I last moved countries), and I’m relieved not to have the weight of owning a bunch! The books I love are a part of me regardless
4-5 years is a pretty big amount of time still! Personally speaking, I’d try to restrain myself, but over time I’d build a little collection anyway. As you said, books can be powerful physical reminders of what you’ve experienced throughout different times of your life. If you can afford to buy some and support thrift shops or independent bookstores, why not?
If shipping them is too expensive, once you’re sure you’re moving, you could consider selling them, gifting them to your friends and classmates or donating them to charity shops!