Hard Habit to Break

I have a serious book addiction. I say “book” instead of “reading” because I love all things book related as well as books. I have a tapestry, a couple of blankets, a few bags, and a couple of book related tattoos with plans for more. I have typewriter coasters, a book lamp, a coffee cup with a stack of books on it, two book tables, and much, much more. This time of year, when people are asking what to get me for Christmas I always say “I’m easy. Books or book related items.” But I’ve actually found this to be more difficult than it sounds. I’ve been reading forever; I’ve read so many books that sometimes I can’t even remember A.) If I’ve read a certain book and B.) If I own a certain book. Between me and the kid there’s 5 bookshelves in our house and there are four boxes of books still sitting the closet waiting to be unpacked. Not to mention the hundreds of books I have on my Kindle already and the enormous amount I have in my Kindle Unlimited line up! It’s exhausting for me, let alone my dear wife who is trying to make sure I always have the new books I’ve been coveting. My want for a physical copy of a book also depends on a few different things…have I already read it and loved it enough to have it in print too? Also, who is the author? I’ve only ever read Stephen King and Nicholas Sparks in print, not digitally. I don’t know why…it’s just one of those weird things! I have the Harry Potter & Twilight series on Kindle and in print, as well as The Hunger Games & Divergent, I realize. Some kind of weird YA thing? I don’t freakin’ know. And then comes this struggle: Hard cover or paperback. *Sigh* I always tell Amy not to buy hardcover. I’m not a fan of dust jackets and I’m not comfortable taking hard covers to the beach or pool or even outside at all really…but they’re so nice. Hard covers look good on my bookshelves and their spines don’t get all creasy plus they’re not as easily damaged. I think I have a problem...

A couple of years ago, my bestie and I found this amazing used bookstore. We used to go every Friday afternoon and see what we could pick up. Back in those days I kept a list of what I was looking to add to my collection. I’ve read every single Janet Evanovich book over the last fifteen years so naturally I need that entire series in print, and I have to buy them in order. Maybe because they’re numbered? Same with Harlan Coben…I’ve now read the majority of his books and must own them all in print! But I don’t feel the overwhelming need to have them in order. And then there’s my signed copies of books & the really old books. Okay, I’m done. I have to go re-organize my bookshelves.