Why I gave up my library
So this is intended as a companion piece to a vlog (yes, really) that I'm going to make. The outline of what I want to say is there but I have been procrastinating on actually filming it because that requires brushing my hair and putting on a bra. Harder than you'd think in this environment. Its definitely one thing to write, which is familiar to me, and another thing entirely for me to be visible on camera.
At any rate, what I want to talk about today is how I went from being a book hoarder to only having a handful of books - the majority of which are non-fiction or mythology compendiums.
When I was growing up I read a lot of books, both from the library and ones that I bought, and every book that I bought I'd want to keep - unless I really despised it. I, and a lot of my like-minded friends, aspired to have the kind of magical library someday reminiscent of the one featured in Beauty and the Beast. I mean - gifting me a library like that would absolutely win me over.
The action of accruing more and more books over time was a good feel; I had a lot of memories tied up in every book, I could go back and re-read sections at will when something reminded me of a scene from a book and they were always there to escape. It was like a form of wealth - the more books I collected the more stories I had, the more I was knowledgeable and the more I got to experience. At the end of the day that's what books are - stories, knowledge and experience - and I genuinely still believe that they are one of the greatest forms of wealth in the world. But when I had my library all of those things were on display - kind of like how a church might display its gold and stained-glass windows, or a king might wear his crown.
Changes in our household later made it possible to expand my collection and its space in my house even more. My brother vacated his former bedroom and that entire wing of the house became mine (like a tiny apartment) and his bedroom I insidiously (without really asking) turned into my 'Tea Room'. It was my pride and joy - I entertained people there, I always showed it to anyone that came by, I spend most of my time at home there, and I found it one of the happiest parts of the house.
It was always something special to be in the tea room for me. Back in those days I was even working away and my body clock got used to the early rising time from being on site, so one of my favourite experiences would be the first Saturday morning after I'd gotten back and sitting in the team room as the sun came up with a hot cup and a book. Absolutely my kind of heaven.
Finding the books to fill all my shelves wasn't difficult either. I was such a collector for that I even saw it as a deterrent to spending too much on drinks. On average a drink cost maybe $8-10 and so did a book - which one would I have rather spent my money on?
One day, after starting a new job I just decided to treat myself and buy out my Book Depository wishlist. I came home after a swing up to this:
One of the greatest moments of my life, no question.
As far as addictions go, being addicted to books is pretty harmless for the most part. As long as I'm not spending my food money or maxing out credit cards and taking loans to get my paperback fix I think its fine. Staves off the depression too - at least depending on what you're reading anyway.
But the more I had to travel for work and chose to travel for the fun of it carrying around paperbacks started to become more and more impractical. I used to select a handful for each swing for work and for any trip abroad. I'd usually buy more books whilst I was away, too, when I finished what I'd brought and was faced with a great bookstore option - which there are plenty of overseas.
In short, it got to a stage where it started to become super impractical to carry them around.
I used to be against the idea of having an ereader - I thought it was dumb, I loved physical books, going to the bookstore was a special experience every time. Then I got one. My first (now on my third) was the Kobo Mini and honestly it not only changed my mind, but it changed my life.
Suddenly, I could carry hundreds of books around with me at all times. Do you know what that's like for a book lover? It means you can never run out of books, curating three or four books for a trip is a thing of the past and I can be indecisive about what I want to read as much as I like; an entire library in one device.
This blog post is not sponsored by any ereader companies.
BUT, I'd happily become their sponsor - they really won me over.
I took my Kobo Mini all over the world. It came with me across Europe, sailed with me from Singapore and even trekked with me to Alaska. There was nowhere I wouldn't take it with me.
I later upgraded to a newer model Kindle (which I left on the plane last year on the way back from Japan), passed along the Kobo Mini full of books to a friend who moved away, and now have a new Kindle which I have on me all the time these days.
So, don't I still buy books? What kind of question even is that? Of course I do - I've bought maybe 10 in the past month - I just buy ebooks and audiobooks now instead. Generally I buy from the Kindle ebook store, from Audible (with my membership), otherwise I borrow from the WA virtual library (via the Libby app) or access the ebooks/audiobooks on Scrib'd (to which I also have a membership). So, yes I still buy and spend a lot of money on books.
And, yes, I'm aware that Amazon is a global conglomerate with associated problems. No, I don't want to get into it today. Yes,we should all still support smaller bookstores.
Almost 5 years ago now I moved from Perth to Sydney and though I've brought over a handful of books since, all but one being history/mythology and fairytale books, I am not going to bring the rest. The practicality of shipping the hundreds of books in my library across the country is just not there. It would probably cost less to repurchase all the books over time and honestly there's plenty of them I wouldn't bother to repurchase.
The thing is though the library can't stay forever. The tea room already isn't what it was; I'm not there anymore, the magic is gone and now the space is virtually just storage. All those books were gathering dust, unread, unappreciated in the dark. One day my mum is also going to sell the house, the books just couldn't stay.
Over last Christmas I went through every book in my library and boxed them up to give away. A couple I did keep of course, like the classics, but the majority didn't make the cut. Some books went straight in the box, some I read a few pages here and there, a couple I re-read cover to cover, but eventually I said goodbye.
The ones of you who aren't book people are probably a little concerned that I said goodbye to books, but I know there are plenty of you out there who get me. It was the end to a lifetime of collecting books - at least in physical copy.
Now I have one, little book shelf with a collection of resource material for mental health, myth and classic fairytales to help me get through life and eventually finish the books I've been writing.
I've changed a lot as a person in my lifetime and I didn't need the physical copies of books anymore. The memories of reading them will never go (unless they were forgettable books) and its not as if I couldn't repurchase them in the future if I wanted to. That in mind, I also live in an apartment with a psychotic puppy - I got no room for a library.
I could change my mind someday when I live in a bigger space - the Beauty and the Beast library could still happen someday down the line. Just not today.
Happy to accept Amazon gift cards and to be sponsored by Audible.
Sam xox
At any rate, what I want to talk about today is how I went from being a book hoarder to only having a handful of books - the majority of which are non-fiction or mythology compendiums.
When I was growing up I read a lot of books, both from the library and ones that I bought, and every book that I bought I'd want to keep - unless I really despised it. I, and a lot of my like-minded friends, aspired to have the kind of magical library someday reminiscent of the one featured in Beauty and the Beast. I mean - gifting me a library like that would absolutely win me over.
The action of accruing more and more books over time was a good feel; I had a lot of memories tied up in every book, I could go back and re-read sections at will when something reminded me of a scene from a book and they were always there to escape. It was like a form of wealth - the more books I collected the more stories I had, the more I was knowledgeable and the more I got to experience. At the end of the day that's what books are - stories, knowledge and experience - and I genuinely still believe that they are one of the greatest forms of wealth in the world. But when I had my library all of those things were on display - kind of like how a church might display its gold and stained-glass windows, or a king might wear his crown.
Changes in our household later made it possible to expand my collection and its space in my house even more. My brother vacated his former bedroom and that entire wing of the house became mine (like a tiny apartment) and his bedroom I insidiously (without really asking) turned into my 'Tea Room'. It was my pride and joy - I entertained people there, I always showed it to anyone that came by, I spend most of my time at home there, and I found it one of the happiest parts of the house.
It was always something special to be in the tea room for me. Back in those days I was even working away and my body clock got used to the early rising time from being on site, so one of my favourite experiences would be the first Saturday morning after I'd gotten back and sitting in the team room as the sun came up with a hot cup and a book. Absolutely my kind of heaven.
Finding the books to fill all my shelves wasn't difficult either. I was such a collector for that I even saw it as a deterrent to spending too much on drinks. On average a drink cost maybe $8-10 and so did a book - which one would I have rather spent my money on?
One day, after starting a new job I just decided to treat myself and buy out my Book Depository wishlist. I came home after a swing up to this:
One of the greatest moments of my life, no question.
As far as addictions go, being addicted to books is pretty harmless for the most part. As long as I'm not spending my food money or maxing out credit cards and taking loans to get my paperback fix I think its fine. Staves off the depression too - at least depending on what you're reading anyway.
But the more I had to travel for work and chose to travel for the fun of it carrying around paperbacks started to become more and more impractical. I used to select a handful for each swing for work and for any trip abroad. I'd usually buy more books whilst I was away, too, when I finished what I'd brought and was faced with a great bookstore option - which there are plenty of overseas.
In short, it got to a stage where it started to become super impractical to carry them around.
I used to be against the idea of having an ereader - I thought it was dumb, I loved physical books, going to the bookstore was a special experience every time. Then I got one. My first (now on my third) was the Kobo Mini and honestly it not only changed my mind, but it changed my life.
Suddenly, I could carry hundreds of books around with me at all times. Do you know what that's like for a book lover? It means you can never run out of books, curating three or four books for a trip is a thing of the past and I can be indecisive about what I want to read as much as I like; an entire library in one device.
This blog post is not sponsored by any ereader companies.
BUT, I'd happily become their sponsor - they really won me over.
I took my Kobo Mini all over the world. It came with me across Europe, sailed with me from Singapore and even trekked with me to Alaska. There was nowhere I wouldn't take it with me.
I later upgraded to a newer model Kindle (which I left on the plane last year on the way back from Japan), passed along the Kobo Mini full of books to a friend who moved away, and now have a new Kindle which I have on me all the time these days.
So, don't I still buy books? What kind of question even is that? Of course I do - I've bought maybe 10 in the past month - I just buy ebooks and audiobooks now instead. Generally I buy from the Kindle ebook store, from Audible (with my membership), otherwise I borrow from the WA virtual library (via the Libby app) or access the ebooks/audiobooks on Scrib'd (to which I also have a membership). So, yes I still buy and spend a lot of money on books.
And, yes, I'm aware that Amazon is a global conglomerate with associated problems. No, I don't want to get into it today. Yes,we should all still support smaller bookstores.
Almost 5 years ago now I moved from Perth to Sydney and though I've brought over a handful of books since, all but one being history/mythology and fairytale books, I am not going to bring the rest. The practicality of shipping the hundreds of books in my library across the country is just not there. It would probably cost less to repurchase all the books over time and honestly there's plenty of them I wouldn't bother to repurchase.
The thing is though the library can't stay forever. The tea room already isn't what it was; I'm not there anymore, the magic is gone and now the space is virtually just storage. All those books were gathering dust, unread, unappreciated in the dark. One day my mum is also going to sell the house, the books just couldn't stay.
Over last Christmas I went through every book in my library and boxed them up to give away. A couple I did keep of course, like the classics, but the majority didn't make the cut. Some books went straight in the box, some I read a few pages here and there, a couple I re-read cover to cover, but eventually I said goodbye.
The ones of you who aren't book people are probably a little concerned that I said goodbye to books, but I know there are plenty of you out there who get me. It was the end to a lifetime of collecting books - at least in physical copy.
Now I have one, little book shelf with a collection of resource material for mental health, myth and classic fairytales to help me get through life and eventually finish the books I've been writing.
I've changed a lot as a person in my lifetime and I didn't need the physical copies of books anymore. The memories of reading them will never go (unless they were forgettable books) and its not as if I couldn't repurchase them in the future if I wanted to. That in mind, I also live in an apartment with a psychotic puppy - I got no room for a library.
I could change my mind someday when I live in a bigger space - the Beauty and the Beast library could still happen someday down the line. Just not today.
Happy to accept Amazon gift cards and to be sponsored by Audible.
Sam xox
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