This Top Ten Tuesday from The Broke and the Bookish are the top ten books you had to have, but that are now collecting dust on your shelf, unread and neglected. I can answer this one because it’s fairly short.
I don’t know if this will strike horror into many people’s hearts, but I’m not a huge book buyer, and I’m definitely not a big new book buyer. When I was in college, I bought books willy-nilly, and especially at used book stores, where I kind of went mad. So, I guess if I’m completely honest, among the stack of books sitting around waiting to go to my local bookstore for in-store credit are some I bought and never read. But does it count if I’m getting rid of them?
My strategy is generally to try and get most books from our local library (sometimes this takes a little longer, especially with new books, but that’s okay). If I love, love, love the book, then I buy it. It’s like I have to date a book for a while before I’m willing to take the plunge. And as I’ve said before, in the meantime, I purge everything I still have that I don’t like or anything that I’m never going to read.
So, short list (not counting anything I bought within the last month, or any books that I’ve been given as gifts, because they don’t fit the had-to-have criteria).
1. The Lacuna, by Barbara Kingsolver. I love Barbara Kingsolver. Love Prodigal Summer, The Bean Trees, The Poisonwood Bible, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. I was very excited about this book when I bought it. There just always seems to be something else to read. I’ll probably take this with me to the beach, as it’s nice and long.
2. Broken Verses, by Kamila Shamsie. I got this used at the local bookstore. I like books about India and Pakistan. It hasn’t been on my shelf that long, and I’ll get to it. Maybe it’ll go to the beach, too.
That’s my short list, and seems to indicate that my hoarding tendencies do not run towards books. Now if you want to talk about my growing collection of yarn, or beads for jewelry making, that’s another story. If I could afford it, I would totally hoard fiddles.
What books that you thought you couldn’t wait to read are collecting dust on your shelves?
I really enjoyed Broken Verses – hope you get to it soon!
Good for you for using the library! I have a bit of a book buying issue… Also, it's always nice to run across a fellow Indiana native, although I'm at the very top of the state… Have a great week!
Wow, you're so good and restrained! I love Barbara Kingsolver too, although I've only read The Poisonwood Bible.. but still, it was pretty amazing!
L.L., oh, it's always good to hear an endorsement of random books you pick up in a bookstore.
Two Bibliomaniacs, hello fellow Hoosiers. Not quite a native, but soon I will have lived in Indiana longer than any other state.
Laura, only good and restrained in this area, and my husband might disagree. I buy quite a lot of books for my stepdaughter, and quite a lot of other things for myself.
Oh sigh…I used to be just like you. I had a small bookcase and checked out most of my books from the library. Now I think I could open my own library! Sadly, I also have yarn and beads sitting around. Thankfully I've been able to use some self control in those areas (at least so far). 🙂
I can't believe you only have two! I have about two…thousand (probably not, but close).
I have the Lacuna on my list as well.Check out my list here: http://hawthornescarlet.blogspot.com/2011/03/top-ten-tuesday-tbr.html
Icedream, I'm pretty new to knitting so my habit there hasn't gotten too out of hand. But I like both beads and knitting because they're very tactile. Nice to touch.
LBC, great blog and great list. Lacuna doesn't seem to be doing well…I've seen it on quite a few lists.
I'm not sure I'd be able to complete this list, which was why I didn't participate this week. I *loved* The Lacuna, so I hope you're able to get to it one day. I own the book, but I first “read” it on audio. I've never read Kamila Shamsie, but she's a good friend to our store and was in an MFA program with one of my former coworkers. One of these days I'll get around to reading her…