Pixie Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 I would estimate that I own around 1,000 books or more and I probably have only read about 1/3 of those. Of course, there are also the books that I have read that I no longer own as I donate the ones I don't like to the library or charity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidsmum Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 I've never counted them but I would say about 200 as I now give books away as soon as I've read them either to the charity shops or to friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickle Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 I think I probably own over 1000 books and have read most of them there. I tend not to have a large TBR pile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 Not really sure, but it's somewhere between two and three thousand between the two of us, probably split up as half are my reading books, a quarter are OH's reading books and the rest reference books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladymacbeth Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 I have alot of books. Not sure how many. At the moment this is okay as we don't have any kids and our spare room is a book room. But if we have children there will need to be a clear out. I have heard a theory that book lovers should only own one bookshelf. Then if you want to keep a book you first have to lose another one. It means you will be more careful at editing what books you keep. Anyone agree with this? I think I may try it in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 I have heard a theory that book lovers should only own one bookshelf. Then if you want to keep a book you first have to lose another one. It means you will be more careful at editing what books you keep. Anyone agree with this? That's crazy talk! I couldn't even fit my most favouritist (yes, favouritist) books on one shelf! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladymacbeth Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 That's crazy talk! I couldn't even fit my most favouritist (yes, favouritist) books on one shelf! I thought this might be an unpopular opinion. Your reply just makes me laugh - I love it. By the way, I think I meant one book case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 Well then, a bookcase isn't quite as crazy, but it's still pretty out there! I'll stick with my room full of books thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixie Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 By the way, I think I meant one book case. Still not good enough. I'll stick with my room full of books thank you. Yes, one room full of my favorites will do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlette Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 I have heard a theory that book lovers should only own one bookshelf. Then if you want to keep a book you first have to lose another one. It means you will be more careful at editing what books you keep. Anyone agree with this? I think I may try it in the future. I think I'm that book lover. I only own 58 books (that's excluding the 12 on my TBR pile and the 20 that's headed for donation). They all fit nicely on my one book case. I love books, but I'm fussy and have learned the hard way not to overspend. I think I might be too serious for my own good... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidsmum Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 Not really sure, but it's somewhere between two and three thousand between the two of us, probably split up as half are my reading books, a quarter are OH's reading books and the rest reference books. Wow!!! You could open your own bookshop if you could bear to part with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 Wow!!! You could open your own bookshop if you could bear to part with them I can but dream I'm in the middle of a cull to give a batch to the charity shop shortly. There's about 60 books on the coffee table waiting, and I've got the upstairs bookshelves to go through so it will probably be around 100 or so on their way to a new home soon. Will be buying fewer actual books from now on, and choosing ebooks where possible, so hopefully, my shelves might be able to be better organised and a bit more tidy, with just the special books I love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladymacbeth Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I've just done a rough count - we own just over 200 books. This does not include textbooks of which I own exactly 40! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fayezie Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 I have 146, and I'm sure that will continue to grow!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Day Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 (edited) Wow, that's a pretty awesome collection!! My own consists of around 250 fantasy novels, combined with my wife's would number around 500? I stopped buying too many novels a while back, as I wanted to get Hardcover only, and they are a bit more expensive Cheers, Rob <BR><BR> How many books do I own? Well, being a complete bibliophile - I feel better at the sight of a filled bookcase - I have quite a few. 1100-ish is my guess, covering 2 floor-to-ceiling bookcases, but I am merely a sixth former, so I expect my collection will grow. But, I'm sure there must be someone out there with a collection that far surpasses mine. Any challengers? Edited November 8, 2010 by Chrissy Removed Link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNinthWord Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 I'm not sure of the exact number, but probably about 100-200 books, spread across two continents. I took loads over to the USA when my parents emigrated, and so loads have stayed there. The ones I keep here in the UK are my more recent books and some of my favourites. There are still a lot that I want to re-read across the pond, mainly books I read when I was younger. Maybe I'll get them back at some point to fill my shelves again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Univerze Posted November 8, 2010 Share Posted November 8, 2010 Between 100-150 books. Not too many, they're so expensive sometimes, plus I don't have that much space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted November 8, 2010 Share Posted November 8, 2010 Blimey...I've done a quick average calculation - 20 books per shelf; 63 shelves - which brings me to a total of 1260. And there's loads more ion my garage, 'cos I haven't got any more room. I need to have a word with myself... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missybct Posted November 8, 2010 Share Posted November 8, 2010 Not too many, mainly due to lack of space and not a lot of funds - something between 50-100, probably 150 between the two of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow Wallpaper Posted November 14, 2010 Share Posted November 14, 2010 I used to purchase all of my books, but then it got too expensive and I didn't see a point. About a year ago I sold a ton of them on Ebay and at used bookstores. At that time I probably had about 600 books. Now, I mainly just have my Earth's Children series in hardback and Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series on my shelf. These days I do all of my reading from the library. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted November 14, 2010 Share Posted November 14, 2010 (edited) I thought it was time to give this thread a bump. My post above was written about 3 years ago, and my prediction came true. I have (more than) doubled my collection in just a few years and I have over 1,300 books according to Goodreads. I'm not going to attempt any predictions for the next few years because I know I'll get depressed if I realise how many more books are likely to be added to my TBR pile. Our collection has grown as well. In house we have just over 4000, with almost 900 still in OH's storage, to be delivered by yet undetermined means. Soon I hope. I have heard a theory that book lovers should only own one bookshelf. Then if you want to keep a book you first have to lose another one. It means you will be more careful at editing what books you keep. Anyone agree with this? I think I may try it in the future. No, considering the familial attachment I have to a good number of the books we have, I won't be culling too many soon, if ever. I have given away books to Good Will, or friends, several boxes a few years ago. But they were books that were either mistakes, or accidental duplicates, or even authors that I am no longer interested in, as my tastes have changed some over the decades. I wonder at any hard and fast rule regarding the disposition of our books. We change, both our tastes and circumstances. So, I suppose I'd have to say.....never say never. Also, I hasten to add that 80% of our books have been purchased either second hand, through Amazon Marketplace, or Library Sales, or even garage sales. No way to afford them otherwise. Edited November 14, 2010 by pontalba Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelmaria Posted November 14, 2010 Share Posted November 14, 2010 I have no idea how many books I own. but it's a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 I have 56 - I just started reading this year =) LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willoyd Posted November 20, 2010 Share Posted November 20, 2010 Similar to chesilbeach. I've been steadily cataloguing on LibraryThing, and am up to 1400 at present, being about 2/3 the way through, so estimate around 2000. OH would make another few hundred. I cull regularly as we're right at the top end of our storage limit: I've just cleared out 3-4 boxes worth which are going to a second hand bookstall at the school Christmas Fair. They're a realy mixture, with no more than one third fiction, plus a predomination of history, historical biography, sciences and travel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted November 20, 2010 Share Posted November 20, 2010 I have heard a theory that book lovers should only own one bookshelf. Then if you want to keep a book you first have to lose another one. It means you will be more careful at editing what books you keep. This is madness...madness, I tell you! Getting rid of my books would be like...would be like...I don't even know what is would be like, but it wouldn't be good, lady. It would not be good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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