Let’s Talk Bookish: Holding Onto Books

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme that was originally created and hosted by Rukky @ Eternity Books starting in August 2019, and was then cohosted with Dani @ Literary Lion from May 2020 to March 2022. Book Nook Bits has hosted since April 2022.

Hmmm…I think this topic is going to mean me telling on myself a little…though I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned before on the blog how bad I am for doing this! Really need to get better and go the other way…

July 21st: Holding Onto Books

Prompts: Do you always keep your books after you finish reading them? What makes you especially attached to a book? What books are you most likely to get rid of? What books would you never even consider getting rid of? Do you ever give away special books as gifts?

Yeah I do. They tend to end up in a pile in my small shelf next to my bed, until it gets too full and I sort through them. Then they either go into a box or join one of the larger piles of books scattered around. We are trying to get rid of a load, but it’s kind of hard/time consuming to get rid of a lot of books in one go! I feel especially attached to a book when I’ve really, really enjoyed it, or maybe if I’ve got my hands on it in a way that makes me feel more attached? So maybe I loved reading it, and picked it up at my favourite bookshop, or it was a present from my partner, or a signed copy I got at a signing, etc. I definitely think when there’s a memory attached, it makes the book feel extra special.

The books I’m most likely to get rid of are the ones I haven’t particularly enjoyed, or maybe that I thought were good but someone else would love it a lot more than me. Some books I keep hold of because I know someone else in my life will appreciate it, but sometimes there’s no other reason for putting it in the “to get rid of” pile than I’ll simply never read it again!

I would never consider getting rid of books that are deeply meaningful for me. Occasionally I’ll get rid of books I’ve received as gifts, but it’s really dependent on the situation – my partner often gets me books as gifts, and it’s easy enough to let him know I’m getting rid of one he’s gotten me. He doesn’t mind either as he’s well aware I have way too many books scattered around! And yes, sometimes I give away books – not always as gifts, but usually in a “I think you’d love this book because of x, so here”. Honestly, it’s one thing I really miss about working in an office – trading books back and forth!