Two thirds of the way through my book moratorium
It is two months today since I began my book-buying moratorium – and I am still going strong. It was most difficult at the beginning, when I was trying to break the habit. There was a danger that I just would buy more DVDs instead – they too are so cheap in charity shops – even though we have too many that we haven’t watched. So for the time being I am avoiding charity shops, except when I go to drop books off.
I can’t remember when I last bought so few books. I think it must have been before I was earning a salary. I wonder if over the years I have spent more on books than on clothes. It seems quite possible.
I’m not making the inroads into the TBR pile that I’d like. I find that I’m reading books from the library a lot. I’ve just finished Agatha Christie’s Come Tell Me How You Live about life in Syria with her archeologist husband, which I got out of the London Library, and that made me want to read Death Comes as the End, which she set in Ancient Egypt. That one I already own and I am halfway through.
The collection of poetry by my good friend Anca Vlasopolos (pictured above) arrived yesterday and is one of the few exceptions that I’ve allowed myself (the other was a book I bought at a launch). It is attractively produced with charming illustrations and abstinence makes this even more of a treat.
4 Comments
tracybham
November 24, 2015You have inspired me. I have planned a three month book-buying moratorium starting in January, and I will at the same time be participating in a TBR books only challenge for three months. I will probably include some of my husband’s books in the TBR challenge because I have been planning to read them for years, but I am sure I will get through a lot of my own books too.
Christine Poulson
November 25, 2015Excellent! Generally I am in favour of people buying more books, but it is different in the case of people like you and me. The New Year is a good time to start – and it also gives you time to prepare. I think this will change my book-buying habits more generally, though I am not sure how yet. Please let me know how you get on.
moira @ClothesInBooks
November 25, 2015I had a moratorium last year, but now feel I need to do it again. Maybe the best way is a month a year of no-book-buying and cutting down the existing piles – I think that might suit me best. I might (cautiously) nominate January for the moratorium… see how I get on.
Christine Poulson
November 27, 2015Sounds like a good idea. I too could well do this on a regular basis – and it might also prompt me to review my book-buying habits generally.