Was talking to someone on instant messenger about books. I was amused at his comment regarding the amount of books I have, and read, but it irritated me, as it's something I seem to get frequently.

"I just couldn't imagine reading that much, much less having all of those books"

I get that most people truly don't read any more, but really, I don't say that about people's movie collections, doll collections, or anything like that.

Do people like to give the impression that they love their ignorance?

I jokingly and with love blame my parents for my addiction, and while I grew up knowing dad had a reading dyslexia, I also knew he bought books that he could get in and out of fairly, like nature, history, and geography. He only recently has gotten into some seriously impressive reading (for him) and it's now an ongoing joke that I can't keep up with his reading.

But really, is it that big of a deal?

Oh isn't it just the way though. I'm bang in the middle of a 'classics' phase - well technically I guess I'm out of it because I'm reading Richard Dawkins atm - but people, even close friends would comment that they didn't think anybody 'actually read' books like David Copperfield, War and Peace, The count of Monte Cristo ("what, you mean the film?").

It irks me more than it amuses, y'know.

Now I don't have that big a library and if I'm honest it's mostly full of Terry Prachett, but I've still got easily 3 or 4 times as many books as the vast majority of my friends. Go figure.

Anyway, rant over :)

Reading rocks!

Oh yeah, I know what you mean on all of it.

And I tend to run in phases on the different genres of books, as well. My classic section has been piling up, but the mood hasn't hit quite yet. I'm in a sci-fi/fantasy phase right now, with a psychology read in there.

When I've called the people on it, respectfully, they tend to get huffy and pissed about it.

Shakes head.

I will have an entire room devoted to a library, warm colors, leather furniture to crash on, nice and cozy, yet a big room. LOL!

Bibliophile here too.

Whilst we're on the topic, am I the only one who's not a fan of the little e-book readers?

I mean, if I'm reading I feel I -have- to have the paper volume actually in my hands. How conservative does one have to be

Anyway, I've had many people respond 'yeah, ok, but I just don't like reading' - unfortunately most of the stuff I come out with ends up being a (mis)quote from some book or another. I imagine to a lot of these people I make very little sense

How people cope with the world without running away into a book of an evening I've no idea.

It's interesting that people get pissed off when you call them on their incredulity about your library - I'm not going to say people who don't read much aren't intelligent (well, I'll try not to ) - though you have to ask if they find comfort in their appearing ignorant.

Which leads me onto a lovely quote (actually not from a book, but shussh!):

"If ignorance is bliss, then wipe the smile off my face"

M

Nope I have no interest in the Kindles or other versions of the ebooks. I've politely returned the 2 that family has tried gifting me. I want the feel and smell of the book, thank you very much.

I totally agree with you on relaxing in the evening with a good book. Heck, any excuse to be lazy and relax involves a book for me. LOL!

I have always enjoyed reading, although not anything too deep for me. I just enjoy forgetting about everything in my life and getting involved in someone else's story for a change. I don't see your love for book a big deal at all........it's your thang...own it!

I don't have any interest in Kindles either. There is nothing like holding a real book in your hands.

I love books. Currently, I'm in a biography phase. I don't have a library of my own, but the librarians at the local library all know me now.

I remember coming home from Kindergarten on the second day(I missed my first day!), I was mad because they hadn't taught me to read yet!

Some folks are just not into reading for pleasure.

Don't take the "I couldn't imagine reading all those books" comments to heart. He is just stating a fact. He doesn't like to read and doesn't collect books.

Haha, that was me! I got really frustrated with the highly regimented 'learn to read' course of little books I had in primary school.

Why? I was reading the Chronicles of Narnia at the time - the first novel I ever touched was The Sorcerer's Apprentice - and somehow reading about cats, hats, matts and billy the bloody bumblebee and his blasted bombasdimisations* just didn't cut it.

However, you had to complete their little reading course before you could pick up a novel. I even got put in special classes because of my 'slow progress' - then one day the teacher saw me hiding Prince Caspian in my lunch-box and my little rebellion was brought to an end.

Fight the Powah!

M

*it's probably misspelt, but it's a (bad) transliteration from the greek 'Bombasdimai' (also probably misspelt) meaning to fly about aimlessly in 'the manner of a bumblebee'. I'll stop channeling Stephen Fry now, shall I?

I love to read just about anything and started my children early.. When the youngest was 3, she learned to print her name so she could get books at the city childrens library and the oldest daughter wasn't old enough to sign books out of the adult library (she had read everything in the childrens dept.), I had to do it for her.. She would read 15-20 books every 2 wks...All 4 children were very good students.. We didn't have much when they were young but they always got a good book for Xmas and birthday and they still have those books to this day...

Damm, I had the wrong parents!

I like to read... and I have quite a collection going on now between my textbooks from classes and books I have purchased for leisure reading.

My seven year old son has more books than me! He is having difficulting reading, but he is most like ADHD.

I love to read as well, mysteries, drama and trashy romance novels. The bigger the novel the better. My Mom hated that I always had a romance novel in my hand in High School. Maybe that's why I always thought love involved steamy passion! lol I can even remember sitting in the back seat
of the car in the dark and trying to read by the headlights of the car behind us.

I used to read quite a bit, but now a days it seems like if I try to read a book I forget the last couple of sentences I just read.So it's a battle over brain cells and memory, the lack of brain cells always seems to win so I gave up on reading a long time ago....

I love reading! I tend to reread books. And I am a big fan of ebooks! I need to keep my shelf space confined....
I still have books still in the moving boxes from a year ago.

I just picked up a 42 year old copy of "Gone With The Wind" which is in excellent condition.;)I have the entire life works of my top 6 fiction writers.Several books concerning poetry.I held on to my books from College for cross reference.Yep!it's fair to say that I'm an avid reader also.I really don't have any desire to pick-up a Kindle or Nook device.There's nothing like the smell & feel of a book.

I love the feel of a book in my hands myself. But, when I can access thousands of of books for reading... Sorry, I am in a candy store! My ebook can hold up to twelve books, Anything I want to read! From Homer to Clancy, its all there, just pick and choose! And, I don't need a bigger house to file the books!

I thought it was called "I book" now, thank you Mister Apple...