Confessions of a Book Addict

One month ago, today.

I sit on the floor. Three piles of books are in front of me. The pile on the left is as big as a mountain, the pile in the middle is slightly smaller, and the pile on the right has three books stacked neatly on top of one another. The book cull has begun for the big move from our two bedroom house in Manchester to our one small room in Dave’s parent’s house in Scotland.

Me: Keep, keep, keep, keep, maybe. Dave, do you really need so many books about World War 2?

Dave: Do you really need so many books about writing?

Me: Touche. I had been hoping he would be less attached to his books. No such luck.

Me: Keep, keep, maybe.

Dave: You have to get rid of more than that.

Me: I can’t help it. Books are like crack to me.

Maybe he won’t notice if I get rid of a few of his

Dave: I saw that.

I grin and put his book in the keep pile. I pick up a copy of The DaVinci Code. I argue with myself.

 You hated it. You didn’t even finish it.

But I might give it another try. Maybe I wasn’t in the mood?

No you won’t. Get rid of it!

But…Fine.

My hand shakes as I add the book to the giveaway pile. I’m already going through withdrawal symptoms. Do they have a twelve step programme for book addicts? I’ve been here before. Four year ago it was even worse. Moving from the states to the UK meant some serious sacrifice. Two suitcases and one box of books and photos. That was all I took with me. You would think I would learn not to get attached, that the culling would be easier this time around, but it isn’t. Each book is like an orphan child that I’ve taken in, cared for, given a home. I feel guilty for giving them up. I manage to cull from 12 boxes to 8, barely fitting everything into the van.

My first day in Scotland and I did something I never thought I would do. Buy an e-reader. I’m a book lover; I love the smell, the feel, the sound of the pages turning. I love spending hours in the bookstore and curling up in bed with a new book. How could I ever curl up with an electrical device? But there would be no bookshelves for new books, no place to stack the countless paperbacks. So I took the generous Amazon gift voucher that my work colleagues gave me for my leaving gift and ordered it.

A week later, my Kindle arrived. I downloaded a few books and started reading….and reading….and reading. It’s increased my book addiction. I’m buying more books than ever. I take it everywhere. The true test came last week when I picked up an actual book for the first time in weeks. A few chapters in and I was wishing it was on my Kindle. I am more than converted.

Do you have an e-reader? Why did you buy yours? Are you a convert?