Really interesting, and nicely written. I'm conflicted about this-- my parents owned a bookstore and I was (and am) an avid and voracious reader. Growing up, perhaps surprisingly, the one thing we didn't horde was books. I think it's because we had an unlimited supply at our fingertips, so they pretty much left the house as quickly as they came in. Donated to used bookstores and libraries. Now that I actually pay for my own books, I do have a tendency to pick up appealing titles whenever I see them for cheap, "just in case". I don't have a lot of space where I live at the moment, though...so it gets out of hand quickly! In general, I think the beauty of having books is being able to give them to people. If I've already read it, I only really keep the rare book which touches me so deeply I'll re-read it (like you, that isn't many) or if I can think of someone who might enjoy it....otherwise, it's off to the charity shop or the library! Speaking of which, libraries are another great reason not to own too many books. If you live somewhere where they're decently stocked, and if you don't it's a damn shame!
Thanks again for the think, great post.
We do have some decent libraries around - and I appreciate them much more than I did as a kid. My dump swap-shop has actually provided me with a ton of material as well.
And you hit on the one thing that bugs me about digital books - the inability to share them or give them away when finished. Sadly, though, I don't think this really matters either. When I finish a book that I'm excited enough about to share with someone, I can never find a recipient who'll actually read it.
It must have been fun to grow up around your own bookstore. I hope it was a success. Do you have pictures?
Thanks for the compliments and the share - it means a lot!
The dump swap-shop! Here on the Isle of Man we call the dump "the tip", and I get lots of books there. You can always tell when someone with good taste has had a clear-out...
That's true, I also struggle finding people who actually read. Helps that I've worked in a few bookshops since leaving home, and my family are all good readers who share my taste. All in all it's a small group though.
It was fun! A wonderful childhood and it definitely shaped who I am now. I must have pictures somewhere...you've given me an idea for a post! Maybe I'll write one up this week. Happily, it was successful. Even through the rise of the big chains, then the fall of the big chains and the rise of amazon...my parents sold it to retire not long ago, and it's thriving under new ownership. A medium-sized place in a suburb of the city where I grew up.
Mostly, I think reading (at length, on paper, to the end of a book, regularly) is a life skill, and one which too few people have. I love the internet (I'm here on Steemit, right?) but I learn as much from books as I do from the endless web!
Thanks for the great writing! Love your pipe-smoking posts as well. You've got yourself a fan.
How wonderful that it was a success and that they were able to sell it on to folks who kept doing well. That's rare as gold.
I did my time in one of the big chain bookstores and as much as I loved the people I worked with, it was so hard to watch the company shooting themselves in the foot by "diversifying" into toys and electronics - all they did was alienate their best customers.
On the other hand, it really did give the independents a chance to shine - a trend which is happily continuing.
Living on the Isle of Man sounds fascinating. Plays a big part in the Arthurian legends, right?