Shelf idea of a good read
By Anne18
@Anne18 (11029)
October 24, 2011 5:11pm CST
Did you konw the average Briton owns 80 books which they haven't read but keep on display so visitors will think they're brainy!
Top of the books we like other people to see on our shelves are Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.
Is this you?
This is not me now as I have no books on display as we have no room for bookshelves at the monmet and all my books are up in the cupboard upstairs. Doubt I even have 80 books in the cupboard as I keep sorting them out and getting rid of them. I read an awful lot but tend to get my books from the library, use to buy loads and loads of books but ran out of room for them all. But I'm very guilty of doing this in the past and having lots of books on display that I knew I would never ever read but they just looked good on the booksheleves!!!
11 people like this
27 responses
@Angelwriter (1954)
• United States
25 Oct 11
I have books I haven't read, because I haven't got around to them, or I started and they didn't seem as interesting as I thought they'd be. But, I don't have any books that I have just to impress people. I only have books that I am interested in, or that I thought I'd be interested in.
2 people like this
@Anne18 (11029)
•
25 Oct 11
I to did have books on the shelf that I never got around to read and like you thought they would be more intersting than they were.
The books on my shelf in the past which I haven't read are classics that I would like to read but found the text too diffult to read and understand.
@celticeagle (168126)
• Boise, Idaho
25 Oct 11
They used to call them 'coffee table books'. I used to buy alot of books and found so many at the second hand stores. Now I hardly read at all. I am online most of the time and have trouble with my eyes late at night after I take my medication. I am thinking of looking into audio books.
1 person likes this
@Anne18 (11029)
•
25 Oct 11
I like the idea of audio books, have had some in the past from the library, only problem was I found my mind wandered off and I missed parts of the story. Perhaps I should have just sat and listened to it!!
Sorry you can't read a lot, if we were nearer I would come and read aloud to you as I'm quite good at reading aloud and putting feeling into the words and characters. Have had lots of practice with four children
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168126)
• Boise, Idaho
26 Oct 11
My mind wonders alot too. I have to re-read over and over. Gets frustrating after awhile.
@BarBaraPrz (47611)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
25 Oct 11
Well, I admit that I haven't read EVERY book I have in my three bookcases, piled up on the fireplace and on a stool next to the computer, lined up under the coffe table, or the big bag of books I bought just today for $5. But I've read a lot of them, some of them two or three times, even.
I don't have P&P nor S&S, but I do have Jane Eyre (not to mention two copies of The Eyre Affair).
@BarBaraPrz (47611)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
25 Oct 11
Well, I just might, the next time I see it in a book sale... actually, I've never found it in a book sale. Guess that says something.
@mimiang (3760)
• Philippines
25 Oct 11
I am not a Briton but I own a hundred books at home. I haven't a lot of them yet but I intend to see them all in the months to follow. That is why I am very busy. I love romance, suspense, historical, self-help and many other books.I also have handicraft books in case I have time
@fabsprecious (1565)
• United States
25 Oct 11
Personally I have preferred to get my books through the library, because what are the chances of us reading the book another time. I normally read books one time and that is it. Don't take me wrong I do own a few books, but I doubt it goes as far as 20 in total. Lately however I have been buying children books since my 6 year old is now really starting to read and getting into the story type of things. But we don't keep those in any type of displays, actually come to think of it none of them are on display I keep them in my room in a few empty drawers I have available for them.
1 person likes this
@Anne18 (11029)
•
25 Oct 11
I now get my books from the library as I was getting too many books, plus the cost was dear as well and we are meant ot be on a budget. If I get a really good book from the library and I know I shall want to read it again then I will go out and buy it to keep.
Children's books, with four children, loads and loads of books, the children have kept loads of there children's books. I could start my own book shop!!
@fabsprecious (1565)
• United States
26 Oct 11
I know exactly what you mean about being on a budget, books now a days are a costly. Just last month my children brought home the scholastics brochure and just on books alone for them we spend more than $40. But at least they are being put to good use.
@telmesh (1793)
•
25 Oct 11
I would like to put our books on book shelves just for somewhere to store them but my wife's not keen. If you go round the stately homes of England you will always find large libraries they may not always have the books in them now but they lovely places. What a show they make, but I think that was just a show of wealth because books cost so much more then than they do now relatively.
@Anne18 (11029)
•
25 Oct 11
I would really have lots of books on show and have a room to call the library. Before I got rid of a lot of books we did have lots of book sheleves under the stairs and I used to call it my library. Think that will ever be the nearest I will get to having my own library.
Perhaps if you offered to dust the books then your wife may be more keen?
1 person likes this
@rogue13xmen13 (14402)
• United States
26 Oct 11
I think that I own about 80 books or more. I have several shelves stocked with books, so I know that I have a lot. Well, I refuse to carry Jane Austen in my collection (I'm not a big fan), but I do carry the Bronte sisters, Louisa May Alcott, John Milton, and several other authors, I have a lot of vampire, fantasy, and zombie books right now, and I also have quite a bit of science fiction. I have a Barnes & Noble card, so I use that to buy a lot of books, and believe me, I buy quite a lot.
@rogue13xmen13 (14402)
• United States
27 Oct 11
"World War Z" is one, and the other is "The Zombie Survival Guide".
@GardenGerty (160879)
• United States
25 Oct 11
Well that is a new fact for me. I have a lot of books, I have gotten rid of a lot of books and I need to so more of the same. I have a big house, but why keep a lot of stuff you do not use? I love being able to go to the Library. It is even a lovely place to just sit and read.
@Anne18 (11029)
•
25 Oct 11
Glad that I could teach you a new fact, I was surprised to read that fact as well. Thats why I got rid of a load of books that I knew I just wouldn't read again and decided the library was best, so much more so as you can renew your books on line now and I don't get told off by hubby for getting a fine!!
1 person likes this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
25 Oct 11
an AVERAGE of 80 books on a shelf for Poseur Value alone?! 
I don't think there's a book in my collection that I haven't read...and not one of them is there with the intent to impress anybody,unless you're impressed by the couple of German language books I have,or a couple of German and Spanish dictionaries..
I don't think there's a book in my collection that I haven't read...and not one of them is there with the intent to impress anybody,unless you're impressed by the couple of German language books I have,or a couple of German and Spanish dictionaries..@Anne18 (11029)
•
25 Oct 11
I thought the average number of 80 is very over rated, I personally think it would be a lot less as that would mean an awful lot of book shelf taken up with books you are never going to read. I know for a fact my number of books on my shelf in the past would never have been more than 10
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
25 Oct 11
A century ago it was believed that print would make everyone wise and good,just as food makes a man healthy. Like many households I too have my own mini library at home. Books are my companions in my lonely hours when no other human souls amuse and confuse my mind. I cannot possibly make all of them my companions, so I make a selection. Out of the crowd of books which push and shove themselves under my eyes, I have to select and extract those few which are fit to be my companions. Some might only keep their books for decorative purposes to grace their living room and to show the world that they are people of brains. Many don't realize they are missing something which might inspire them to lead a better life in a good book if they don't take advantage of their vast collections of books.
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
25 Oct 11
We probably have that many books but they are kids books! We are not a family that reads alot of novels most of our reading is to the kids, online, or in magazines.
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
26 Oct 11
I don't have many books on display, but the kids surely have many books in the house lying around everywhere.
But I think this concept of having many books on display (to appear brainy) would soon go away with the advent of tablets and e-readers. It's so easy to store many books in device than having a lot of it taking so much space.
@Anne18 (11029)
•
26 Oct 11
Our children have loads of books and like you I'm always picking them up. They tend to have only books they choose or I know that they willlike as there is more chance that they don't go unread. My son keeps re reading Harry Potter. Sadly Harry Potter does nothing for me
@isloooboy (1733)
• United Arab Emirates
25 Oct 11
Well I don't have books at home or in shelf because first of all there is no such space for it second belonging to a financially struggling family we don't have habit to buy books but I am very lucky to have internet at home because everything which I want to read or learn I can find it on it. Although I love reading and I am very passionate about it but never was able to buy.
1 person likes this
@Vrilya (128)
•
25 Oct 11
I only keep reference books, though I love to read fiction but I can't see the point of keeping those books as I'm never going to read them again and generally sell them on amazon or ebay once I've read them. I would like to see a movie version of Pride and Prejudice that was made by Quentin Tarrantino or Sergio Leone........
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
26 Oct 11
Nope. I set out my DVDs---and I've seen all of them.
How much reading do you actually do?
@Anne18 (11029)
•
26 Oct 11
I try to read everyday and try to read at least 52 books a year. Last year I read 62 books, I'm up to 40 books so far this year, some times I have more time to read than others or if the book is really good I tend to make more time to read it, then feel sad when I have finished it.
I don't have time to read as much as I did before the children came along and now have lots of housework/children to see to etc.
I wish I could read all day if I find the right book. Its my number one hobby
1 person likes this
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
27 Oct 11
What I meant was 'do you have a normal time at which to read?'
My normal time to read: Bedtime---I keep whatever book I'm working-on on my nightstand (along with the mail that day and the week's Oklahoma Gazette if I remember to pick one up from the local dining/drinking establishment).
@chicksdigscars (5483)
•
27 Oct 11
this most def isn't me.. but not by choice lol!
any book i have, i've read. i love reading, and i could recommend you some really good books if you are into reading? i like murder mystery books, and like csi type books :) the best book i ever read in my life was the red dahlia by lynda la plante. amazing book, literally could not put it down even for a second!!
i used to have a book shelf completely filled with books, but my partner likes to collect dvd's lol! so she probably has more dvd's that shes never watched, than i have books i've never read!
and she stole my bookshelf for her dvds lol! so now my books are in a box haha!! because she says the living room should display things you can WATCH in the living room lol!
@koperty3 (1876)
•
25 Oct 11
I haven't such books maybe because I don't like this historic period. I like some dark stories as I love them. I can truly say that I'm addicted to reading books. But I don't have 80 books at home. I haven't place to keep them. My best friend and I share books. When we read something interesting we just exchange books.
@LoliRuri23 (251)
• Philippines
26 Oct 11
LOL! Know that I know that, I would not be easily impressed with people who have tons of books on display. Personally, I also own books (less than 80 though), but I only buy books that I am really interested in. And, I only buy one book at a time, I make sure that I finish the book first before purchasing another one. =)
@airkulet (2700)
• Philippines
25 Oct 11
Really, I only thought that Briton loves book, and love to put library on their living room. Most of the homes that featured in the show "How clean is your house" have a bookshelves in it and it looks good on their living room.
For me I wont buy a book just for the purpose of displaying it, but for a necessity or hobby only.
@carlosSTEVEN (1)
•
27 Oct 11
books are a sorce information, but read them, are objects become useless, i put them library for your user, is presumably better to know that you know
@autographman820 (93)
• United States
25 Oct 11
I am an autograph collector as you can see in my name, and I have a shelf of signed books most of which I haven't read but keep on display for show, not to show my knowledge though.
@autographman820 (93)
• United States
25 Oct 11
I get most of my books signed through the mail. It costs way to much to send books though so I send blank address labels to the authers and when I get them back I put them in the books.
