Books - One in Ten Do not have Any

So what you're actually saying is that 90% of the population own at least one book. Pretty good I'd say.
 
Ok - I was only asking the question.

As for myself - well yesterday I was in my local Oxfam Books and Music shop and browsing the antiquary shelves I came across an 1897 edition of The Poetical Works of Sir Walter Scott. Now I have not read any Scott, and would never have thought about reading this - never mind buying this. But as I flicked through it I was intrigued - especially catching my eye was his poem Marmion. No me neither. It's about the Battle of Flodden, and a quick read of a few lines caught my imagination - so I bought it.

That's why I think books are important. And maybe one day my children or grandchildren will be looking through my books and come across it - and be intrigued as I was.

But each to his own.
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
Ok - I was only asking the question.

As for myself - well yesterday I was in my local Oxfam Books and Music shop and browsing the antiquary shelves I came across an 1897 edition of The Poetical Works of Sir Walter Scott. Now I have not read any Scott, and would never have thought about reading this - never mind buying this. But as I flicked through it I was intrigued - especially catching my eye was his poem Marmion. No me neither. It's about the Battle of Flodden, and a quick read of a few lines caught my imagination - so I bought it.

That's why I think books are important. And maybe one day my children or grandchildren will be looking through my books and come across it - and be intrigued as I was.

But each to his own.
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Ah, you cant beat a good charity shop browse. Some old gems to be discovered on those shelves!
 
Love books and read every night. Don't think I could sleep if I didn't read a book. Have got a kindle which I use more on holiday. Office is more of a library these days, and have bookcases in most bedrooms. If I find an author I like, I have to read everything they have written. Did I say I love books.:whistle:
 
richart said:
Love books and read every night. Don't think I could sleep if I didn't read a book. Have got a kindle which I use more on holiday. Office is more of a library these days, and have bookcases in most bedrooms. If I find an author I like, I have to read everything they have written. Did I say I love books.:whistle:
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I'm more in the Uncle Albert camp (I'm sure he said once) "I read a book Del, green it was"
 
In our house we believe that book buying and reading are two separate activities! This is how my husband justifies having over 300 books he has not read yet despite having read over 200 last year ( retired. Doesn't golf. What can I say?!!) we both love books and the house is full of them. But we both also have kindles- husband got his for Christmas after years of resistance and is converted. Our first choice is a paper book. But we use EBooks for quick read novels we are unlikely to reread or in my case books I may want to refer back to on my phone- golf tuition books say! Kindle is good to sample a book you then order in paper. We went travelling for a couple of months in the US recently. I took a Kindle with 8 weeks worth of reading on. Bought 32 books while I was out there. Ah well, nice idea!!
 
bobmac said:
Does it matter to me?
Nope
Does it matter to you?
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I agree but it's nice to discuss these things.

It's not a bad thing we don't have book, they are pleasant to look at but they are an inefficient way of knowledge transference.

They are nice to pick up and hold but take up way too much space for theit content.

In this modern world we have much better ways to train or entertain.

Books will always have a place, aesthetically and as a form of entertainment. Just a much more minor one.
 
ScienceBoy said:
I agree but it's nice to discuss these things.

It's not a bad thing we don't have book, they are pleasant to look at but they are an inefficient way of knowledge transference.

They are nice to pick up and hold but take up way too much space for theit content.

In this modern world we have much better ways to train or entertain.

Books will always have a place, aesthetically and as a form of entertainment. Just a much more minor one.
Click to expand...

I may not disagree completely - though I do disagree - for I have to add that actually owning a book is special to me. I have books that I was given 50yrs ago. They are special to me as they are time machines and take me back to the time and the place when I was given them, and more importantly to who gave them to me (now all the people are sadly gone).

Besides - if all your books are electronic you risk losing them all (as I would in a fire etc) - though that probably wouldn't matter as they are virtual in any case.

I also love browsing through the books in the house of a friend or relative. Finding books on subjects I had not thought of as being of any interest to me; fiction that looks interesting by authors I'd not heard of; writing and photos of places I'd not visited or heard of; books on periods of history I've not considered of interest. etc. All of that stimulates my imagination and thirst for knowledge. And as for me - so I am finding for my children and their friends, and in time my grandchildren and theirs.

I have not worked out what the virtual equivalent of that casual and relaxed source of stimulation can be.
 
I own hundreds of books and never thought I'd see the day when I went electronic but I have since last Xmas. I love the kindle and won't go back to buying physical books. We even gave some books to charity recently although we found we couldn't bear to part with most of our collection.

One thing I have noticed with the kindle, however, is that it's very easy to forget the author and even the title of the book you are reading! Very embarrassing when someone asks what you're reading and you don't know!
 
Rooter said:
Umm, the internet....
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I have just picked up two books - one from Oxfam, one from a church bookcase - as I was in town having a coffee. No idea if they will be any good. But they intrigued me.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - no - me neither - and it might be 'chick-lit' but we'll see.
The Bible for Everyman (from Genesis to Exodus) by Rosalie Mass. Always good to understand a bit more.

Now I only have these as I randomly scanned bookshelves - not looking for anything in particular - and picked them up on the basis of their spine information. Had a few seconds flick through - read a few sentences here - a few sentences there. I am really not sure how I would have found them on the internet.

And I was (and still am) sorely tempted by a copy of the The Lord of the Rings. Hardback - 40 colour plate illustrations. Beautiful book. Was £45 - Oxfam selling it (as new) for £10.

Of course I have read it (twice) - and have it in three paperback vols in a box. But I do fancy buying this as a 'keep-book' and will get rid of the paperbacks.
 
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And yesterday I bought Good Poems by Garrison Keillor (yes I do buy a book just about every other day)

Now I don't do poetry - but I saw it on the shelf - and I flicked through it - and a couple of poems caught my attention - so I bought the book (£2). I could only find it in UK on audiobook on Amazon for £14.98 new. Couldn't find it on download for a kindle...maybe I wasn't looking in the right place.
 
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