Booking Through Thursday (by Deb), February 4, 2016
Do you own multiple copies of any books? Why? Is it the format? Size? Just because you love it?
To start with – the Bible. I have collected several of those over the years; in different translations, sizes and bindings.
There are also a number of other books I have both in Swedish (my first language) and in English. With most of those, I had a Swedish translation first, and later on wanted to read it in English too. Only with a very few has it been the other way round. The exception that comes to mind is the Narnia series by C.S. Lewis: I first bought those in English (the whole series in a box of separate paperback volumes). But later on I also bought the series in Swedish when a new hardback edition was published here.
I also have quite a few books both in print (either on paper or on Kindle) and as audio recordings (on tape, disc or downloaded – depending on when in the technical/digital evolution they were bought!)
By now I have also added a lot of classics on Kindle, which I already had in printed editions. It is physically easier for me to read on Kindle now… But I’m still rather reluctant to get rid of the printed books. Especially if I’ve read them many times!
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The pictures at the top are of a postcrossing card (and stamp) I received this week.
15 comments:
the only books i have that are multiple are my 7 Bibles. 4 different translations. 2 are the same but one is small print the other large print.
I do have various translations of the Bible and I had three translations (all read) of War and Peace. I probably have others but it usually occurs when I see a book in a charity shop and can't recall whether it's one that I already have (which I invariably do!).
Monica I've just managed to catch up on your blog and I must say that dreaming of goats and thinking of dragons makes you an animal lover for sure.
I did have two bibles...my mums and my own which was given to me by a dear friend...who understood my need now for large print.
My daughter has recently requested her grandmother's bible so I have passed that one along to her.
I have a few multiples, usually a hardback and a paperback.
The only book I have two copies of is an Agatha Raisin one - my Mum ordered it for me as soon as it came out that year, and my mother-in-law sent the same one in her Christmas parcel the same year.
I, too, find it more comfortable to read on Kindle now, but I cannot give up my library. I forced myself to reduce it when I moved a couple of years ago and lost my wonderful shelves and I've been sorry every day since.
Being able to change the text size is one of the things I love about Kindle! :) ... The problem with regular books is that with large print, the books get so heavy! I have one large print Bible but it's almost too heavy for me to lift, not to mention hold while I read...
Wow Graham, three versions of War and Peace - and all read! I have one printed copy of it, but I think I listened to it as audio book borrowed from the library, and then just bought the printed book 2nd hand to be able to look up certain things after.
Virginia, I have found dragons to be a safe pet because fairytale animals don't give me allergies... ;) ... I have one very small dragon that came out of a Kinderegg (chocolate egg)...
Jill, when I moved from my former to my present flat some years ago, the movers were also paid to pack all my books for me. One of them went to have a look at my shelves, then came back to me and asked: "Have you read all those books?" When I affirmed that yes, I had read most of them, he asked: "When you've read them, why don't you just throw them away afterwards?" ... From which I drew the conclusion that he was not the type of person who regards books as old friends... ;)
Meike, I suppose that I've had that situation with a few books as well. I've had a few clearouts over the years though.
I have friends Monica who read avidly and immediately pass the book on to someone else and have no books in their house at ll. I have friends who have no CDs or DVDs these days because all their music and films are on hard drives. They prefer clear rooms and walls. I like to see what I have and be able to choose visually and I like the comfort of having them there. It's a good job we are all different or life would be very boring. However if I moved house then I'd probably have to do what Jill did.
Me too, Graham, if I ever have to move to a smaller flat. One of the many things I appreciate about Kindle and Audible is that they do allow me to keep on collecting books now without taking up any more physical space. Getting rid of my English paperbacks (mostly Penguin classics) would not really hurt all that much any more. It just somehow still feels weird to throw away books (even though - luckily - I have no such problems with newspapers or magazines).
I read almost exclusively on my Nook now. So I had to get digital copies of my very favorite books!
I've been doing that with some, but mostly the free/cheap classics. Usually when I want to reread a whole book now, I prefer to listen to the audio instead (except when sometimes I listen to one first, and then decide I want to "see" it as well!)
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