Is This Normal?

[matt819]

Last year I decided to create a list. The list includes books I want to read (either to buy or, more likely, to get out of the library), books I want to listen to (either on my mp3 player - an antique Zune (which I love) or on my Audible app), books I have read, books I've tried to read but couldn't get into, and books listed by author (mostly series, buy also standalones) - this list currently is tracking the books by 79 authors, and within that I note what I have and haven't read, whether it's available at the library, either downloadable or hard copy. This document is now 21 pages long.

Also, I decided years ago to keep my book borrowing history available on my library's website. In ten years I have borrowed just under 10,000 items. I haven't read all of these, of course, but, still, 10,000 items.

So, as the thread title asks, Is this normal?

If it is, whew!

If not, well, I don't really care. I just would like to know whether I'm alone in doing this?

[Laffy Kat]

1. It's perfectly normal..

For a bibliophile. Enjoy your passion.

[rampartc]

2. no problem

as i get older i read a bit slower and enjoy more, though.

[dawg day]

3. I think it's wonderful!

This is why we have public libraries.

I have probably 1000 audiobooks in my Audible library.
Things accumulate... the good thing is with ebooks and audiobooks, you don't have them lying in piles all over your house! Imagine what space 10K print books would take up. You'd need to dedicate an entire room to that, with beautiful glistening oak shelves and one of those wonderful rolling ladders, and a windowseat with a cushion, and comfy leather armchairs....

[matt819]

4. I know what you mean

I have just under 500 books in my Audible library, though my wife and son mostly download there. I have probably 300 books on my Zune. I just started deleting some that I am not likely to get to and to make room for more that I keep downloading from the library. BTW, that's another section of my 21-page list: books that were on my Zune and that I could redownload if I live long enough.

[CrispyQ]

5. My library's video section is growing & taking over books.

They used to have an extensive sci-fi/fantasy section of mostly paperback books. Then they integrated the hardback sci-fi-fantasy into general fiction & put the paperbacks on their annual book sale, decreasing their catalog by a ton! Seriously, they had shelves & shelves of paperback sci fi titles that just disappeared so they could expand the DVD section. There are some good documentaries but it is mostly movies & TV series. I wonder if they will ditch non-fiction next. ???

Just ranting, but to answer your question, you are normal, but will soon be abnormal.

[unc70]

6. A thousand a year is a bit much

I am a pretty aggressive library user, roughly three hundred books a year. I don't do any of the electronic forms, just traditional printed tomes. I rarely get a book that I don't read, so that might be part of the difference.

[matt819]

8. I'm probably in the same area if we consider only those actually read

I get cookbooks - Check a few recipes, back to the library.

I get a lot of non-fiction to make myself feel good. When it comes time to read, I pick up the fiction. Non-fiction back to the library.

I am not influenced by cover endorsements. Heck, Lee Child endorses everything, it seems. But I'll read a blurb and think, that sounds good. Then I'll take it home and give it a try, only to find it's not that good. Two recent books in this category: The Devil's Half Mile by Paddy Hirsch (NYC in 1799) and Those Who Go By Night by Andrew Gaddes (Medieval whodunit). I liked the idea of both books, but the writing left something to be desired. The writing was pedestrian, and the characters seemed to speak in contemporary colloquial English. So. . . back to the library.

This month, for example, here's what I've checked out:
Sweet Home Cafe - cookbook
Kate Atkinson, Transcription - just checked out
Hallie Ephron, There was an old woman - just checked out
Susan Hill, A Question of Identity - reading
Paddy Hirsch, The devil's half mile - returned
Conn Igulden - The Abbot's Tale - I'll probably get around to it
Dashiell Hammett - Four Novels - I'll probably read a few
Jonathan Lethem, The feral detective - Reading
Ricky Jay, Jay's journal of anomalies - Will probably buy
Dan Bilefsy, The Last Job - about a heist by retired crooks - Not bad, and I like true crime, but the criminals annoyed me
Sandra Newman, The Heavens - Couldn't get into it, returned.
Candice Fox, Crimson Lake - Couldn't get into it, returned
Susan Hill, The Betrayal of Trust - Read it
Andrew Gaddes, Those Who Go By Night - as noted, returned

So, 12 fiction. Read 1, reading 2, will read 1 or two more. That's less than half.

[hermetic]

7. I salute you, sir...

for your remarkable record-keeping.

I've been a voracious reader all my life. I always assumed I would remember every book I ever read, because for a long time I actually did. Fifteen years ago I underwent a major life change and sold most of my book collection. Hundreds of them. For a while, then, I only read what I could find at the library.

Then, five years ago I was able to move in to a house of my own with a large, built-in bookcase and I discovered online used bookstores. And I started hosting the book chat here. So now I have this enormous list of books I want to read, thanks to tips from smart and helpful readers like yourself. It's just in a Notepad format so I have no idea how many actual pages it would be if I printed it out. It would be great if I could get it in alphabetical order by author and I have just recently started notating which books I can find at the library. Plus I have started keeping a list of what I have read since my memory bank is getting quite full.

So, yeah, you sound pretty normal to me.

[northoftheborder]

9. One of my regrets----

----is that I wish I had kept a record of all the books I have read. Many I have forgotten. I have read voraciously all my life, always finding a few moments to escape to a read, even if very busy. I passed down this reading fever to only two grandchildren. Others do read some books, but not as avidly as myself and those grands.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

10. I've been keeping a book list for some years now.

For many years I simply wrote down title and author. About ten years ago I occasionally made a comment or two on the book. In recent years I do my own little synopsis or opinion of each book. That has proved to be very useful and helps me remember a book better when I'm looking back through the list.

I'm constantly telling people they should keep a book list. Even the most basic one is helpful.