Yes, I see the irony here. I hope to have a book out someday that lots of people buy, but I rarely buy books myself. Here’s why:
Clutter – I really don’t like having stuff around me. I have one bookshelf with the books that would be hard to get if I didn’t own them and that’s really all I want. It’s true that I could give away or sell the books after I read them, and that’s generally what I do if I do break down and buy one, but that brings me to…
My book budget – or lack there of. I live a comfortable, happy, secure life, but I don’t have a job besides writing. I can reasonably squeeze maybe $150-$200 a year out of the budget for books, and I probably do, but that’s not very many purchases these days.
Obligation – The real reason I don’t like to buy books is because then I feel obligated to read them. I decided a long time ago that if a book didn’t hook me, then I’d just return it to the library un-read. Big deal. But when I buy a book, I really feel like I have to read it. I bought a stack of books the other day on a whim and I am now plodding through one that definitely would’ve gone back to the library without being read, but I paid $16 for it!
Expectations – I think that if I do break down and buy a book that someone recommends then my expectations are disproportionately raised. I want it to be everything they said it would be and more, because I shelled out the dough. I feel that books I would’ve happily read from the library get extra scrutiny if I paid for them. That’s not really fair to the author!
Because I rarely buy books, I make it up to the writing world by pushing the books I do read and love. That’s right. I ask you to buy them! The thing is, if I promote a book I love, and you check it out at your library, and there are a lot of holds, the library will buy more copies, and in MG and YA, libraries and schools are the major purchasers of our books anyway. Do you buy books?
I do buy books — if I read a book I love, borrowed from a friend or from a library or whatever — I have to own it. I have a tendency to buy lots of books new, as well as to hunt through thrift stores for various old gems I may never have heard of before.
On the other hand, BookMooch has helped me a LOT. I can get rid of books I disliked to good homes (most of my friends have similar tastes to mine, and so wouldn’t care for them either), and get books I want in return. BookMooch has also helped me be able to let go of books I own and just can’t bear to finish reading, since it’s not like they’re going to waste, if someone else might like them!
My husband only owns about a hundred and fifty or so books; he prefers to reread old favorites than to read new books, most of the time, and unless a book IS a favorite, he prefers to just read it from the library whenever he feels like rereading. With me, any book I might feel like rereading in the future MUST have a permanent spot on my bookshelf.
Of course, this attitude is also partly because I’ve become the “lending library” for about two dozen friends, siblings, and acquaintences, so I know that if I like a book a lot, it’s likely to get read by at least six people if I own a copy. 😛
I spend so much money on books and I can’t bare to give away favourites. I have just discovered bookmooch which has helped my budget 🙂
I am with you on expectations though I am struggling through I book I really don’t like which does seem a waste of time!