Confessions of a Book Addict

My to be read pile continues to grow.  Right now between my physical shelves and my Kindle shelves, I currently have enough reading material to last me at least three years based on my reading speed.  And yet, I still buy more books.

I can't help it.  I continually look for deals and my wish list on Amazon for books alone is about four pages long.  Three days ago someone introduced me to a website in the UK that also carries a good selection at a low cost.  Normally I stick to Amazon.  They typically have the lowest prices.  Barnes and Noble has decent online prices as well, but considering I go to Amazon for literally everything else, it's easier to stick with them. 

I was scrolling through my news feed and saw that someone had a paperback copy of the fifth book in a series that I have been waiting for.  I've been waiting almost a year for the paperback.  Along with being a book lover/hoarder, I'm also incredibly particular.  If I start a series one way, then I have to finish that series in the same format.  In other words, I have the first four books of this series in paperback.  I can't just switch to Kindle or hardback now.  It doesn't work that way.  I see this book in my newsfeed and immediately asked where they got it.

Apparently the United Kingdom releases hardback and paperback books at the same time.  Who knew?  And why don't we do this in the United States? That's a frustrating thought for another time.  The important part is that now I can get these books when they come out instead of waiting nearly an entire year.  I know it's silly but it's partially about the cost and it's partially about the feel of the book in my hands.  I treat books in a way that they will last a long time.  The binding is never broken and when I've finished with them, you'd think it was still brand new and unread.  Books are to be handled with care.

Being a book addict is problematic.  The main issue is that it's expensive.  Unless you're buying second hand, even a new paperback can cost up to $20 depending on the subject matter or where you're buying from.  The second issue I face is time with its close companion, mood.  Because I still work a full forty hour a week job, reading is relegated to my breaks during the day and when I get home from work.  I can normally get through about fifty to seventy-five pages an hour depending on the subject matter so a 400 page book can be read in a six hour sitting.  Those books I call brain candy.  They tend to be all fluff and adventure.  The ones that are more introspective and technical can take much longer.  

On the bright side of things there are local libraries here in the United States where a person can borrow books for free at any time.  Even better, there's a app called Overdrive that syncs your library with your e-reader or Kindle and it let's you borrow e-books and audiobooks through your library digitally. The possibilities are endless.  The most exciting part of that for me is the audiobooks.  Audible is a great subscription based service for audiobooks, but if I can get the same books on my phone for free through the library, then I'm set for a while.

So here's where I have an issue.  I have all these books to read and yet I can't stop buying more.  I have five tote bags worth to take to the used book store and the pile keeps growing.  I follow people on Instagram that love to read as much as I do and every time I am scrolling by, I see another book I'd love to read.  I've ordered twelve new ones in the last three days and won two via Goodreads giveaways.  I inhale these things.  Granted, it gives me things to write about so as to entertain you, but it's a lot. 

I keep wondering when I'm going to find the time and then I find it.  I don't know how but it just works.  So what do you think?  Are you as addicted to reading as I am?  

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