https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 17 Apr 2026 20:45:15 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections/page/2#post-2334736 Mon, 14 Aug 2023 11:48:29 +0000 April 2334736@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Books books and more books.&nbsp; I read on a Kindle (paperwhite kind, no color screens) to fall asleep at night because I can lie down and when I fall asleep, it does too.&nbsp; No waking up with a light glaring in my face.</p> <p>But everywhere else, actual books.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Right now we are completing a re-org of the house's actual library so that it only contains artwork by our extra son Hugo Yu.&nbsp; We've relocated two shelves of books to the third floor to create a niche for a recently acquired piece, and I have been carrying armloads of books up two flights for several weeks now.&nbsp; But dang it, they just keep repopulating!&nbsp; This is in part because we have an excellent local indie bookstore.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections/page/2#post-2331399 Thu, 20 Jul 2023 17:47:54 +0000 quietloud 2331399@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Books have been a huge part of my life since childhood and growing up in a house full of them. Husband is also a big reader, so we have more books than we have room for in our small apartment, even though we have floor to ceiling bookcases both in the living room and our study/spare room. Would always like to add more! I'm quite happy to cull from my collection from time to time, while my husband likes to hang on to&nbsp;<i>everything</i>. I do also have a Kindle, but I don't find the reading experience quite the same, so still prefer physical books. To me there is something very comforting in being surrounded by books, and couldn't imagine living without them.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections/page/2#post-2330610 Sat, 15 Jul 2023 18:57:31 +0000 Echo 2330610@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've just never really connected with ebooks or kindles. I like to be able to flip back to certain parts, and I don't have a mental map of where that is in an ebook. So we have far too many physical books. I grew up in a home that had bookshelves covering two walls, floor to very high ceiling, in the living room and a large bookshelf in the den, as well as small reading stands and magazine holders around the house. I've often lamented that my current home doesn't have enough bookshelves, despite having a wall covered in the living room and a wall covered in the bedroom!</p> <p>I read almost exclusively nonfiction, and I very much like to be able to refer back, so I keep the books I like. We WILL need to downsize at some point, but it is hard to part with them. I'm also stuck about children's books. Do I keep those that we had from when the kids were small - just the favorites? Will they care or want them? Will they have children they will want to read them to? To ask them now would be pointless, as they are young adults with no immediate plans for marriage or children, but would they regret it later if they were all gone?&nbsp;</p> <p>But despite all that, I am very conscious of having too much stuff, and I'd like to "lighten up" on that. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections/page/2#post-2330425 Fri, 14 Jul 2023 18:32:20 +0000 MsMary 2330425@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was always a huge buyer and rader of paper books, and I always had many many physical bookshelves in my home. When I moved to my current home after marrying my husband, I let most of my books go and I am now an enthusicastic convert to my beloved Kindle. I still keep a few physical books that have sentimental value but I like being able to carry my library on my person!</p> <p>Oh, and my husband is still a big collector of physical cookbooks! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections/page/2#post-2330304 Fri, 14 Jul 2023 03:21:35 +0000 slim cat 2330304@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Love paper books but stopped buying them - using library most of the time. The feeling of holding the actual book and turning pages is still the best .<br />Some small book cases at our place but small apartment is not comparable with my childhood memories of collecting books and proudly displaying them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections/page/2#post-2330242 Thu, 13 Jul 2023 17:55:10 +0000 Sara L. 2330242@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm a huge reader and mostly read on my Kindle.&nbsp; It's just so much easier for me than a regular book (opens to my page, can read in the dark, hundreds of books available at any time, can easily search, can highlight phrases, can look up definitions, etc). I still have plenty of books around the house though - old favorites, gifts, loans, etc.&nbsp; My kids prefer to read real books so I have lots and lots of children's and YA books on my book shelves.&nbsp; I mainly use my library or Kindle Unlimited and only buy a book when absolutely necessary.&nbsp; With the amount I read (250+ per year) I can't afford to buy every book I read.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2330048 Wed, 12 Jul 2023 17:33:28 +0000 cat2 2330048@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting. I immediately bought a Kindle when that was a thing, and except for not being able to read in the bath, have never missed books. I use an iPad now. I like being able to adjust the font, and to read in bed without keeping a light on. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329923 Tue, 11 Jul 2023 23:59:36 +0000 Olive Green 2329923@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Just found this article about how boomers are using ereaders and millennials love the paper versions… <p><a rel="nofollow" href="https://apple.news/AsMYz2jQ9Squp1EWWsW1TcQ">https://apple.news/AsMYz2jQ9Squp1EWWsW1TcQ</a></p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329893 Tue, 11 Jul 2023 20:08:47 +0000 Laurie 2329893@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>We have built in shelves in family and living rooms. I have done serious edits to our shelves over time. I rarely buy new books anymore and find myself reading almost exclusively on my phone. But I love books.</p> <p>My late father was a voracious reader, and in these weeks since his death I have been organizing the books to keep or donate. I gave him so many, the inscriptions go back to 1981! Every Christmas, a book. These are hard to part with, but I cannot bring dozens home (see above - edit!). The tallest stack is books by or about Presidents, followed closely with books, thick ones, about the Supreme Court and Congress. Lots and lots of history - Civil War, and WWII, A decent pile of astronomy related books, and some biology-related (grandson/my son majored in biology), etc. A very modest amount of fiction. Books about birds. Trees.</p> <p>We are going to put a table of his books out at the celebration event, and I hope attendees will take one or more as mementos. He wrote his name, and the year, in almost every cover, Did some underlining. Bookmarked with a slip of toilet paper, a receipt, a Christmas gift tag. I Found a very old Varig boarding pass in one book from his travels to Latin America.</p> <p>10 years ago our older son's Eagle Scout project was a book drive, with donations going to a non-profit in Utah (it had originated as an Eagle project!) to be distributed nationally and internationally at schools, prisons, etc. The drive was such a huge success ("success") that our garage was overflowing, and an army of Scouts and school friends spent a full day sorting and boxing them up. Though he'd organized volunteers to drive the boxes to the shipment point near BWI airport, it was seriously too much so he had to rent a truck to transport the boxes, thus had to deploy a team to sell Krispy Kreme donuts to raise the money to rent the truck! People want to get rid of books, but it's so hard to do it. Given a nice reason to donate, they went nuts! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329886 Tue, 11 Jul 2023 19:44:29 +0000 Anonymous 2329886@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Team read on my phone and use library apps (Libby and Hoopla), but I read a lot! I have a couple ebooks I've bought (10 if that), but tbh haven't read any of them more than once. </p> <p>I have a very small collection of physical books, mostly sentimental things. The last phyical book I bought was a memoir collection from a writer's group friend that passed recently.<br /> My house is small, and I don't like to have things I don't regularly use, unless they're special. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329880 Tue, 11 Jul 2023 19:26:09 +0000 RobinF 2329880@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am also a reader but do most of my reading on my iPad mini these days. DH is not (I think he has undiagnosed dyslexia and now I am curious about this Kindle thing). I resisted the original e-books because I didn't think I would like it, but surprised myself by actually enjoying it when I gave in and tried it. The iPad is lighter to hold and I like having a bunch of books on hand, especially when traveling. I get a daily email with e-book bargains so usually those are the ones I purchase. It has been a good way to discover new writers and if I love them I will pay full price. Yes, even with books I am a bargain shopper.</p> <p>That being said, I love libraries and books and keep my favorites in hardback. We don't have a lot of wall space in our current house (lots of windows) but I always have a bookshelf somewhere.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329865 Tue, 11 Jul 2023 16:24:36 +0000 rachylou 2329865@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Kkards - righteous justification!</p> <p>ps: I once looked in the ‘google’ phone book and found two people with my name on the same street. I was all ‘what are the chances?’ I am now realising they were both me, because I was born to a different house up the street. Clearly, registries don’t agree with me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329834 Tue, 11 Jul 2023 11:06:10 +0000 kkards 2329834@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lol Rachy.<br />when I was a senior in high school they weren’t going to let me graduate because they claimed I had a library book that I hadn’t returned. &nbsp;I was sure I had, but they wouldn’t budge. &nbsp;My dad, after he tried to reason with them, eventually paid for the book so that I could graduate. &nbsp; Fast forward 5 years, my little sister is a senior in the same high school and one day she was called to the principals office, where she was handed a check for the book my dad had paid for, yup—-they found it. &nbsp;&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329802 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 20:39:12 +0000 Janet 2329802@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love to read and yes, as the other thread indicates, we have a nice little “library” at home. I also have a collection of art and design books in our den, and in my office I have reference books, my professional library (photography &amp; creativity books), travel guides (photography specific), and other random books. Plus there’s more nonfiction in the guest room shelves and in my husband’s office. There are also books in both of our nightstands! Oh, and there is also a stash of vintage books in cabinets in the basement including some of my mom’s books (novels, gardening, etc), and some sentimental childhood books I can’t bear to give away. Uh, hello, nearly complete Nancy Drew collection from the early 1970s…</p> <p>I’m a big supporter of the local library but also like to purchase books from independent book stores and some favorite secondhand bookshops too. I try not to buy from the large chains unless it’s something I just can’t find any other way. </p> <p>I cull semi-regularly, and got rid of some during the clean up before our renovation. Now that things are put back together, I can see I could stand to do another edit, but it’s not high on my priority list. I do enjoy books in the home — they are part of what makes our house feel like home, and we have room for them. I will not ever let the collection grow to the point where it overflows available shelves or furniture! I hate stacking things on floors.</p> <p>I don’t particularly care for reading on a device. I have read some books on the iPad but I don’t really want to look at a screen more than I already do. I enjoy the tactile experience of paper books. I also enjoy audiobooks — I’m a bit of a newcomer to those and they’re great when I’m doing a tedious computer task, taking a walk, or driving a distance. </p> <p>I am also a former book and publications designer and editor, so I appreciate all that goes into the creation of books, from the writing and editing to design and printing! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329799 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 19:45:38 +0000 Carla 2329799@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@&nbsp;<b>LJP&nbsp;</b>- and others who want to support writers and illustrators - you can always make a recommendation that your local library or Libby&nbsp;<b>purchase&nbsp;</b>a book you are interested in reading! &nbsp;I’ve done so, and had the pleasure of being notified that my suggestion was actioned! &nbsp;<div><br /></div><div>Also, libraries are always looking for ‘friends’. &nbsp;DH and I make an annual charitable donation to our local library. &nbsp;</div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329794 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 19:12:56 +0000 rachylou 2329794@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I once had a moving guy declare I was an artist because no one else would have so many books. My grade school best friend and I bonded over coming from ‘book houses’ and having to walk sideways through hallways. I had a complete meltdown when I learned a high school boyfriend hadn’t read a whole novel (ahahaha)… and then I moved into a big city apartment. I pretty much have forgotten how to hold a real book and only read ebooks. Books can’t be recycled and many libraries and used bookstores will take very little if at all. I only buy cookbooks these days.</p> <p>I don’t use the library because when I was five they accused me of not returning a book I did return. They still want to fine me even tho I even paid that unjust fine. In a similar vein, Kaiser hospital insists on calling my mother’s phone… they’ve had that number since I was born and they just won’t stop calling it! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329793 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 19:10:25 +0000 Helena 2329793@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>All the books please ... Library, purchased, paperback, hardcover, ebook, audiobook, nonfiction, fiction, light and heavy ... I always have at least one book on the go! We have some built-in cupboards that are filled with books ... Fiction that I love I tend to pass on to friends I think will enjoy it, but I hang on to spiritual and inspirational books so I can pick up whatever I might need in the moment. I also donate when I makes sense. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329772 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 17:07:15 +0000 anchie 2329772@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like to read and I buy lot of books. I don’t use library, because German is not my first or even second language and I don’t enjoy reading in German. But I cull books regularly, because I live in apartment and don’t have lot of space for book shelves. I prefer paper books to digital, which would probably be better solution for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329766 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 16:52:26 +0000 Barbara Diane 2329766@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>We’ve culled before and need to cull again. We use the library regularly. My husband sometimes purchases the book his book club is reading, especially if it isn’t available at the library. </p> <p>I will keep a recently bought signed book from a friend/acquaintance.<br /> Books signed by famous people.<br /> Books that are formative to who I am and will read again<br /> Books I use for reference, both hobby related and subjects I occasionally teach.</p> <p>I am looking forward to having my books looking neat. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329745 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 15:39:35 +0000 nancylee 2329745@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>When I moved cross-country and downsized to a much smaller house, I donated about two-thirds of my books because I just didn't have room for them. It was a tough, but also interesting, exercise to see which books really resonated enough with me to keep.</p> <p>I use the library regularly now, but also tend to buy any new books from my favorite authors. I've also been known to go out and buy a book I've especially loved after borrowing it from the library!</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329737 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 14:52:51 +0000 LJP 2329737@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The fact that I'm a big consumer of the written word and don't pay for a lot of it *does* nag at me and always has. &nbsp;Being in the publishing business really struck that home . But......I've had to decide where I can afford to spend my disposable income , and I simply cannot afford to buy the number of books I read. &nbsp;The library also allows me to try authors I'm not as familiar with, without the financial commitment. &nbsp;I *do* pass along everything I've paid for and finished with though . </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329734 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 14:13:05 +0000 Vildy 2329734@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That's amazing about the kindle and dyslexia.&nbsp; What happy news for people.&nbsp;</p> <p>I used to read maybe one book a day and had books overflowing everywhere but finally purged them.&nbsp; The older I get, the more impatient I am and don't read books anymore nor sit still for movies.&nbsp; There was&nbsp; a long period when I literally went out to see films every single day with my posse and we belonged to film societies, would see them in collector's apartments.&nbsp;</p> <p>My husband had bought me a kindle or the like and I was surprised how much I hated reading in that format.&nbsp; I'm a bit of a back to front, dip all over the book reader and kindle did not have that tangibility for me. I gave it back to my husband and - surprise - he found he didn't like reading books that way, either. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329722 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 11:18:01 +0000 Olive Green 2329722@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Mr Green and I had a rather large library and many shelves/rooms of books. I had a large professional library, he loves non-fiction, and I love fiction.&nbsp;<br />I have a few thousand books on Kindle now, after being a very early adopter. The little thing is a sci-fi lovers dream! It was Star Trek! I duplicated all my favourite authors’ paper books and took the paper books to the second hand store just before we moved three years ago.&nbsp;<br />I still buy paper books for Mr Green, but unless I need to see illustrations or have a load of footnoted and difficult material, I just download all on the Kindle.&nbsp;<br />So after two moves, one shelf of paper books. No longer decor, for sure.&nbsp;<br />I take the ebook reader everywhere, being a somewhat text-based human.&nbsp;<br />If we have an EMP strike I will be the first person back in the bookstores.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329721 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 10:46:08 +0000 kkards 2329721@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I prefer hardcover Books, and buy them 2nd hand. &nbsp;I like to own them as I am a re-reader. &nbsp; I also love audiobooks, and have an audible membership but also borrow them thru the library<br />i have a room with a huge ikea &nbsp; bookcase, but also have overflow on most of my windows sills, this is the dining room.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329715 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 05:08:07 +0000 Suz 2329715@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Indigoprint</b> -- thank you, and bravo to your son!&nbsp;</p> <p>And <b>Ms. Maven</b>, that is brilliant about your DH and the font for dyslexia. Sometimes technology is a huge gift. Louis Menand is a lot of fun and always so interesting.&nbsp;</p> <p><b>SarahDB.</b>..that sign sums it up for me, too!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329707 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 03:31:15 +0000 Indigoprint 2329707@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>MsMaven Love your books. Good to learn about the kindle for dyslexia... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329705 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 03:00:33 +0000 MsMaven 2329705@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>We have books all over the house. I have my own library, but there are overflow bookcases are in our offices and living room. I regret that we bought some glass front cabinets to put into the two niches in our new living room. I wish now I'd had built in bookcases.</p> <p>Every year I send some to my sisters and a friend, and donate as many as I can. Kindle is for mysteries and some current political issues, but I like hardbound for big literary books and lots of others. I still have some books I've kept from our first year of marriage when we joined the book-of-the-month club. I've got some photos--I'll look for them tomorrow.&nbsp;</p> <p>Kindle has turned out to be fabulous for Mr. M. He has dyslexia and hasn't been much of a reader. Last year he found out that Kindle has a typeface that works for dyslexia. Last quarter he took a literature class online from Stanford Continuing Studies--one book per week-- and can't wait to take another one. Right now he is busy reading&nbsp;<i>The Metaphysical Club&nbsp;</i>by Louis Menand, which I read and enjoyed 7 years ago. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329693 Sun, 09 Jul 2023 23:29:04 +0000 Indigoprint 2329693@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suz....I appreciate your comments on buying real books!<br /> One of my sons is an illustrater so it certainly has influence on his ability to continue to be an artist. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329686 Sun, 09 Jul 2023 22:10:14 +0000 SarahD8 2329686@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This pic pretty well sums things up for me!</p> <p>I am in a rather expansive/maximalist phase at the moment on several fronts -- wardrobe, books, homewares. May well change in the future but I'll deal with that when it comes. Clothing and homewares are mostly purchased secondhand; books are a mix, probably mostly new, but those purchases support writers, so all in all I'm ok with my choices. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/book-usage-and-collections#post-2329680 Sun, 09 Jul 2023 20:48:40 +0000 kerry 2329680@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I prefer holding a book too but I don’t prefer getting books back by the due date! I tend to handle it this way - fiction fun reads real books - non-fiction Libby app to read on my iPad.</p> <p>I’ve only kept a handful of books - a few kids series - Anne, Harry Potter, Narnia and a few other novels I’ve been known to reread. But mostly now I see it as clutter TBH - sacrilegious to some I know! Ironically, I’m the biggest reader in a household of three but DD &amp; DH both have larger collections than I do. I’m a bit of a serial purger though! I seem to be on a constant quest to make home more functional.&nbsp;<div><br /></div><div>Books are housed in DD’s bedroom bookshelf and on some Billy bookcases in the spare bedroom. I love the look of book lined walls but don’t have that kind of space in my main living area.</p> <p>I was a page at my local library as a teen so I’m surprised I’m so willing to let go of books (I rarely purchase them anymore) because there was a time when I loved to be surrounded by books!</div> </p>