I have decide, after much deliberation, that 2009 will be a year free from buying books.

My main reasons for this will be to reduce the ratio of read to unread books in my library which is getting embarrassingly stretched.

Economically, this will restore rosy cheeks to my bank balance which sees a large proportion going on the purchase of books.

Anyone else ever considered such a radical and drastic step in their life?

I expect shares in book-depository to plunge when this news hits the city :-)

Most of my 999 books are from my TBR pile. Like you I need to reduce my pile and save money. Plus I know I have enough books to read next year with out buying more. I do plan on buying three books to finish out a couple of series and left some room for gifts.

I feel I could easily go 5 years with my TBR pile without having to spend.

But can you keep from buying books? I don't know if I could.

You see, there lies the problem.

If there was a 'meeting' for those who were Bookaholics I would be there.

I have suffered from CBPD for several years now.

Quite acutely so. :-)

Message edited by its author, Dec 26, 2008, 10:41pm.

Well I'm currently unemployed so I have no money to buy books at this time. It's kinda like cheating. But to tell you the truth when I do get a little money I buy books. *SIGH* it is a sickness after all.

Sorry to hear your on the brew. Never mind it could be worse, I could be the 18th century and you might have to burn your books to keep warm! Now that would be sick!

Good luck for the new year and your job situ :-)

I love looking at books and buying books I think I will want to read, and I am good and not getting around to reading them.

I should also go a year without buying a new book, or at least until I have read my TBR books. I have a smaller library than you both do, but I have more TBR books than my 30 books I want to do for my 2009 challenge.

I have friends who also buy buy buy, but can't keep up with reading as many as they buy.

Good luck in your effort to not buy any books next year.

Lucky for me I live in Texas. Don't have to worry about the cold. My books are safe.

Thanks for your encouragement mnbird.

I'm pretty well chronically sick with CBPD.

I ordered 6 books last night at the bookdepository once I had made up my mind not to buy any in 2009!

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LA12 (Lucky for me I live in Texas. Don't have to worry about the cold. My books are safe.)

'''''''LOL''''''''' Safe from the cold maybe ;-) However, if your country takes any more civil liberties from its citizens, you might be required to list your book collection with your local police station just to make sure your not a potential threat to the american people.......groan

:-)

No no no, the thing cannot be done. Sooner or later you will pass a bookshop and be sucked in...

Yes, I'm sweating already. I just cannot pass up a bargain....and I know many charity shops that sell books for pennies, literally. However, once you have one drink............

I'm so bloody determined though...if I dont stop buying I'll never read all the books I have before I croak!!!!!!!!!!

Take it one day at a time and tell your self, "2010 is right around the corner and I can replace the books I've read."
At least that's what I'm doing.
(ok what I am going to TRY to do.)
*Shrugs shoulders*

I don't buy very many books. It's the library, my mom and my friends who loan me books. Sigh. I want to reduce my TBR pile but it just laughs at me.

I may sound really snobbish here, but I don't mean to be: - Public libraries - I can't abide borrowing books and discovering articles of bodies left behind in them (snotters, hairs, other ghastly smudges)....also I hate seeing idiots traces left behind (dog ears, underlined words etc)

To reduce my TBR stack, I just try to read really fast. I've read almost 13 books since Dec. 16 this year.
The past two years, for Lent, I've given up buying books. Last year, though, I changed it so that I can't buy books that are the regular price. But if they're on sale.....

How does that work? (reading really fast)

Whenever I try that, I get to the bottom of a page and self consciously admit to remembering nothing I have just read.

There is also the question of 'what it worth it' for me. I try and steer clear of reading as just another destination, forgetting that it really is, in this case, all about the journey.

:-)

Just changed my usid to LesMiserables in case anyone gets confused when I post. :-)

Who were u before LesMiserables?

Oh, sorry.....sd18888 :-0

A book LOVER ... going a year without something new? Trying to make that happen is torturous.

All things in moderation.

I designed my 888 Challenge to come predominately from my TBRs, and that's been the hardest part of completing the Challenge. I was tempted a hundred times to let the proportion go below half, but I'm finishing today ... at exactly 50%.

50% hardly even feels moderate at this point :) I can't wait to open some of my new books that are singing to me!

Message edited by its author, Dec 30, 2008, 4:27pm.

I told my husband today that I had more than enough books for a while and had no urge to buy any. I have 635 tbr books. I've put quite a few of them on my 999 challenge, but did get 15 or so from BookMooch to fill in some of the categories and bought several new.

To be realistic, I'd like to be able to say that I won't buy any NEW RETAIL books in 2009 unless I'm using a gift card. I don't want to stop buying books altogether, so will try to use BookMooch, the Thrift Store, the used paperback store, and the Friends of the Library Semi-Annual Sales to keep me from twitching too much if books aren't coming in. I can't stand the idea of wonderful books out there that I'd miss out on if I didn't go use the 4 sources mentioned above. Oh, and the ER program if I'm lucky enough to be able to get one this coming year.

Edited to change 637 to 635! Making progress....

Message edited by its author, Dec 30, 2008, 4:59pm.

WoW! 64 books in a year.
I have averaged around 27 per year in this last 2 years.

Saying that, in that time I have read some huge books like Clarissa, War and Peace and Les Miserables

Those works together are worth probably 30 average books.

I plan to read Proust's 'Remembrance of Things Past' complete six volumes unabridged and Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire - complete and unabridged.

In effect those two books are probably worth 30-40 books in length? I'm not sure, but I'm gladly anticipating the read and the challenge.

I am doing my own 30 book challenge for 2009. I think 30 is a lot of books.

>25 mnbird
Good luck on your 30 book challenge.

Yes, but again it depends on what they are.

Orwell's Animal farm can be finished in a day whilst Atlas Shrugged might take you two to three months, depending on how much time you have.

Thanks LA12Hernandesz.

Lesmiserables...for me 30 is a lot of books considering all my other distracts.

Movies, Xbox 360, comics, TV shows, horse races, golfing, swimming, work, family, friends...

Message edited by its author, Dec 30, 2008, 8:30pm.

LesMiserables -- my experience is that long books are almost always reeaalllly good. Maybe it's the opportunity for immersion in the story/characters/setting? I'm in a long-book challenge: one book >500 pages every month ... I find that I look forward to them the most.

Hi detailmuse

I love long reads as well, just as you say, the immersion and the challenge.

I have read a few long ones recently as I've said...

Samuel Richardson, Clarissa
Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged
Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

I loved all of the above, as it happened :-)

My favorite long book of all time, that I periodically re-read, is The Source by James Michener.

Well day 2 of the year of the Canny Spartan and already I'm seeing a reduced need to surf online bookshops!

Don't look. Don't buy. You can resist it.

I know, I know. :-)
I'm not sure whether to go for the 'window shopping' approach or the 'out of sight out of mind' method.
I tend to feel that the former approach is more in tune with my 'face up to things' approach rather than the ostrich method ;-)

I agree that the "window shopping' approach is the best. You don't obsess about it as much. I tried the "ostrich" method but would beat my self up if I let my eyes stray. The looking doesn't bother me as much and I feel real good when I walk away.

I've been thinking about the charity shop scenario.

Can or should one pass up an opportunity to acquire a classic which is not part of one's library, which as chance has it, is going for a song at $0.20?

BUY, BUY, BUY, BUY!!!!!

Absolutely not. (Pass it up, I mean.)

Message edited by its author, Jan 4, 2009, 2:21am.

Both of you please explain.... :-)

"Should one pass up an opportunity to acquire a classic...at $0.20?" Absolutely not.

I buy lots of books at Goodwill and similar places. Good hunting, good prices, every once in awhile a gem.

Oh, so both of you advocate never to look a gift horse in the mouth. I see.

I suppose it comes down to will power doesn't it.

Will a 20 cent classic lead you back again with five dollars, then twenty dollars then buying that just one book from the bookstore that you want to buy.

Just one drink wont kill me ;-)

Message edited by its author, Jan 4, 2009, 2:59am.

Guess I misunderstood the reason for your spartan vow. If you are testing your willpower - then yeah, you'd better pass up the bargains.

But if saving money was your purpose, then a bargain of this magnitude is worthwhile.

I'm not necessarily doing TYOTCS to test my willpower: more like to breath life into my bank balance and reduce my TBR ratio.

Willpower, ipso facto is required.

If it is a book you actually want and it is less than $0.50, then you should get it while you can for the price. If it is not a book you want then pass it up.

I have no will power. I couldn't stop at the 20 cent book. I'd just have to see what else they might have after all I don't carry cash and can't put 20 cents on my card now can I.

I see both your views LA & mnBird

Sure buying books is not the same as drinking destructively or injecting smack. Nevertheless, I do love a challenge.

I think the solution is to NOT go into book shops, browse online stores or go into charity shops.

It's been 11 days since I have bought a book. I'm beginning to twitch a bit. I want The Rosetta Key by William Dietrich and a couple of others.

Do gift cards count? I have 2 $10 gift cards from a local independent bookseller. You'll laugh - they're from 2001. One of the women in my bookclub works there and I asked her last month if they were still good - they are! - so I might use them to get a couple of books, including Rosetta. I'll see her Sunday night, so might figure out what I want, figure out how much I'll owe her on top of the cards (might as well be hung as a sheep instead of a lamb) then figure out how to get them before next month's meeting.

HI KM

LOL Yes, I'm sure you can accept a gift, even though it may be a book or a giftcard.

Many of my books arrived yesterday in the mail: the ones I had ordered at Christmas with my Christmas money.

I think there was 10 in all: 4 have still to arrive.

I am extremely embarrassed :-)

I have however refrained from buying any book for thw whole of 2009 (7 days) so far.

LesM, you crack me up. I also have managed not to buy a book yet in 2009. =)

Hi mnB

Yes: It's been tough, but I'm hanging in there ;-)

Oops. Found out about The Private World of Georgette Heyer and broke down. I'm already finagling on putting it into the 999 challenge and taking something else out.

It is ok Karen... not all of us can go cold turkey. I probably will breakdown at some point too.

LesM.. you can call me Bird if you like. =D

I need to start reading... I really do.

Hi! My name is Lynda and I'm a bookaholic. It has been 14 days since I purchased my last book.

Hi, Lynda.

Hi Lynda. Welcome to the group.

Hi! My name is Steve and I'm a bookaholic. It has been 10 days since I purchased my last book. :-)

I think a good way to help in the fight against Compulsive Book Purchasing Disorder (CBPD) is to have your TBR pile in near view. This will strengthen your resolve to get them read rather than buy more to add to the TBR stock.

Sorting the TBR's in reading priority is also a good idea.

>56 "...in near view."

Like the middle of the living room floor?

That'll work.

The first step in getting help is admitting that you have a problem.

I don't have a problem.

DENIAL!

Denial ? Thanks, i'll check it out.

LOL

Fortunately for me, my birthday doesn't fall until December - a time when I purchase many books.

My strategy will be to put aside the money and my christmas money and go on a big fat book bender when the clock hits twelve on midnight for the new year 2010 :-)

Well, perhaps I won't. I might be cured by then.

My birthday is also in December and planned to do just as you said.
Cured? Of what?

Steve, I couldn't agree more about having the TBR books in near view. I have a stack of them on my table next to my reading chair... all waiting to be read as part of my 30 book challenge.

Also, my birthday is in December. December 31. *sigh* That is a long time to wait to buy any new books.

Yes Bird, but in this case, it should help shouldn't it?
I have keep all of my receipts for books bought in 2008: I am going to embarras myself this week and count them all up. :-(

That should be medicine enough for me.

Meant to say, Bird, how did you find Porno?

I was really surprised that it lived up to the Trainspotting quality.

Two great reads.

Begbie - what a character! lol

Begbie is crazy. I also love the movie Trainspotting. Have you seen it?

I should not have rated Porno. I actually have never finished it. Silly me. I really like what I had read so far, but I put it down one day and never got back to it. Filth is another one I have started a couple of times, but never finished... I should really start Porno over again. I did really like The Acid House. Have you read that? Some good short stories in that one.

I started Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist today and I am almost done. Only 50 pages left. I think I will go finish it now. =D

btw... how do you link the books like that in your posts?

Message edited by its author, Jan 8, 2009, 9:31am.

Hi Bird - just put square brackets around them

I haven't read any of Irvine Welsh's other stuff, just TS & Porno

I have TS on video (normal and green edition) brilliant...Spud is funny

You haven't finished Porno? Oh no...right at the end............................ we'll I'll let you read it for yourself :-) Great ending though.

Cheers

Message edited by its author, Jan 8, 2009, 1:19am.

What LesMis was trying to tell you is to put square brackets around your title. He tried to use them, and they disappeared - just like they do when you put them around a title. When you hit "Post a Message" you will get your message box, and just to the right is an explanation of the touchstones - which is what we call these links in LT-land!

Yes Mary... your right, those wee square brackets just to the right of my 'p' on my qwerty.

A good sign :-)

Over the last few days (in spite of by embarrassingly substantial TBR pile) I have had a pulling notion to read Xavier Herbert's Poor Fellow My Country being one of the very long reads - I've read a few of these...see the highlighted ones here http://sites.google.com/site/meraciousin...

Also since I am currently reading Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie I've had a notion to read Satanic Verses too.

Now, here is the thing: normally I would without hesitation just buy these: in fact I would be glad of the excuse to buy them. Nevertheless, I went up to my Uni library and managed to get them out on loan!

Okay, this sounds like a no-brainer, but to someone with CBPD it's a major breakthrough.

BTW, the difference in my eyes between a bookaholic and someone with CBPD, is that the former is someone who needs books all day everyday, but the latter needs the same but needs to 'own' them also. - obviously sorere on the wallet. :-(

Thanks for the tip on how to link the books. For some reason it wouldn't load Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist.

I did finish last night. Good read.

Message edited by its author, Jan 8, 2009, 4:46pm.

I never would have thought they would have dropped off the Nick & Norah's part. funny.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist :-)

I have been collecting books for 30 years. One of my friends once said to me, you better get it when you see it because it may not be there later.

Well, around may the company I own started having cash flow problems which has meant no paycheck for me since then. So very few new books, perhaps 10 since then. It has given me a chance to really work on my unread pile. After thirty years that is 3000 books read, and about 2000 unread.

Smarty pants Steve. ;-)

So, today I started The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society during my lunch. It is pretty good so far. I may have to read some more tonight before bed.

Wow DWWilkin... that is a lot of books I thought my 45-60 TBR pile was big. However, I don't buy as many books as you do.

Today I logged into my account for the Hennepin County Library again. It is so improved now. I requested some books to pick up when available and CDs, put my name on the wait list for some others that have long lists and well, I think it will save me some monies to use the HCL again. I also have it set to send me a reminder when my book is due in 2 days. =D

I hope this all helps me to save some money and help me to reach my goal of at least 30 books this year.

Before the work slowdown, things had been pretty good for years. I know one year I spent a couple thousand at Borders, all told. So when you have that kind of money to spend on yuor hobby, your library can grow.

I hope to make a dent in that backlog, I did 111 books last year. Some of my library unread are things like guides to computer games that I don't even play any longer. After I finish getting my initial entries all tagged, I intend to go back and clean up those nad separate them into a category of no need to read, or some such.

Wow! David, that is some library.

Where is the pic taken on your profile page? It looks familiar.

It was in Oban in Scotland near the waterfront. We vacationed there the summer of 2007

Ah! Of course. I know Oban quite well, being a Scot from Glasgow (but now living in Australia)

But there's something missing from the pic - Rain!

I know Oban well, too...Oh, you mean the place, not the whiskey. Never mind. 8^}

Well I suppose you could go there in 'spirit' :-)

We were on a English Country Dance tour in Scottish Castles, go figure, the tour guide had done the tour as Scotish Country Dancing so he had the itinerary.
He did't like Whisky so much so he had scheduled no distillery tours. I have some 60 single malts in my collection, Oban being one of them. An unexpected bus breakdown allowed us a day in Oban so I got to tour the distillery.

My Grandfather, established the Millet chain of army surplus stores, then set up all his brothers and cousins with territories in the UK. Now all of them have sold out and consolidation and name changes mean there are very few left. But you leave the Oban distillery and right across the street, a Millet store. Very karmic.

A great thing about vacationing in the UK is the ability to add to your book collection. I got such books as The Sale of the Late King's Goods: Charles I and His Art Collection, Man of Honour and Scotland: The Story of a Nation

Oh, Millet's knew them well: used to shop regularly in them for camping gear.

I don't drink alcohol any more but my favourite single malt was Glendiddich
http://eatingoutinharrisburg.files.wordp....

Glasweigan .... "Geeza hawf pal"

English......"Pardon me Bar tender, may I have a measure of whisky please?"

:-)

Message edited by its author, Jan 8, 2009, 10:51pm.

When I was younger I liked Dalwhinnie single malt. Was surprising how much respect I got after ordering it clean.

Well, I have just tallied up how much I have spent last year in books and I have to say, I'm shocked.

Message edited by its author, Jan 9, 2009, 6:08pm.

Wow! That is a lot on books. I can see how it can be done, but wow.

My hope is that soon the economy will turn and I don't have to be a Canny Spartan in 2009. There are several new books and recommendations I have found here at Library Thing I would like to get. My local public library has very little.

I don't know: there's something wonderfully prosaic but stoic about this ascetic thriftiness :-)

It might catch on.

Do you really think so? I have to be thrifty I'm unemployed, but if I had money...

I like the idea of reuse recycle reduce.

If we have any hope for future generations, we should think about these things seriously.

In fact - I think publishers should plant 'x' number of trees for 'x' number of books they print, as well as furniture manufacturers, newspapers, etc etc

Be careful the main argument for e-books are the destruction trees. The publishers love the idea of e-books. After all we know there are always books that don't sell and those are sold at a loss or as waste paper. E-books are loaded once, go out as they are sold and never have to be collected as unsold. There is little overhead and more profit.

I prefer to read a book I am holding in my hand than an e-book. But I do like the idea of using the Library more to read books I may not need to own. I also like the idea of saving money.

I have two books to pick up tomorrow from the library. 72 Hour Hold and Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List. I will be making a trip over there tomorrow morning.

Oh, I hate e-books.
I'm not advocating them at all. All I'm saying is, that perhaps we should as consumers, consider whether a small premium on our book's RRP towards planting trees, thus replacing what is cut down and producing more balance in the atmosphere, is a decent proposal.

I like to hold a book in my hand, I like the look of books on shelves, stonkin big libraries and wonderfully illustrated hardbacks.

Once we build our new house, I hope to convince Mrs LesMiserables to get the up to date Britannica Encyclopedia set. Don't they just look fantastic :-)

Ahem, but that is soooooooo spendthrift. Not in the spirit of this thread at all :-)

Did I mention that I am a Spartan? It was my high school mascot. =D

Also, I love Encyclopedias, but I don't own any actual book sets. I just use the net to look stuff up like that. I also love a new Atlas or globe... so nice to look at.

When I was in London last, I noticed a book laying on a bench with a note saying it should belong to anyone who would like to read it and then they should pass it on. I thought that was a nice thing. Leave your book for someone else to find.

Have you ever done that or have you ever found one? I didn't pick it up, it wasn't one I would have read anytime soon and I didn't need to bring anything extra back with me to Minneapolis. I had my suitcase pretty well packed as it was.

Aye, my vision for my library is to have a nice globe in it as well, a nice Encyclopedia set and possibly a philosophy collection too.

I've never found a book, no.

Nice to see there are still some nice human beings out there :-)

I only like e-books because it allows me to have more books, since they are cheaper then hardcopy books. My encylopedia set is 50 years old. I would like a new set but what would I do with the old set?

Recycle them.

Where? How? I can't donate them any where since they are so old.

I mean paper recycle.

Unfortunately not every one has curbside recycling like the large cities. Paper is burned here. I thought there might be some other way. Guess I'll just hang on to them.

You could give them to someone, some poor family, some charity etc

There are charities that you can give them to that donate them to schools in poorer countries. Slightly old encyclopedias are better than none at all.

Thank you about poorer countries. I've tried donateing them here but the chruchs and schools won't take them over 10 years. I put them on freecycle.com but no one wanted them. I do donate to missons I'll see if one of them might want them. Thank you.

Really? Pfuff. What (a)charitable snobbery! I would have them off you if I lived within driving distance? Are you anywhere near South East Queensland, Australia? :-)

I wish I was. Your the only one willing to take set of encyclopedias first printing 1937, last printing 1960 off my hands. I donate to a group that supports missions in South Africa and India. I'm going to see if they can use them.

Failing that in the spirit of thriftiness, you could always use them as doorstops, you could compost them, you could even shred them into pulp material and make paper fire bricks :-) Oh yes!

Paper fire bricks?

http://www.oztion.com.au/-KAMBROOK-Combu...

Ye have to be right canny to be into these!

How interesting. I sometimes wish I had a fireplace. Here fire wood is bought in a bundle of 4 to 6 logs, since cold weather is measured in days not weeks.

The idea of burning books, even to recycle, makes me shudder.

I personally don't like the idea of e-books. I'm like LesMiserables - I like holding them, seeing them on my shelves, love thinking about the Library of Congress, the New York Public Library, etc.

If I turn my head, I can see my husband's 1961 World Book Encyclopedias, with 1962-1972 Year Books and some of the Science Books. Fortunately I have room for them. I even use them occasionally.

I had a small lapse - bought 3 hardcover Michael Connellys last night at the Thrift Shop - brand new, $1 each. Two of them I didn't even own, although I was willing to buy them to replace paperbacks....

The local thrift shop (which supports a home for abused children) used to take encyclopedias but had to stop because they were hogging all the shelf space since about three sets came in for everyone that actually sold. However the county recycling center has a canopy where one can leave possibly useful items for anyone who's interested. That's where my last really old encyclopedia went. If items do stay there too long they are either recycled or landfilled, depending...

Last year was a very tight budget year and I did mange to hold book purchases to about US $30, so it is possible. The trick for me was to stay out of book stores and off of Amazon.

Today I am going to go to the library to pick up two books I have on hold. This will be the first time in ages that I will walk into the library to take out some books.

Money saving, Yay!

Hello there, enjoyed this thread as I am having a thrifty year for ALL expenditure including books. My local library will order books in from all libraries owned by the council at a cost of £1 which is very handy - but I hope to forgo even this expense so I can reduce the guilt inducing PILES of TBR books (in the corner of my living room, they might be read faster if I moved them to the middle of the room).

Hi Sea Goat and welcome.

KM - I'm not sure how your planning your thriftiness, but that doesn't sound too bad, as long as it doesn't end up being an aperitif!

Long term, I would like to have a nice library of my own books, but as it stands at the moment, I will have to cut my cloth to suit as they say.

WoW $30 , Hailelib.

I wish I had a time machine :-)

Actually, I'm going to have an orgy of spending this year as my son gave me a $50 gift certificate to a local independent book store!

Also our finances should be in a lot better shape by summer and I'll be able to visit the local thrift shop once a month and see if there is anything there I really want.

Meanwhile It's still my own shelves (which hold a lot of interesting but unread books) and the local library which is a fairly good one.

Goodness gracious me, I haven't had on orgy with 50 bucks for a long time.

I have to chastise you though, bringing illicit contraband to an impoverished discussion is unforgivable. ;-)

LesM, you know you enjoyed reading that. =)

Actually, the worst temptation for me is Librarything itself. I'd hardly been buying books at all for several years until I joined and I've added over 150 books in under 2 years. It's seeing them all nicely catalogued, and you spot the gaps, and the recommendations and then ... you know the rest!

Message edited by its author, Jan 11, 2009, 11:18am.

I don't own all the books on my list. Many yes, but not all. I will still be adding books I read from the library to my list too. I figure if I read them they can be added, even if I don't own them.

I own I think 99% of my list. I have however loaned one or two out and never seen them again. (which I don't do anymore)

But I am inclined now to use the library more for any books I really am craving to read but won't buy during this LBYM lifestyle.

This thread is in danger of moving off into the "catalog what you own" vs the "catalog whatever you want" domain..... People have very strong opinions on how to use LT. (Personally, every book in my catalog except for 2 are in my house or loaned out).

$30 in one year for books? I can't imagine being that disciplined. Even if my budget were tighter than it is, I think I would sacrifice other things, like oh ... clothes? music? movies?

That's the nature of threads: they unwind and fray :-)

And try as you may you cannot return them to their original state.

I think if I am going to help save money by not buying books (back to the original topic) I should be able to and will log books I read from the library. This is called Library Thing after all. =D

After I wrote that thread, I thought that people might think I was criticizing - I wasn't. Just a comment. :)

Lots of people record library books, books they've read but don't own anymore, and wishlist books. To each her/his own.

Karenmarie, I didn't see it as criticism, but you are right in a way. In several very financially tight years books were one of the last things to go and, now that it looks like we are going to be in much better shape by spring, books will be one of the first things to come back. But if one must cut back it can be done, especially if one already has a lot of books and a pretty good public library.

Hi Guys

I never thought this thread would be a darts score, so I have started the Canny Spartan group for anyone interested :-)

http://www.librarything.com/groups/theca...

#123 Yes, joining Librarything did terrible things to my book-buying budget. All those new authors to be checked out!

Yes I know: my one pleasure comes from seeing people discuss books similar to the ones I like which I may not have found out about, ever.

Most site that recommend books do so only on what I already have. But I want something new and different to read. I found librarything through "The Well Read Life" from Levengers. After checking it out it was just what I was looking for. A Community of book readers not just sellers. It not only gave me ideas for new books to read but also made me interested in reading books I already own.

I bought this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bloomsbury-Good-...

for a snip in a bargain bookstore at Christmas.

It's brilliant.

Well that's the whole month of January without buying any books at all!

Believe me folks; this is no mean feat for me.

In fact, I have stayed out of all bookshops: both online and high street.

I also have steered clear of charity shops and the likes.

Not one drop, as they say!

I did buy one book. To take on my trip to Maui with me.

The Book Thief. I keep hearing how great it is. I sure hope so.

Not a single book purchase in January! Having purchased a copy of Les Miserables last year helped - not a book to be read in a single evening - as did re-reading some gems.

Alas, I have now fallen off the canny spartan wagon. A boring day at work & my idle fingers ran away with me and ordered a book on the internet.

Oh puddleshark: what can I say. Great January effort! Don't see you one book as the start of an avalanche! Les Miserables is one of the best books ever written in opinion.

I found that it took a great many evenings to read Les Mis... Though I do not know if I shall ever return to it. Watching the musical makes a nice concise representation for me.

The public library sent me a $5 gift card to the Barns & Nobel, so I bought a book as I also had a 15% off coupon and my member discount. =)

Boooooooooooooo!

;-)

You are just jealous. =)

I bought a YA book. It was only $17 hardcover to start with. It is called Graceling. A friend recommended it to me.

Well, with us midway through April, I am still true to not buying any books in 2009. I am of course helping to exacerbate the global financial meltdown, but at this point in time, with a daunting TBR pile, I will stick with it :-)

Well its the last day of May tomorrow; 5 months free of a book purchase. :-)

Still to crumble in 2009.

How are you guys doing?

*giggle/snort*

I have spent $20 so far this year and bought 40 books. That averages out to $4.00 a month and $0.50 a book. I was averageing $60.00 a month at about $16.00 a book. That's a $280.00 savings so far this year.

I went online and applied to get a library card again. They said they would tell me quick about it being down at the branch by email. A week went by, then two and no email, so I went down to the branch. Closed for remodeling until the 11th of June. Bummed.

Almost 6 months without a single purchase but I nearly cracked last week as I've been trying to get this from several libraries without success

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/978...

and it's a bargain. But I resisted. ;-)

Live long and prosper.

Congrats on being able to resist temptation. I wish I could. I bought 6 books for $8.00. I'm up to $48.00 dollars for the year.

$48 on what from last year? I would say that is a success too? ;-)

I have bought some books, but I have also been using the library.

By this time last year I would have spent $350.00 I averaged $70.00 a month so I am doing good. and have already read over 30 books from my TBR pile. Now I feel better.

I have really struggled to hold this together this week. Looking for any excuse to add to my TBR pile! I have managed to keep my money in my pocket though.
Must be the mid year crisis.
Looking just to persuade my good lady to buy me the Nonesuch Dickens Release #3 for my birthday in December. I guess a gift can't be deemed as a spend even though the funds are joint :-)

Don't weaken now - July is almost here!

Thanks: the force is strong in this one :-)

I have come so far this year with self discipline and to be honest, it has been a pleasure to read and rediscover why I bought those books in the first place that I have been pulling off my TBR pile.

How is everyone doing now that the year is coming to an end? I did use the library a lot, but then I went a few months with very little reading getting done aswell which helps with the not buying books but does nto help the book challenge at all.

I've have completely blown it.

Spent absolutely nothing 1st half of the year then spent the family jewels in the 2nd half.

I just spent $50 on an MP3 that holds ebooks. BUT! all the books on it were free.

#159 Oh, thank heavens! If you had proved that it was humanly possible to go the whole year without buying a book, you would have inspired mass feelings of despair in the rest of us weak mortals...

Hey, we're only human.

(I just ordered a couple of books from Amazon! New books!)