Member gabbertm(Traditional)

This library is the culmination of a lifelong love of reading and books. It spans many genres from mystery to science fiction and fantasy to general fiction--classics to lore to popular NYT bestsellers. History and biography gathered together with science and areas of special interest like flight and electricity and semiconductors and philately and numismatics to survivalism and self-reliance. I like also children's folklore and fairy tales and astronomy.

I recently survived my 72nd birthday. Someone asked how many books I owned. I had no idea. Every room in my house has some books, most, many. This is my attempt to answer that question. I don't know if it is possible (for me), or if my interest will sustain me through this project. But I am curious.

I was never interested in going to the library and borrowing books. I wanted my own. I would often find myself in Barnes & Nobles and coming out with an armload of books--almost exclusively hard cover or trade paperback. I detested the so-called "pocket" paperbacks.

I was not looking for 'X' number of books. I wanted a library. And if I bought many more books than I would read as time went by, I was planning for a future of reading, a resource for my old age when I would not be able to get out as much as I would like, or at all if it came to that.

Reflecting on that question, "How many books do I own?" I have concluded it's more a case of my books owning me.