Honestly, I don’t. And I feel guilty about that.
So I’m thinking our upcoming move will be a good opportunity to purge my book collection. I need to get rid of some guilt.
I’m also thinking it might not be a bad thing to not complete a book. Perhaps I learned what I needed to learn from the pages perused and the rest doesn’t matter? I don’t know, but I’m working on a convincing argument for that.
So I’ve already packed and moved a pile of books …almost a dozen boxes worth. They are books about Alaska, American Civil War, basically anything military plus an assortment of children’s books (which I personally still love to read), Charlotte’s Web, Swiss Family Robinson, to name a couple.
Here is another stack of book boxes almost ready to go – – – these are about handicrafts, how to fix just about anything, interior design. Also, a large collection of cookbooks, which is odd because I don’t like to cook. I would like to like to cook – maybe that’s why I collected them.
There are two LARGE plastic totes in another room full of biographies, inspirational books, Bibles and such that need to be sorted. And we haven’t even gotten to Doug’s books yet.
This sorting and purging is hard work. I love books almost as much as children …. although I wouldn’t fling myself into oncoming traffic to save one. (a book, that is)
Recently I read an article on finishing what you start. These folks are actually remodeling an airplane hangar into a home! Now that’s a project. If they can do that I can sort and pack. Then maybe when I get settled again I can finish some of those 2/3rds to 3/4ths read books
At this point there is only one box of books destined for the yard sale. I’m not doing much to alleviate my guilt.
Heart's Home 
It depends on the book. Most of the fiction books that I start reading I finish, a book has to really annoy me for me to stop reading it. I can probably name the last 4 or 5 books that I didn’t finish reading, and they span probably 8-10 years at this point.
If it’s a non-fiction book, I still usually finish reading them, although I don’t feel quite as bad if I don’t. Some of the non-fiction books that I haven’t quite finished recently are The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb (I read the first 3 sections, 1 & 2 were great, but the 3rd section really irritated me, and I haven’t gone back to read the 4th yet) and the books Freakonomics and Superfreakonomics by Levitt & Dubner. I read all of the text parts of those books, but I haven’t read all of the extra stuff at the end of the books (author interviews, Q&A, that sort of stuff).
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I think you nailed it for me. I don’t read alot of fiction, but when I do, and I’m enjoying it, I read right thru to the end. With non-fiction, even tho I’m enjoying it I find when I’ve read the most fascinating part I can let the rest go. Weird I guess. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.
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I’m sitting at my desk. Amidst piles, mostly books. Nine of them started, oh, and two more on the floor. Sometimes I wonder why I can’t finish the books – get started on a new one, get distracted easily I guess. Only one is fiction, the rest non-fiction, all involved reading. Maybe that’s why they are tough to finish – they aren’t recreational reading, more “thinking” reading. Hard to find the time to concentrate enough to work at the understanding. You are right about the guilt – evaluate, will your really finish it, if not, let it go. I have done that a few times, and the freedom is amazing. Time for me to do it again, too.
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Thanks – you made me feel a little better about it 🙂 I think you’re right – – non-fiction is thinking stuff, alot to wade thru sometimes. And I do read alot more non-faction rather than fiction. Good luck with your sorting – -know you’re busy packing up too.
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Brooke,
I know all about moving…I have far to much experience! We only just re.cently purged many items from our household inventory. I still find that we own too much stuff and it is the “stuff” that seems the most difficult to part with. I wish you well with all the sorting and purging
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Thanks, Sandie – – yes, I imagine you are well acquainted with moving! It’s really been hard going trying to get thru all this stuff. We made alot of headway today and I’ve got a huge amount to give away or sell. It’s feeling pretty good 🙂
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