Do you keep your books?

[SolaSaint]

Once you have read a book, do you keep it or pass it on? My wife keeps trying to get me to give away some of my books. She doesn't like them cluttering up our room. But I cannot, I mark up what I read and use them as a reference many times in my teaching. What do you do with books you have finished?

 

[Deacon]

Many of the books I read only once and never again;
Other books I develop a relationship with.

I've got eight bookshelves (probably about 700++ books).
I like a few space between books for mementos.
When the bookshelves get too full, I purge the dross.

Research or scholarly books I tend to keep around a bit longer but even these sometimes get replaced with better ones.

I box a few books that I can't decided about - but generally when the next purge comes, they get donated.

Rob

 

[padredurand]

Once you have read a book, do you keep it or pass it on? My wife keeps trying to get me to give away some of my books. She doesn't like them cluttering up our room. But I cannot, I mark up what I read and use them as a reference many times in my teaching. What do you do with books you have finished?

Our front door has a one way book valve. Once it comes in it never goes out. :laugh: We decorate in books and Fisher-Price. We had a house fire a few years ago and lost about 3000 books - every one read and most re-read. Well on the way toward rebuilding the library.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

Once you have read a book, do you keep it or pass it on? My wife keeps trying to get me to give away some of my books. She doesn't like them cluttering up our room. But I cannot, I mark up what I read and use them as a reference many times in my teaching. What do you do with books you have finished?

It depends. I generally keep them and have amassed a pretty large library over the last twenty-five years or so.

I get a book allowance from my church and so I try to be very conscious of which books I buy to support my ministry and which ones I buy that will end up being mostly for personal use.

Our church also has a very large library.

 

[ktn4eg]

I do keep several books on history and other Biblical reference books.

OTOH, I also try to donate worthwhile books to my church's ( www.lighthouseministries.org ) Christian school's (LCS) library.

This is one small way of providing good reading material to the next generation, plus it also counts as a non-cash charitable contribution for tax purposes---provided you keep accurate & detailed records/receipts.

[NOTE: Not that it matters, but I am NOT a preacher/pastor.]

 

[annsni]

If it's a great book that I can share and use for reference, I'll get it in a physical copy and keep it. But if it's a book I haven't read yet and I can get it for free on the Kindle, I will. I just went through my Kindle and I have:

44 Classics (like Jane Eyre, Frankenstein, Les Mis, Sherlock Holmes)
95 G.A. Henty books (these are GREAT historical fiction books for teen boys and I got them all free!!!!)
44 Kids books (stuff that was free that I bought for mostly my youngest daughter to read on her iPod Touch)
45 Non Fiction books (cookbooks, how-to books)
214 Theology books
311 "Vacation Reads" - mostly fiction books - books that are just kind of fun reads
100 books from these combined categories that I've already read (although Theology books stay in that category even if I've read them)

99% of these books were free. If I even think I want a book that's up for free on Amazon, I'll grab it for later.

So right now, I'm not buying physical books.

 

[SolaSaint]

I just surrendered my Kindle Fire to my wife. I have about 50-70 theology books on it, but I have decided to go back to paper copies. The Kindle is nice but I have to admit, paper is for me, especially for reference.

Padre--sorry to hear about the fire I hope no one was hurt. I cannot imagine losing 3000 books, that would make me cry.

 

[annsni]

I just surrendered my Kindle Fire to my wife. I have about 50-70 theology books on it, but I have decided to go back to paper copies. The Kindle is nice but I have to admit, paper is for me, especially for reference.

Padre--sorry to hear about the fire I hope no one was hurt. I cannot imagine losing 3000 books, that would make me cry.

I have the Paperwhite - I have an iPad that I can read the books on as well but I prefer the e-ink. It's easier to read.

One benefit of the Kindle is that you can print out any highlights or search on what you've highlighted. I've found for study, that's been a GREAT resource. But some books I still prefer to have in the paper version and if I have them both in paper and on the Kindle, even better!

 

[padredurand]

I just surrendered my Kindle Fire to my wife. I have about 50-70 theology books on it, but I have decided to go back to paper copies. The Kindle is nice but I have to admit, paper is for me, especially for reference.

Padre--sorry to hear about the fire I hope no one was hurt. I cannot imagine losing 3000 books, that would make me cry.

Would you believe we didn't lose a single Bible. My preaching Bible was literally a foot away from one bookshelf that was consumed. Not even a hint of smoke.

About the kindle. There is something attractive about a small device that could hold 1000 books. In fact madre and I are headed out to best Buy and Barnes and Nobles to look at the Kindle and Nook for her. She's fairly convinced she wants one or the other. I'm not so sure I could give up the feel of a book in my hand. Why are you going back to paper?

 

[annsni]

Would you believe we didn't lose a single Bible. My preaching Bible was literally a foot away from one bookshelf that was consumed. Not even a hint of smoke.

About the kindle. There is something attractive about a small device that could hold 1000 books. In fact madre and I are headed out to best Buy and Barnes and Nobles to look at the Kindle and Nook for her. She's fairly convinced she wants one or the other. I'm not so sure I could give up the feel of a book in my hand. Why are you going back to paper?

I would highly recommend the Kindle over the Nook. Amazon is definitely a company that has more future longevity and I really think that they have MUCH better deals on e-books than the Nook.

 

[SaggyWoman]

Any more, most of them I try to pass along or donate to the library.

 

[shodan]

Short answer, No. I make many notes in them and index quotes.

 

[Rippon]

95 G.A. Henty books (these are GREAT historical fiction books for teen boys and I got them all free!!!!)

Henty's works are good reading for old folks like me too! So which ones have you read? I've consumed :The Young Carthaginian,The Dragon and The Raven,Beric the Briton,A Story of Wallace and Bruce,and ...Wulf the Saxon.

 

[exscentric]

Had quite a library several times and gave most away, keeping a few great ones. Discovered E-sword software and have given most away except some that may have some $ value. Wife keeps all of hers so she can reread. Have a kindle and android tablets with tons of free to dirt cheap -- over 20000 last count though that includes doubles I'm sure. Over 2000 for kindle.