I’ve written about tsundoku before – the habit of piling up unread books. It was brought into painful focus earlier today when I opened up a box of books that has been undisturbed for several years. For “several” you could probably substitute “ten” judging by the publication dates.
When I read The Elements of Murder last month I was surprised at my familiarity with poisons and notable poisoning cases. Not only surprised, but quietly impressed with the breadth of my knowledge.
So when I found a copy of the paperback edition in the box today it was a bit of a downer. Not only is my knowledge based on reading the book ten years previously, but my memory is in fact so bad I didn’t remember buying the book twice.
It’s also a reminder that when I pictured the seven books in the photograph I was intending to review them swiftly. I’ve actually managed two and started two more. I haven’t even finished reading one of them. But I have bought more, and read several of them.
Ah well.
I suppose this officially the start of old age…
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I am also guilty of Tsundoku. I am a book-aholic. (Unrecovered.) I have just discovered that the town I will be staying in on my holiday in a couple of weeks … has a second-hand bookshop. Oh dear! 🙂
You say that as if the second hand bookshop has come as a total surprise. Nice try! 🙂
Damn! You saw straight through me! 😉
I recognise the signs. 😉
Restrained myself and just came out with two! I consider that quite an achievement. 🙂
It is. You did well. 🙂
The Japanese are masters at coming up with one word for a concept. Love it! I, too, have many unread books around the house, and it gives me great comfort to have them here. I know that even if rain, snow, or hail should come, I will always have a book to read.
I will explain this comforting thought to Julia. 🙂
That’s why I leave bookmarks in after I’ve read them 🙂
🙂
I would love to be Superman just so I could read books at his speed.
That would be fantastic. I did try speed reading at one time but though it’s great for extracting details for research I was always worried I’d miss something, and definitely couldn’t read like that for pleasure.
Or possibly summer time and a busy life. Winter is the time for book reading.
I have to admit it’s getting busier now I’ve recovered from the indignities and insertions. . 🙂
Very true statement, there.
Ah so there’s a name for that! HMMM-then again….what’s in a name? Unread books!!
This is 2017, we have words for all sorts of things. Makes you wonder how we ever got by. 🙂