Weekend Reads #39: Refusing to Let Go

Weekend Reads is a weekly discussion on a variety of topics. At the end of the post, I’ll include what I plan to read on the weekend.

This weekend’s question:

Do you own books that you don’t like?

Last year Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, I bought a small bookcase. It’s about half the size of my main bookcase. Unlike my main bookcase, which has about five shelves, this small one has three shelves that are divided in two to create cubbies. When I got it, I filled four of the cubbies, double-stacked. Now it’s almost March and all six of the cubbies are filled. I’ve once again ran out out of room for my books. What to do?

I guess it’s time to unhaul some books, though I’m against doing so especially for books I bought. As I’ve said in another Weekend Reads post on unhaulings, it seems like a waste of money to me. It’s hard for me to unhaul a book unless I got it for free. It just makes me feel guilty. Plus, I’m very attached to my books. I hardly loan them to others or give them away. There have been quite a lot of inconsistencies in my life but my books have always been constant. It’s an anchor I can rely on to always be able to return to. They are always there. Also, I feel like I have shared and given away so much of the other parts of my life and possessions over the years that my books are the only things I can consider as truly my own. I guess that’s why I prefer owning a brand, new book to an old, used one. I’m selfish with them. I’m hooked on them. I refuse to let them go.

Even when I hate them.

There are some books on my shelves that I don’t like. Some I haven’t given much of a chance so I keep them to reread them when my mind is more open or when I’m in a great mood (I’m thinking of Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind here). Others I know I will never like and would never reread. Why do I keep them? I believe the main reason is because I bought them with hard-earned money and I do not want to squander what was spent by giving away a book I dislike (thinking of Talon by Julie Kagawa here). Still, there is the matter of the limited shelf space and though my room is fairly large, I prefer to store my books in a bookcase than on the floor. But I guess it’s time that I get over my hangup and start weeding out the books I dislike, the ones I know I will never reread, and the textbooks I know I will never glance at much less crack open again.

It’s time to let go, I guess.

What I’m reading this weekend:

I found myself in between books a few days ago and could not decide on what to read next. I was stumped as I stared at my bookshelf on Wednesday trying to quickly choose a book so I could catch my bus, which was due to arrive in 10 minutes. I grabbed the ARC of The Last Days of Magic by Mark Tompkins because the book is scheduled to be published on March 1. I’m only a few pages in so far and the story is still being set up but there is a lot of background information and facts that sometimes pull me out of the story. However, I am curious so I keep reading.

The next day, I picked up Soledad by Angie Cruz on my way out the door. I don’t borrow books from others but my co-worker insisted that I read it. She said I would like it and she was right. I’ve only read a few pages, but Cruz hooked me to her story from the first sentence. I’m still trying to puzzle out how. I guess it’s because I can relate to the protagonist. The first sentence sums up how I feel most times.

I was satisfied reading just these two books but a novel I had on hold on Overdrive was available so I downloaded it — ‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King. I borrowed ‘Salem’s Lot assuming it will be like Carrie, which is the only Stephen King book I’ve read thus far, however, the essay by King in the 2008 edition of ‘Salem’s Lot hints that the story will scare the shit outta me so now I’m scared to read it.

What books are you reading this weekend? Have you read any of these? And do you hold on to books you don’t like?

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