A Compulsive Reader

I am a compulsive reader, I admit it. I'm not ashamed of the fact that I have two shelves full of books that I've bought and haven't read yet. I read all the time. I know for a fact that I read 112 books in 2008. I know that because I keep a list. I started the list because I was curious about how many books I actually read. I keep the list because I'm a wee bit obsessive compulsive. The list is even broken down my months since I wasn't satisfied with my 2007 list that just had a total number of books read


In addition to being a compulsive reader I also love bookstores. And when I say that I love bookstores I mean that I really, really love them. I love the smell, and the sound, and the sight of bookstores. Once in London I went to a bookstore that is 5 stories tall. It was possibly the greatest day of my life (okay maybe not the greatest day, but it definitely makes the top 20). It was what I imagine my personal heaven to look like. There were books floor to ceiling and crammed into corners. I spent the better part of an afternoon roaming the store and didn't even see half of it.

While the bookstores here just can't compare to the magical afternoon I spent at Foyles I still manage to waste plenty of afternoons just wandering the aisles of my local bookstores. I hate shopping in general, and don't understand going to a store "just to look", but a bookstore is the one store that I'm always willing to visit. It doesn't matter if I have money to spend, or time to shop I'll drop just about anything for the chance to go to a bookstore. This afternoon was a prime example; I wasted an hour (and $50 that i didn't have) at Barnes & Noble. I found 4 new books that can join the growing number of books on my shelves just waiting to be read.

I can't say why I keep buying books, or when I'll get through reading all of the books I have, but no matter what at least my compulsive tendencies aren't hurting anything...well except for my bank account.