Collector, Hoarder, or Lover?

Which one are you?  Myself, I make up the collector and lover part of the equation. Of course I am talking about books. A long while back, Donna from Bites did a post that I don't really remember what it was about, but it brought on a very passionate response from most who read the post. One comment in particular stood out to me about hoarding books. Of course, I was quick to think this comment was insulting, but when I look out if from the perspective of someone to whom books do not carry the same meaning as to me, this could be how they see it.

Personally I consider myself, a lover and collector. I am a lover, because I love to read and I love books. I guess they sort of go hand in hand together. I'm pretty much always in the middle of a book. I like to have a book I can come home and finish reading or continue at all times. My name is Chioma, and I am a compulsive book buyer...sue me!

I would also consider myself a collector. Not sure why, it just kind of goes with the way I am so obsessively a perfectionist when it comes to my books. Example 1: I recently read the first book in the Georgia Nicolson series Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging. I didn't particularly like it, but now that I have the first one on my shelf, I must have the rest (which I have already ordered). Why you ask, because I want to and they will look so pretty all together on my bookshelf (Don't get me wrong, I'll probably read them...eventually).  Example 2: Lets take a look at the picture on the right. Perfectly normal section of my bookshelf. Except for the giant hardcover copy of Twilight Mediator Series Book 6 next to the rest of the series. Something had to be done about the situation, so of course I am indeed looking into buying the paperback copy. Do I need it, of course not, must I have it, of course! I, like many of you out there, have been known to buy books out of shear "prettiness" of the covers as well as just because I want to have the series. I have the first 3 books in 2 manga series that I haven't even began reading yet. I see interesting looking books, I want, so I buy! It's just the way I am!

In my opinion, those who truly love reading books and are true book lovers at heart, can't be book hoarders. I know I have an emotional attachment to my books, but its not just because they are objects that I don't want to part with. Each book means something different whether I liked it or not. They are all different in significance, depending on the story, when I read them, and I can honestly say, I would re-read almost all of the books on my bookshelf at any time.

In conclusion, I am both a lover and a collector. The idea that some people might consider my accumulation of books as hoarding never even occurred to me until I read that post. I mean I barely even have a TBR pile since I don't request ARC's and I usually only buy two books at a time, but I still have over 20 books that need to be read and to some that may be considered a lot. No real point to this post, that comment has just been hanging in my head for a while!

Thank you!