Inspired by a book columnist for a Melbourne paper (who’s article I now can’t find online) I have declared 2009 my ‘Year of buying no books’! This columnist (whose name I can’t recall) did the same in 2008. And I thought if she can do it so can I.
Ever since my income has allowed me the luxury I have bought books on a regular basis. But I have developed a bad habit of biting off more than I can chew. The pile of unread books gradually grew to the point where it fell over and I had to start stacking them on the bookshelf. And then some even made it into boxes – the death knell. There’s no coming back from the box.
The joy of buying a new book would soon be dulled by the guilt of not having read my previous purchase … and the one before that. I felt like a book floozy. And so now the time has come for change. I will finally give my books the time and attention that has long been their due. There will be no new interlopers for a year.
I think my own unread books will last me the year, well and truly, but if they don’t I will not be tempted by the bookstore window. I will head to my local library and borrow from friends until 31 December 2009. This is my promise to myself and to my books. It’s halfway through January and I’m coping. So far so good.
