It’s no good, I have to tell you. My name is Penny, and I’m a bookaholic.
It started at a very young age. I blame my mother.
She was a librarian and indulged her habit in Bristol Library before she was married. When we moved to Norfolk when I was very small our local village only had a voluntary library service in the St John’s Ambulance hut and it didn’t take long for Mum to volunteer. Once it was taken over by the County Library she worked there part time and by the time I was at High School there was a posh new Library and Mum had a full time job until she retired.
So right from an early age, there was a never ending flow of books through our house. I can’t remember not being able to read, but I can remember getting through seven Enid Blyton books a week in the summer holidays. I actually struggle even now to choose books in the library because for years I was spoilt by my mother handing me books and saying, ‘You’ll love these’, and I always did.
Now there are sooo many temptations to indulge my little habit. There’s Bibliophile, ‘Three for Two’ and ‘Buy One Get One Half Price’ offers in Waterstones and W H Smith, and the most tempting one of all, Amazon. I get into trouble about my Amazon habit, My son, as a writer, (That Elusive Line) tells me stories about how it’s affecting publishing, and independent bookshops and I agree with what he says, and understand how frustrating it is to those who are affected by the march of big business. But I’m doing my best to support EVERYBODY! We have a lovely new independent bookshop in Norwich, The Book Hive, and I make every effort to support it,(and it’s not hard!)
But Amazon. It’s like a wicked siren insinuating itself onto my emails. ” Hello-oh! Look…. You bought this, so we know you’d LOVE this…Go on, you know you want to…”
And I do…I do..and with one click it’s mine, and is delivered next day (Well I have to subscibe to Amazon Prime, don’t I?)
These days the temptations are always the books which feed my creative habit, and Oh, they are SO tempting. So colourful, such wonderful photography and then, when they arrive so many of them even feel gorgeous, even sensuous, with satiny, velvety papers and covers…
And I wasn’t well, and I needed cheering up, and there was this book…
It’s just gorgeous…
(Sorry about the shiny bits, it’s that sumptious paper you see.)
These are so CUTE, and 2010 is the year of the baby in our close and extended family…
An entrelac blanket, so no sewing up required…
…and a simple sweater pattern sized from toddler to extra large man.
Somewhere to store all those yarns…
And even suggestions for wrapping up all the gifts for giving…
So today I’m off to Norwich to buy that last ball of yarn to finish the crochet blanket, and I might just have to indulge in a ball of something gorgeous to knit a little something or other…
Do you have a secret book habit? Go on, you can tell me…
P.S. If you want a chance to win a childrens’ picture book, follow the link to the blog mentioned above!
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My name is Penny, also and I am a bookaholic and crochet and knittingaholic!! I must have read every Enid Blyton book there was growing up and my mother kept telling me to branch out! Didn’t hurt me a bit!!
I have so many books that I have difficulty in finding space for them. I can never get rid of any either, that would be like deserting a friend.
If there is an animal on the cover….then it’s mine!
I used to run Royal Navy establishment libraries (in my past life In England)…reading books all day, and then back in my cabin…something I picked up at the weekend. I am hooked! My Dad is to blame; Saturday mornings was library time and I remember he told me “you can pick ANY books you want, from ANY section not just the children’s”. Oh, how I loved that!
Jane.
It’s ok. Your secret is safe with us. We need more book space here and not sure where to put any. Bill is paranoid about getting rid of any books – EVER!! I think it’s because there was a dearth at home as a child; about three I counted. I’m a hoarder too and even have a few very battered scribbled-in books that belonged to my grandparents as children, so circa 1900! It’s a family habit then. Enjoy your addiction to the printed word. Nobody dies of it unless they trip over the pile of books on the stairs!
Why have you got MY books on YOUR shelves? What can I say – great choices!
Oh my goodiness, your book collection looks delicious. I LOVE reading and so have a made collection of fiction, but now that my yarn love has evolved I love paging through all te books in te library, Waterstones, Borders etc but somehow manage to resist buying. It’s like I get so overwhelmed by the beauty that i don’t purchase! Strange but true, but saying that I think the above book needs me to have peek on Amazon… oh no what have you started? Especially now that knitting is ruling over crochet in my house at the moment… Love your confession, loved this post xox
sorry about the BAD spelling must be my headcold taking over!
Hello Penny! Enjoy books! I love books and I really miss the library from Finland! I need to read every day…I’m lucky to read also in English and Greek but it’s never the same than your own language. I have now my books temporarily in the boxes so I can’t even watch them…
Best wishes and hugs for Higgins and Henry!
I have the same book obsession, but mine are cookbooks! Although, I do really want that knitting book now…everything looks so nice!