The Dusty Bookshelf discussion

Hey guys,

This has always been a problem in my life, but I have found that any item (usually book or movie) that I need to have, almost in a hyperbole "gonna die if I don't have it way" quickly loses my interest once I obtain it.

It feels like a burden to check out something I want from the library. Worst off, it can be a burden. I can't hang out tonight, I have to finish reading these seven books I checked from the library.

Once you go up, you must come down. And withdrawal hurts.

Anyone else feel this way?


Check out my webcomic, updates every Thursday: http://reddkaiman.blogspot.com/2013/0...

Not in the slightest. The enjoyment I derive just LOOKING at my acquisitions, justifies the purchase and lends my tremendous enthusiasm to the next search. I can savour them a while before I read (so many). Just knowing the mission is accomplished feels great.

When one is read, then comes the option: do I like it enough to keep, or trade off for credit. Glancing at something already read and liked enough to keep, also brings a smile. I can tell others the story and reading challenges give me another outlet to do something with the journey of each story.

There is no "crash" because I've no artificial, unreasonable "high". Physical books are a great pleasure of my life and I love seeing the colourful spines of what I collected even as I fall asleep.

it's a great thrill, especially if you saved for it... or it is something I was looking for... I think that my top moments were purchasing all malazan books and then reading them all and be proud and all, and buying two E.Wagner tomes was exciting as well - my library welcomed these flagships :)))

To be fair it might differ for collectors rather than borrowers, of physical books. I agree about the thrill of a hard-to-find book, or music album. You can get everything used at Amazon but I watch for 'very good' condition at a non-crazy price. It can take years.

Two titles felt like I really scored a marathon! "The Maze In The Heart Of The Castle", Dorothy Gilman and "Guide To Fiction Writing", by the great gothic legend Phyllis A Whitney. People say her advice helps novel-writers to this day.

I'm with Carolyn's first comment. I don't get a 'high' as it's considered to be able to experience a 'crash'.

I love book buying, physical and digital, and being able to just look at them (god how I wish I had an entire outhouse for them) on my shelves if they have been books I've enjoyed reading is enough for me. They all hold something different.

OP: you seem to be comparing books to actual steps when taking real drugs that do actually mess with your brain and other parts of your body to cause the high & the crash. That's like saying you get a high when having a really good day and then suffer from withdrawal 'crash' afterwards. I rather tend to enjoy the after effects of that by reminiscing on the memories and feelings and enjoying the fact that I managed to have a really good day (or read).