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DO YOU SWAP?
gasp Naughty you! I don’t mean that kind of swapping. I’m referring to paperback book swapping. I ask because I recently received several emails inquiring if I’d be interested in participating in a used-book trade. Now this isn’t your average little ol’ one- or two-book exchange, I’m talking all-out Wall Street trading! Detailed loooong inventory lists passed back and forth, reaching in all corners of the world where you can pick and choose what books you’d like to swap.
Well, let me catch my breath and explain something before I reveal my decision on this shocking invitation…
Once upon a time, my husband’s company sold out, ripping his job from beneath his feet, and we were forced to move across several states for his new job. At the time, our twins were just beginning their senior year of high school, so my husband was required to move ahead of us for almost a year. I was left behind to pack and sell the house, and with many other stressors factoring in that I won’t go into, let me just say my anxiety level shot through the roof. Over the long, lonely months, I made a dozen trips back and forth between Missouri and Minnesota hauling a small trailer filled with furniture and belongings that I dumped into a crammed storage unit we’d rented.
Once the twins graduated and we were all reunited, we were forced to lease a small apartment temporarily while searching for a home. And I’m really quite embarrassed to admit that, bursting at the seams and still reeling from the year’s stress, I made the irrational decision to…oh God, I can’t even say it! Okay, I confess, I GAVE AWAY HUNDREDS OF MY BOOKS!
sobs uncontrollably OMG, I miss my books!
So fast-forward to today. I sat and stared at these swap invites for a long while before shifting my gaze to the crowded, sagging, restocked shelves in my office. Pack up my babies and send them off to a stranger’s house? Sure, I have no problem lending a stack of books to a neighbor or friend, or even letting my daughter take an entire series off to college (which she’d better bring back or else!), but packing up boxes of books and sending them across the country to possibly never see them again?
Uh-uh.
Nope, I’m sorry, but I just can’t subscribe to this madness once again. I would totally miss my books, even if other temporaries were sent in their place to ease the sting. Call it a sickness, but I get way too attached to my library. For instance, I have books all over my office, in the spare bedroom, in the family room, stacked by my bed, and I even talked hubby into building me shelves in the basement storage area. Ah, and this doesn’t even include all the e-books loaded on my hard drive.
Okay, time for me to go. I think I’m going to barf just remembering that day of insanity when I abandoned all those books. sniffle So what about you? Do you swap, or do you practice monogamy with your books relationship?
Titania Ladley is a multi-published, best-selling erotic romance author. Her newest Samhain release, KABANA HEAT, is a contemporary ménage set in Hawaii. Don’t miss this HOT love story! Please visit her at link for more.
I engaged in this act of insanity six years ago when we moved. And immediately regretted it also. I started scouring the used book stores and started buying up the ones I really regretted giving away.
Never again. I don’t even like to loan them to friends as I’ve often had them not return, and that’s like giving away a child. Can’t do it.
LOL, I couldn’t agree more, Leah! I get so sad when I think about all those books I gave away, many by my fave authors even. But I completely blame stress. It’s a very powerful emotion-inducing thing to weather, and often forces you to do things you wouldn’t otherwise do…like swapping. GRIN
I sooo feel your pain. Thanks for stopping by with your thoughts! :)
Titania
I have my keeper shelves that no one touches. I don’t lend these to friends, relatives, other authors, nobody. They’re by my favorite authors, many of them autographed. It would be like losing a friend to see any of them go out my door.
I have a girlfriend who borrows my books, after I’ve read them. She said she could borrow them, read them, and return them. Uh, no. I can’t even do that for someone I’ve known 40 years.
Lynn
I’ll happily loan out any book that is easily replaced. I’ll even loan out out-of-print titles if I’m feeling generous and the loan-ee has a solid track record. I won’t loan anything autographed. And all of them get checked out in the spreadsheet I have on my computer. It may seem extreme to some, but that way I know who has what and who to hunt down if something doesn’t return. This swap thing, though… *shudder* Let’s not even go there. It sounds too, too scary for me.
Lynn — Thank goodness I didn’t go that far in losing my mind…I still have all my autographed keepers. :) Agreed on loaning even to someone you’ve known forever. Books are such a personal thing, imo. Thanks for your thoughts!
Maia — ROFL about the spreadsheet!!! I love it! And I shudder right along with you on the intricate book swapping. I just can’t bring myself to do it. Appreciate your comments! :)
Titania
I have a couple of keeper shelves…well, maybe more than a couple. But this summer I gave away several boxes of books (not my keepers) that I just didn’t have room for any longer.
I knew I’d never read or re-read them. Better to pass them on and let someone who can’t afford new books have a chance to enjoy them. That’s actually how I’ve “discovered” many of my must-buy authors. :)
Otherwise, the only one I really share my keepers with is my mom. We enjoy many of the same writers, and she always gives them back. ;)
I had one of those madness induced moments. Entire shelves disappeared and…surprisingly out of the many, many books I parted with I missed one series and one single novel.
I’ve since replaced the series (and hubby is currently reading it) but I long for the Novel I lost.
I think the reason it wasn’t as bad for me was I had a shift in reading habits around that time. I no longer thrill to the ‘HIdden Realms’ fantasy series!
BUT don’t touch the books still with me. They are a part of my soul…..
I agree with Lynn about the keeper shelves. Hands off. Plus I agree with Meg on her comments. I am a book addict and have all kinds from the Harlequin site plus Brava, EC, Samhain,etc. I raise my hand and say I’m a book addict and need help.lol You guys made this easy for me to reply.
OKAY ALREADY!
I confess. I am the loanee from hell. Lend me your book, and I swear you will never get it back. Not that I don’t borrow with the best intentions at heart. I always mean to give the books back. I do. I swear. It’s just that, well. I forget.
So am I loathe to lend out books? You betcha. If I cannot return a book, why should my friends?
Jess
I can so relate.
We had to move ten years ago and I got rid of a ton of my books. sob Many of which are out of print. I’ve spent years trying to find them all and am still missing quite a few treasured favorites.
I have one friend that I trade books with. I know they’ll come back to me in the exact same condition they left. I won’t even loan books to my sister or SIL, they bend the spines and toss them on the floor of the car—the horror!
Hi Ti!
Finally got over here to make a response. NO WAY! I have so many books that are my treasures. Even if I haven’t looked at them in twenty years! I’ve got boxes and boxes and just can’t seem to give them up to anyone. Occasionally I’ll lend a book to my sister or mom but then I drive them crazy until I get them back. My husband has (more than once) asked if he can cart the boxes away to a library or Goodwill, but he never asks anymore because he knows the answer.
They are definitely my babies and I love each and every one of them!
Ruby
I’m selfish, I don’t swap unless it’s with my mom. We swap back and forth all the time. Other than that, nope, they’re all mine! LOL
I never NEVER lend anyone a book that I haven’t read yet. I must read it first in case it’s a keeper (in which case I don’t lend it unless I absoutely trust the person to give it back). As far as read ones go I only keep the really good books so I can relive the experience of reading them when I look at them. The rest I send to goodwill.
Even so I have several overflowing bookcases. Those keepers are my treasures.
Wow, lots of great responses! :)
Meg — How sweet to give away boxes of your books to those who can’t afford them. This I could do, but the swap thing…I don’t know. LOL Thanks for stopping by!
Viv — I promise I’ll keep my hands off. LMAO! I know the territorial feeling well. Appreciate your comments!
Sheila — Heehee, I think we’ve got the same addiction, but this is a good one to have, no? Big thanks for your thoughts!
Jess — ROFL! So you’re the one with all my books! grin So glad you stopped by!
N.J. — Now that really sucks when in a moment of temporary insanity, you give away out-of-print treasures. My heart goes out to you, sweetie. ;) Re – tossing books on the car floor… gasp The horrors! Now that’s just totally wrong. Reminds me of an incident I had recently where I bought a new historical romance (with some really hot man-candy on the front!) and took it along with me on a trip in a rental car. Can you believe I turned that daggam car in and left the book under the seat? SOB I hoped and prayed that someone who appreciates books found it and rescued it off the floor before it got stampeded. LOL Thanks for taking time to pop in!
Ruby — Yay, I’m so glad you came by! It’s great to see you here. :) Hey, since your hubby is good at building cabinets and such, I bet you have a whole outfitted den of books, doncha? So can I come over and check a few out of your library? Huh? lololol
Anne — You’re a riot! And I know the feeling. Sometimes, there’s only one swapping person in the world you can trust. grin
Sami Lee — I hear you on that. I have a really hard time letting my daughter read my new books before I get a chance to drool and inhale that new-book aroma. sigh But I do give in now and then. Thanks Sami, and everyone else, for taking the time to share your thoughts. Have a fun-filled weekend! :)
Titania
LOL… I had to giggle…
Pack up my babies and send them off to a stranger’s house?
A few years ago, my hubby was trying to start up an eBay business and in order to get “rankings” he was seling other things besides his good ole sports equiment. “Other things” being about two dozen of my books—okay, yes I knew it was happening (dude he’d be dead otherwise). But now… now I hoard my books with a box-stacking abandon!
Worse yet, I have a database that tells me if I read and/or liked it and other library type facts, also where in the house it’s located…. there are close to 1500 now… not bad for six years of hoarding . . . hehe
So I am gonna have to say no to the swapping!
Denise — You’re my kinda gal! A Dewey Decimal System home book plan. Hmm, now that just might work! LMAO! Thanks for your thoughts. Glad to have a fellow non-swapper on board! GRIN
Wishing you a weekend full of good books and lots o’ lovin’. :)
Titania