multiple copies

[catherine at cator-manor.demon.co.uk]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., storm <msmacgoo at o...> wrote:
> This is very tragic, I bought a new copy of PoA today (and I would 
have bought 
> GoF but they were out) because I can't take it that mine are STILL 
out on loan. 
> I could have given the money to charity, I could have done a heap 
of things. I 
> feel completely self indulgent.
> 
> But I'm much happier.
> 

Don't worry about it - I have multiple copies of most of my favourite 
books.  I have those which I love, and are in barely-read condition 
which stay on my shelf for me to look at and admire (and smell - I 
love the smell of books) and other copies  which I will, on occasion, 
lend out.  I have too many friends who are of the opinion that once 
you have read a book, there is no point keeping it.  The concept of 
rereading is alien to them.  Therefore, I now lend very 
discriminately because there have been too many occasions when my 
books are lost forever and I have had to buy another copy.

BTW - my husband cannot understand why I reread.  When he got to 
grips with the fact that I have read all my favourites several times, 
he changed tack.  Now, everytime I come home with a bag of books, he 
says "Not more books - haven't you got enough?"  He also used to 
object to them being on display, on shelves.  When we first moved in 
together he tried to consign most of my books to the garage.  It took 
me four years to actually get him to agree to a book case in the 
sitting room.  I don't think I am that unusual though - am I the only 
person out there who gets a great deal of satisfaction from looking 
at a well-stocked bookcase?

Catherine, who dreams of a bigger house in which she can have her 
very own library.