March 5, 2018

More Than Just Books

Moving is very enlightening. Our family is realizing just how much stuff we have. How much of this do we really need? From now on, I am determined to be much more mindful of careless purchases and impulsive spending. Except for one thing. Books.

Some women collect shoes. Some collect purses. Me? I collect books. I love to read, and always have several books on my bedside table. I have always been a reader. I read books like some people ride bikes, or play golf. It is just what I do. I mainly read autobiographies, true crime novels, and some select fiction.
I purchase many books on Amazon, and I usually pass them on to friends and family. I do, however, keep a few books as part of my collection. I cannot give them away. The characters in them are like friends to me. They have been with me through college, and work, and the births of my children. They keep me awake during warm summer nights, and cozy during the long, cold days of winter.

And so, as I begin packing my most important treasures to take into the next chapter of my life, I carefully place each of my books into the box and say goodbye. For now. Soon I will open that box and place them back on the shelves, right where they belong.
I always have a stack of books waiting to be read on my bedside table.

Some of my favorite paperbacks...
Ann Rule true crime and Wendi Corsi Staub mysteries...


My very favorite series ever...James Patterson's Alex Cross series.
Alex Cross is a detective in Washington DC, and works some of the most difficult cases ever.
I began reading these way back when I was first married. 

On a lighter note, I love Leslie Meier's Lucy Stone books.
Each one follows Lucy, a wife and mother in Maine, as she tries to solve holiday mysteries in her hometown.


And then I have a few random favorites I have read and reread through the years.

What about you, my friends?
Are you an avid reader?
What are some of your favorites?
I'd love to know.

Thanks for visiting!!!



34 comments:

  1. Oh yes, I love reading. It is my favorite pastime. I find that buying books for my Kindle cuts down on the sheer amount of books in my house but I still buy those too!! Tomorrow two books I have pre-ordered come out, one on Kindle, one in the mail. Books are my weakness too and I make no apologies. Are you on Goodreads? I am not super into the social media aspect of it but I do appreciate tracking books I've read and that I want to read.

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  2. Wow, our tastes in reading are so similar. I am such an Ann Rule fan. I see that you have at least three of my favorite books of hers. I think her best book was Bitter Harvest, she was at the top of her game with that one. I read a lot of the new genre of thriller/crime novels too, but I feel like they're going downhill a bit lately. I looooove any memoir, biography or autobiography best of all, I read as many as I can get my hands on. I can't get enough of other people's lives. Which is probably why I love blogs so much. :)

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  3. Livros são cultura. Feliz semana. Cumprimentos.

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  4. I am like that with my Agatha Christie books. I re-read them overand over and never tire of them.Good thing she wrote 81 books :). It would be hard for me to ever part with them. Crazy perhaps but true.

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    1. I also love the series by Alan Bradley about Flavia a young aspiring chemist who solves crimes. It is a great series. The first book is called The Sweetness At The Bottom of the Pie.
      I love books by Max Lucado and Philip Yancey as well.

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  5. Although while easy to stack in a box they sure do make for an heavy box when moving. I know you must be really excited with the move coming up but sad in a way.

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  6. Oh, Billie Jo, we could be such good friends. I asked my husband if when he retires he would make a floor to ceiling bookcase to keep our favorite friends encased. He said yes! (He retires at the end of June). :-) My favorites are The Mitford series by Jan Karon and the Miss Reed collection along with missionary biographies. Have a fun time packing away!

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  7. Oh, BJ...will you still love me when I tell you I seldom, if ever, read.??
    I did, at one tine...as soon as I started blogging, I stopped reading...
    is it that old "I can't walk and chew gum at the same time"? Do I only have a one track mind?? ANYway, I can't remember the last time I read a book.

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  8. I do love to read and have over 200 books on my Kindle. Every night before I go to sleep I listen to a book on my Echo. When I hold a book and start reading I go to sleep after about 3 pages, but I can listen for a long time....weird I know...lol

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  9. As I looked at the photos you posted, I madly wrote down the titles!!! We have much the same taste in reading. I have been a fan of true crime for years and my family calls me "Snoop Doggie Doreen" as I also like all the true crime on TV.... Dateline, 20/20..etc. I also have shelves of books and I think it just adds to the cozy feel of HOME. It is such a joy to find others with the same loves...bless you Billie Jo.

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  10. I love to read and have many books but crafting usually takes priority. Are you managing to get started with the packing?

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  11. Oh I am totally a book person too..
    I would be happy being trapped in a book store..
    I don't think I have read any James Paterson..
    I can't remember the last book I have bought.. I usually swap books on http://www.paperbackswap.com/landing/?r_by=RklZWUVDaGpvU0k9 it makes it so easy!

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    1. Oh..thanks for sharing this link. I will have to check this out.

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  12. I love mysteries too, but anymore I can't read anything too scary or I have nightmares! Have you ever read any of the Mitford series? Can't think of author, but they are sweet stories! Good luck with packing!

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  13. It sounds as if you and my daughter, Lauren have very similar tastes in books. I am going to have to show her this post. I hope your day is going well and that you will be all cozy and settled into you new home soon. Hugs to you. ~Juli

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  14. I'm a book gal as well. Years ago when I was doing some cleaning out of them, I managed to gift several boxes to our local library. They were happy to receive them. Of course, I could never part with my favorites. Good luck with the packing. ♥

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  15. I am happy to hear you and others love books as much as I do. There is just something about holding a book in my hands... a kindle or a tablet. We actually turned our formal living room into a library of sorts.

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  16. I am an avid reader but my books are all on my Kindle now. I quit buying paper books because I was tired of running out of book shelf space and deciding what to give away to make more room. Love my Kindle.

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  17. Hi Billie Jo!

    What would we do without books?! Yes, I love books, I love to read real book, although I do read books on my tablet, but it's just not the same as turning the pages of a real book. James Patterson is one of my all-time favorite authors, and the Alex Cross books are so good...a little terrifying at times, but wonderful! I'm glad you are keeping some of your books, a girl must have her books!!

    Hope your moving is coming along okay, what a huge job!

    Hugs and Love,
    Barb

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  18. Hi Billie JO!
    I'm also an avid reader, always have been. And some books, those that are with me since my childhood and my youth, are old friends and I can't even imagine, giving them away!
    I didn't know some of those authors that you wrote about, but you've got me curious!
    Have a blessed week!
    :)

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  19. Moving gives you a good reason to clear out:) I love books too:). I have lots of James Patterson. Enjoy your day dear friend. Hugs.

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  20. Yes I am an avid reader. Voracious might be a better word when I have the time!
    I remember when I finished packing up all our books (we homeschool) last time we moved, I'd already packed nearly half our possessions (in numbers). I'm trying to cull out now since the kids are getting older.

    God bless you dear! Can't wait to see some photos of your new home.
    You've made your current home so beautiful. You should do some before and after!

    Laura

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  21. I honestly never read a book. I do enjoy reading cookbooks and magazines, though. Hope that counts! :)

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  22. I'm a big reader.... love so many and I too have overflowing book shelves :-) Probably too many favorites to list. When we moved from PA to Ohio I donated 500 books to the library, sounds like a lot but on the shelf it didn't look that way, lol. Good luck with all the packing.

    Blessings,
    Jill

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  23. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn - I've read it more times than I can count!

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  24. I love James Patterson and all of the books he has written. I also really enjoy Steve Berry and David Baldacci's works.

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  25. Seriously! Was about to do "what's on our bedside table" post today! I love this post Billie Jo! Books are friends. I love love love them too! Each one a memory of a time you read the book... and don't even get me started on children's books... swoon! I love how this move is reminding you of all the good in your heart!

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  26. I am crazy about books also. Love the Alex cross series, Nora Roberts and Sandra brown. And cookbooks, photo books,Halloween magazines, children's books... they are all like old friends to me, how do you decide what stays and what goes! : )

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  27. I am crazy about books also. Love the Alex cross series, Nora Roberts and Sandra brown. And cookbooks, photo books,Halloween magazines, children's books... they are all like old friends to me, how do you decide what stays and what goes! : )

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  28. I know what you mean - although I'm more of a hoarder of coats (like cute jackets), shoes and craft stuff! Lol I do love to read but have not been as avid as I used to be. I miss it actually. I have lots of books on my ipad just waiting for me. Which in one way is good as they don't take up a lot of space. But don't get me wrong - I still prefer a real book with real pages to turn.
    xoxo

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  29. We like a lot of the same books. I still have not read any Leslie Meirs books, that I saw on your blog a long time ago. In my defense my to read list is very long. It doesn't help that when the nerd a good book I usually will pick up a couple more from the same author and it becomes a never ending wish list. I use to read non stop but find it harder as I get older because I fall asleep so fast. I like Nora Roberts, Mary Higgins Clark, oh too many to mention but lately I have fallen in love with some Amish books. I think I'll go to bed extra early tonight and try to catch up 😊

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  30. hi trying to see if this works....sharon mccloud

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  31. it worked!!! sharon mccloud...NOW i can finally reply!!!

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Thanks so much for saying hello!

Billie Jo