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‘an intriguing read . . . keeps the reader guessing . . . a lot to enjoy in this romp through the Cambridge Commons . . . a strong sense of place and a narrative style that is both energetic and engaging.’ [Dead Letters]

- Margaret Murphy, SHERLOCK

I am buying books in my sleep

imagesRegular readers of my blog will know that I have decided to abstain from buying books for three months. I began on the 24th September and I have been more or less faithful to my vow (I’ve bought a book at a book launch and a friend’s newly published poetry collection – I wanted to support her right away and not wait until the end of my moratorium). There have been other times when I have been very sorely tempted, but I haven’t succumbed.

Maybe this is why last night I dreamt I had bought two books! I’d done it before I remembered that I wasn’t supposed to and I wondered how I was going to explain this on my blog. Perhaps I could give the books away as presents? Then I realised I was dreaming and woke up feeling relieved. And which books were they? A small navy blue hardback World’s Classic collection of the Father Brown Stories of G. K. Chesterton and a second-hand paperback of Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy. Why these in particular? I have no idea. For one thing I already own both of them. Murder is Easy is pretty good, but not one of Christie’s absolute best. I love the Father Brown stories, but I don’t need another copy of that either. I was buying them on a trip to Thailand, a place I’ve never visited. The mysteries of the unconscious . . .

It’s clear though that abstinence is getting to me. Perhaps next time, I’ll sleepwalk to my computer and find in the morning that I have bought dozens of books on-line.

10 Comments

  1. Carol in Maryland
    November 2, 2015

    Hmmm – if you are dreaming about buying books you might be justified in buying one for your mental health – ? :0)

    Reply
    • Christine Poulson
      November 3, 2015

      Hi Carol. Would love to claim it is a mental health issue, but I think that would be letting myself off the hook too easily. No, I am going to try to stick it out.

      Reply
  2. tracybham
    November 2, 2015

    I have been following your posts about not buying books for 3 months. It would be great if I did something like that … I have many, many more books than I can read anytime soon. I haven’t figured out what would work for me. I don’t want to stop buying vintage paperbacks and I don’t want to pass up a book I have been searching for for years. That dream is funny, sort of like the kind of dream where you don’t go to class until the final and find you know nothing on the exam.

    Reply
    • Christine Poulson
      November 3, 2015

      I felt things were getting out of hand, Tracy – and I hadn’t realised how much I was spending until I did my accounts. I think that when I go back to buying books, I might put a cap on what I spend. Would that work for you? I still have those exam dreams where I am back at school!

      Reply
      • tracybham
        November 3, 2015

        That is a good idea, Christine. I do have a limit, in theory, getting near to retirement and all. But often I ignore it. That might work for me.

        Reply
        • Christine Poulson
          November 3, 2015

          I’ll need to do something like that, I think. Also use the library more.

          Reply
  3. Susan D
    November 3, 2015

    Perhaps it’s a challenge to write a short story based on the dream. Sounds intriguing to me. (Why those books? Why Thailand?)

    Reply
  4. Will
    November 3, 2015

    You’re not alone. I also dream about buying books, especially the ones I have already decided not to buy because it would be an indulgence. The dreams only stop when I buy the books. By contrast, I gave up chocolate and have never dreamt about eating it. Should I invest the chocolate money in more books? Hmm, chocolate. Now I just fancy some. Cancel the previous thought. Yep, it’s a sanity issue.

    Reply
    • Christine Poulson
      November 3, 2015

      I’m amused by the prompting of your unconscious, egging you on to buy books. I hardly ever dream I am buying things, so my repressed longing for books must be pretty powerful. But giving up chocolate – that would be a step too far! I ought to make it clear: I think buying books is an excellent thing. It had just got out of hand in my case. We have a house full of them.

      Reply

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