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‘One of those rare gems that comes to the reviewer out of the blue . . . enough twists to shame a cobra . . . the story fairly rips along, defying the reader to put the book down . . . Christine Poulson should be heralded as the fine entrant to the world of crime fiction she most certainly is.’ [Stage Fright]

- WWW.CHRISHIGH.COM

Two thirds of the way through my book moratorium

Cartographies cover front for webIt is two months today since I began my book-buying moratorium – and I am still going strong. It was most difficult at the beginning, when I was trying to break the habit. There was a danger that I just would buy more DVDs instead – they too are so cheap in charity shops – even though we have too many that we haven’t watched. So for the time being I am avoiding charity shops, except when I go to drop books off.

I can’t remember when I last bought so few books. I think it must have been before I was earning a salary. I wonder if over the years I have spent more on books than on clothes. It seems quite possible.

I’m not making the inroads into the TBR pile that I’d like. I find that I’m reading books from the library a lot. I’ve just finished Agatha Christie’s Come Tell Me How You Live about life in Syria with her archeologist husband, which I got out of the London Library, and that made me want to read Death Comes as the End, which she set in Ancient Egypt. That one I already own and I am halfway through.

The collection of poetry by my good friend Anca Vlasopolos (pictured above) arrived yesterday and is one of the few exceptions that I’ve allowed myself (the other was a book I bought at a launch). It is attractively produced with charming illustrations and abstinence makes this even more of a treat.

 

4 Comments

  1. tracybham
    November 24, 2015

    You have inspired me. I have planned a three month book-buying moratorium starting in January, and I will at the same time be participating in a TBR books only challenge for three months. I will probably include some of my husband’s books in the TBR challenge because I have been planning to read them for years, but I am sure I will get through a lot of my own books too.

    Reply
    • Christine Poulson
      November 25, 2015

      Excellent! Generally I am in favour of people buying more books, but it is different in the case of people like you and me. The New Year is a good time to start – and it also gives you time to prepare. I think this will change my book-buying habits more generally, though I am not sure how yet. Please let me know how you get on.

      Reply
  2. moira @ClothesInBooks
    November 25, 2015

    I had a moratorium last year, but now feel I need to do it again. Maybe the best way is a month a year of no-book-buying and cutting down the existing piles – I think that might suit me best. I might (cautiously) nominate January for the moratorium… see how I get on.

    Reply
    • Christine Poulson
      November 27, 2015

      Sounds like a good idea. I too could well do this on a regular basis – and it might also prompt me to review my book-buying habits generally.

      Reply

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