Curing Bibliomania with a Giveaway
A vehicle stopped in front of our house. Before feet trudged onto the porch, I glanced out. My eyes strained to focus in the dark. The package appeared before the man dressed in brown.
“Thank you very much!” and I set the box on the desk. The package begged to be opened, but little eyes peered. After those eyes closed for the night, I delved in.
Would you believe the box contained books!
My husband wonders if I have bibliomania:
Bibliomania is an obsessive-compulsive disorder involving the collecting or hoarding of books…The purchase of multiple copies of the same book and edition and the accumulation of books beyond possible capacity of use or enjoyment are frequent symptoms of bibliomania.
I protest his diagnosis,
I don’t have more than one copy of a book.
Error exposed. Five copies of one book came out of the box. Scripture wrapped with art drew me to O Holy Night.
What I did not anticipate are the stunning photographs of the land Jesus traveled. Poetry, hymns, and descriptive texts enhance the biblical story of Jesus from hope promised to promise fulfilled.
But I still can’t justify buying five. One extra copy for a gift, but five!
Christianbook knows how to market to my kind. The books were only $2.95 if I purchased so many.
And still I’m not truly repentant. I wish I had a copy for each of you to enjoy. Since I don’t, I’ll have another giveaway. Simply leave a comment on this post to be entered to win a hardcover copy of the beautiful coffee table book, O Holy Night.
Please let me know if you have more than one copy of a particular book, or what book you would be tempted to buy if it was on sale.
Drawing ends Friday, December 5th at 11:00p.m. CST. Shipping is to U.S. addressed only. Best wishes!
P.S. Is collecting CDs a symptom of bibliomania? I have two copies of Focus on the Family’s Radio Theatre, A Christmas Carol. I’ll include one of them as well.
There. Now am I cured?
38 Comments
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~Renae Deckard
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I’m pretty good about giving away books when I end up with more than one copy…but for some reason, I have two sets (two volumes each) of The Illiad and The Odessey.
It’s because my mom went through a phase when I was in high school and studying mythology in English class. She decided I needed my own copy of Homer’s classics, and ended up finding two sets at two different garage sales.
Funny thing is, I’ve never read either set (had my own paperback in high school) and I’m not a big fan…but I kept them because they were from my mom and it was just so funny that she kept buying them for me.
I only have multiple copies of a few books because my friend who runs a book club sent them to me. I guess she expects me to give them to friends, but we’ve moved around a lot in the last couple of years and I’ve had a hard time making friends. I can’t get out of the house much with 10 kids and no car! But I definitely am a bibliophile, I admit it. I love books, and I get more than I can read. I plan to read them all some day. But I’m not positive that I’ll be able to. I check out more books from the library than I can possibly read in the time I have, too.
I guess I should have a giveaway, huh? I never thought of that. Maybe I’ll do that.
I would be tempted to buy Louisa May Alcott books and Francine Rivers books if the were on sale.
Thanks for the chance to win.
Love,
Penney
collecting or hoarding of books: check
multiple copies of the same book: check several times over
accumulation of books beyond possible capacity of use or enjoyment: check x infinity
No wonder I call myself a bibliophile! I don’t, however, have a copy of A Christmas Carol (I think). Movie version? Several. Book? Nada. Now if you wanna talk Shakespeare… yikes!
My buying downfall is old books. Give me an old, written-in book dated prior to 1930 at a good price and I’m in heaven.
I am constantly going through and removing books and sending them on to other homeschool families. The problem is that once I do that, I feel “justified” to pick up free books, library sales, etc, because I know I will cull them out- eventually! Great post!
Malia Russell
http://www.homemaking911.com
I have a few duplicate copies of a few classic books I bought not knowing I already had. I do collect old used books, in fact I have a whole room full of them. I don’t feel the need to own multiple copies of something, though I do own several bibles.
What a great giveaway! I occasionally end up with duplicates, by accident, and give them away to friends or my church library. :)
I have accidentally bought the same book twice, but it is not a habit of mine.
I would love this book and the CD!
What a beautiful book, I checked out the additional views and the art is exceptional – I have read your blog for sometime and have never commented, I have never commented to any of the blogs I read- so here goes – a book giveaway being my motivation to overcome my fear of seeing my words in print for many eyes to see. Your blog is a blessing. I love Tasha Tudor books and would purchase these in a heart beat. I just gave away an extra copy of an American Girl book to one of my girl’s fiends yesterday! And I have been trying so hard not to purchase books and use only library books this year in our home school studies! Not easy for a book lover!
LOL I have never bought 5 copies of a book in my life. Wanted to, though. :)
Six weeks ago I did buy two copies of “Cooking for Kings” on Amazon because I thought the first transaction never went through. Yesterday a neighbor borught my wayward 2nd copy, which has languished at their house for the last month. I really like that book. I should give it away. Thanks for the inspiration!
As for the bibliomania, I think I saw the remedy in a book here somewhere… (and it doesn’t help that we have a used homeschool bookstore here by that very name!)
Are you KIDDING?!!! I have a stack of duplicates! It’s those dratted (beloved) library booksales. I always take a list of what I have, but I’ve inevitably left something off or just miss it on my big ole list. I’m sick! :) Can’t help myself. In defense, I will add that I put EVERY book on my list–board books, picture books, coloring books (dover) and reference books. Those add up. I have been fortunate to find some goodies. BUT I DON’t have “O HOLY NIGHT”! Sounds wonderful! My new interest is art books. I’m not sure those are gettable at booksales?! Of course, NO one wants the classic, old, living books! BUT ME! :) Now I’ve let the cat out of the bag.
Blessings,
Melissa
PS Thanks for your note!!
This looks like a beautiful book!
I am pretty sure that I am a bibliomaniac. My husband would surely say so. I buy books everywhere I go. When I go to the Goodwill store, I rarely ever make it out of the book section. And I do buy multiple copies, but in my defense it is “in case we ever want to read that one for literature everyone will have a copy”! :)
Lol…I just may fall into the bibliomaniac classification. I believe that I have given away all of my duplicates, but I just can’t seem to turn away from new (to me) books; I think there is no such thing as too many. Maybe it’s the Homeschooling Mom/teacher in me. At any rate, you are definitely not alone, lol.
Hugs…Anita
I love books too — especially old ones. I used to have several copies of In His Steps, all different, from an early 1900′s edition to a comic book version. It was really hard for me to get rid of most of my books when I moved to Hong Kong. I wanted to make sure they all had a nice home to go to! Living abroad means we can’t collect books like I wish we could. I’d love to win the book, but you’d better give it to someone else. I’ll enjoy looking at yours when we visit you in January! Love, Julie
Oooh . . . that looks like a lovely book! Yes, I have been an avid book collector, however, I’ve been trying to cut back a bit (not enough space). I have been utilizing the library a lot more than I used to also.
I can only think of a couple books that I have in duplicate; “How to Stop Whining, Complaining and Bad Attitudes . . . in You and Your Children.” and “Redeeming Christmas.”
I have multiple copies of a couple of books. Some have been acquired by accident, some I’ve bought a newer copy to replace a worn one, etc. I do love my books though, CD’s too.
Sorry I haven’t commented in a while but I have been reading. Not sure if you’ve heard our news, but we learned the day after Thanksgiving that we are expecting baby #4. : )
LOLROTFL!!!! Oh dear, I hope it isn’t genetic. If so, my kids have it on both sides! We’ve been known to keep a paperback “reading copy” as well as a nicer edition of favorite books, but not multiple copies of the same edition. Unless you count the hardcover Chronicles of Narnia we have purchased for each child. And I’ve recently reached the point where I’ve accidentally mooched additional copies of books we already have because I’ve lost track of what is actually on my shelves!
My dh was reading this over my shoulder and in his professional opinion, there is nothing wrong with you (or him).
I believe the only book we have a duplicate copy of is Beach Music by Pat Conroy. We purchased the paperback first and a couple of years later I ran across the hardcover on deep clearance at a bookstore. It’s one of my favorite books so I couldn’t resist the hardcover.
I do have duplicate copies of some of our very favorite Five in A Row books – so the kids can have a copy of their own someday – (Owl Moon, The Story about Ping, and others). I also just bought duplicate copies of Gyo Fujikawa’s Mother Goose, so the each child would have one. I still have my copy of it from when I was a baby, and it has always been the main nursery rhyme book we read from around here. Special memories. :)
Thanks for hosting the giveaway – the book looks beautiful.
I am definitely a children’s book lover! …and I am not ashamed to admit that I do have duplicate copies of ‘several’ of them =) However, for most of the duplicates, I also have a corresponding cassette tape. I have a listening center set up in our playroom for my kids to listen to the stories on tape. My 6 1/2, 4 1/2, and almost 3 year old can all look at their own copy of the book as they listen. They LOVE this!
Thanks for sharing your Christmas book find with us =) It sounds wonderful.
“I would be the most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves” ~ Anna Quindlen
Your behavior is normal, perfectly normal! And, luckily, my husband would agree with me.
Oh yes, I have bought duplicate copies of the same book. Most of the time, if I find a deal on a good book, I buy an extra one for our little library.
A couple of duplicates we recently “found” on my children’s shelves:
Katy No Pocket
Old Yeller
The Littlest Angel
That looks like a beautiful Book. :)
Your comments are great! But I’m not sure they’re helping. You are all just as afflicted as I am. ;)
Kathy,
I’m glad I was able to lure you into commenting. :D
Melinda,
Congratulations! I’ve been working on a few projects that have left me terribly behind on blog reading.
Rebecca,
Whew! I feel such relief knowing that your husband thinks I’m fine. Can he talk to my husband? ;) (Thankfully, my husband just thinks it’s funny.)
Julie,
Thanks for sharing that quote. I hadn’t read it. Now it’s my new favorite.
I suffer as well. I duplicated one of my favorite books, Potatoes Not Prozac by Kathleen Desmaisons. Thanks for the giveaway! :)
Renae,
Books do attract me, but for lack of time I already have a lot on my shelf that I haven’t read. I intend to get to them someday…. However, the one you are giving away sounds great!
For the first time this year I have maxed out my library card (50 books at once), and I am so thankful for the interlibrary loan books that are available! It is making a big difference for us for homeschool, and it’s fun to read books along with Joshua.
Thanks for your great blog posts!
I would love to win. The books I have more than one copy of are for work (I am a teacher). Otherwise, I just have one of each of my favorite books. Though I do have at least a handdful of different Bibles…don’t know if that counts. clairjuly at yahoo dot com
So there is a name for this condition!!! LOL
Ok…. so the one group that I have MANY multiple copies are of the writings of Jane Austen. I love P&P and b/c my friends know I am such a JA fan, they find copies of the books and give them to me… lol…. even though I’ve read all the stories multiple times, I have multiple copies of each one… I have need to continue to collect (hoard) any and all books (no matter how many copies I have) regarding Jane Austen and/or her writings. I’m a Janite run amok. ;)
I do have 2 copies of several books. I get two copies of any book we read for school, so that way I can follow along as the nephew reads, in case he needs help with a word. Also, I’m a visual learner so it helps me to stay focused. :-) Currently, we ARE reading “A Christmas Carol.” ;-)
Thank you for the giveaway! ;-)
Yep that’s my disease Bibliomania! I think most home school moms have this. I have several copies of pre algebra, and earth science. Not to mention the copies of Physical Science! Yep it’s bad very bad. Comes with the title of Regional Contact for ICHE. LOL!
Oh man, where do I start? Off the top of my head, besides the Bible, I know I have multiple copies of the Anne of Green Gables series, Lord of the Rings Trilogy, A Case for Faith, Experiencing God, and Frankenstein.
Perhaps that is why I homeschool to mask my bibliomania – I mean every homeschooler needs their own library, right?
Bibliophile Thats what you are! (I think most homeschoolers are.) ;-)
bib-li-o-phile? ?/?b?bli??fa?l, -f?l/
–noun a person who loves or collects books, esp. as examples of fine or unusual printing, binding, or the like.
I am always getting books I already have but I have lots of homeschool friends to pass them on to. :-)
Man! I would really like the Focus on Family’s Radio Theatre, A Christmas Carol. My dd was just saying tonight we needed more storys to listen too.
Oh I entered my email wrong on the first post! Sorry
alishamommyof5@gmail.com
I love to read with a passion! I am one to buy several copies of certain books as well. Some of my favs to buy multiple copies to share with others are: Left Behind Series, The Shack, 90 Mins. in Heaven, and so forth…I did however buy 4 copies of Internet for Dummies to share with a few family members that weren’t so smart with computers. hee hee
I own several copies of Mary Engelbreit’s Mother Goose. A couple to give my kids for their memory boxes when they get older and then one that we actually read. Thanks.
Pride and Prejudice—I have several copies and truly covet every copy I see!! Have several different versions of the movie too.
I’d rather buy books than clothes! I’d love a chance to win this book – but I see I’m too late :)
I saw that you started to follow me on twitter and had to check out who you are. I’ll be checking back often!
[...] Asking you to discuss books did not help my addiction. Some of you are afflicted worse than I. [...]
The only book that I have more than one copy of is The Bible. They have been given to me over the years.
The purpose of walls of a home ?
Why, for to mark the children’s and the book collection’s gain in height !
I have multiple copies, yes I do. However, I do have a lending library, and I do have small collections started for each of my children, and I find second-hand copies of loved books to be able to afford giving them to friends…so I am covered with excuses.
Oh Holy Night ! How perfectly true !