Tsundoku is the Japanese word for acquiring reading materials and then not reading them. I know a little something about this. Barnes and Noble is like my second home. Finding and supporting locally-owned bookshops are a passion of mine. Sometimes, I walk into these establishments and know exactly what book I want to purchase. Although, my favorite guilty pleasure is to spend time in the stacks searching for that next great read. I wouldn’t exactly define this activity as an “impulse buying” because I take painstaking measures to look up reviews of books on-line prior to my purchase. And I can’t even explain the adrenaline rush I feel after buying any book. You can almost see the skip in my step as I walk through the doors anxious to get home and start reading. But the truth is, it is rare that I start the book as soon as I get home. I’m not sure exactly what happens between the bookstore and my front door. It is a such a short drive. Too frequently, I put my new purchase at the top of my TBR pile with the best of intentions—and then I forget about it. You see, I don’t shop for a book because I NEED a book. I have no business even being in the bookstore in the first place. I have plenty of actual books to read on my nightstand and a few dozen backup books downloaded on my Kindle. I know. I have a problem. It’s called Tsundoku. I also have a cure. Today, on the first day of 2019, I set a reading goal for myself—25 books in 12 months. However, I have two hard and fast rules:
- I must already own the book. No more trips to Barnes and Noble. ☹ I just hope the company stock doesn’t drop due to my absence;
- If there is a title my book club friends select that I don’t already have, I will go to the library. You know, the other big building an equally short drive away with all the books inside. And guess what! You can borrow the books instead of buying them. (Ok, I already knew that…).
This is going to be a challenge for me. Not only because I love the bookstore, but I also love to peruse lists of recommended books. Especially ones suggested by my good friends Reese, Oprah and Sarah Jessica. But, it’s okay. I’ll simply add them to my TBR list, but I won’t buy them. I promise. In this new year, I refuse to cheat on the books I already own for the cheap thrill of a new one. In 2019, I am embarking on a journey into my own bookshelves. I’m excited to rediscover the titles that I have forgotten and the amazing stories within. Wish me luck!