Saturday, November 22, 2008

Contemplation of an obsession

I bought a couple more books today, on a range of subjects, provoking the usual protestations from my Sweetie.

When I came home and logged them into my collection, I discovered that since April of 2007, a little over a year ago, I have added exactly 100 books to my home treasure trove. That makes a total of 1,446.

Added is a pitiful word. How about crammed? Wedged? Sweetie won't allow them in the living room or the bedroom -- nowhere but in the approximately nine foot by ten foot room that I claim as my library.

Perhaps Sweetie's concerns are valid. Perhaps I am becoming one of those crazy people who get discovered by the health department unable to get out of their own front doors due to their obsessive collections.

I've long known that even if I quit work and never left my house again, and did nothing but read until my eyeballs dried up (and the bank foreclosed on us and tossed us into the street), still I would never be able to get through all of them.

Especially as my current selection, the Nag Hammadi (Gnostic) Library, keeps putting me to sleep.

Why read it if it is so boring, my Sweetie asks. She just doesn't understand. I can't comprehend the world today if I don't understand the Christianity that has so profoundly impacted it. I can't understand Christianity if I do not explore all of its currents, of which Gnosticism is one.

So I will push on through, hoping to eventually gain some comprehension.

4 comments:

Janice Thomson said...

I have so many too ECD - and always swore when I retire I'll start reading more of them. Alas I've been retired 8 years now and have not read many more of them. But I did quit buying them LOL

Eastcoastdweller said...

I know enough retirees, Janice, to know that most of them are as busy now, or busier, than before they retired!

molly said...

You remind me of my oldest son.....He has lost the Battle of the Books. He no longer controls them. They definitely have the upper hand! But then, you'll never be lonely or bored if you have a sufficiency! I have decided the library is the way to keep our collection under control!
Borrow, read, return, repeat!

Amar Mandair said...

Speaking of things to read, I have so many of your posts to catch up on ECD! Life has been geting in my way but I will return, not for anyone else but myself. Your political posts especially are ones I want to get to first!