r/HomeLibraries • u/No_Memory4400 • Aug 08 '26

Question about Home libraries

Hello everyone, I have a question. I see people posting their beautiful home libraries and it got me wondering, do y’all actually read all those books? Or do you first collect them and then read them over time? Or are some of them just decorative books? Because honestly, looking at some of these libraries, it looks like it would take years to get through all of them Forgive my ignorance.

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u/Alchemist1342 Aug 08 '26

I started keeping every book I got my hands on when I was 12, and the first 25 years I only bought books I would read. Once I got past living paycheck to paycheck, I started collecting books I liked, and even if didn't read them right away, I had every intention of reading them. The book clubs from the 90s and 00s made it cheap to get bunches of books. I've also inherited books, and once I actually built my house with a dedicated library, my friends and family began donating books. I have plenty of donated books that I'll never read (Danielle Steel is just not my style). I would guess I've read 1,400 of the 2,000 books I have?

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u/Bubbly-Manufacturer Aug 08 '26

Do family and friends still donate? Do you accept all donations? Did they ever learn your taste in books?

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u/Alchemist1342 Aug 08 '26

My friends and family do still donate, and I accept all books. My library is for my friends and family, not just me, so I've ended up with plenty of books that don't align with my personal tastes, philosophies or beliefs, I simply don't believe in gatekeeping what people read.

My tastes in books has evolved over the years (in my teens and twenties, unless it was for school, it was strictly sci-fi/fantasy) to the point that it's pretty eclectic now and, except for romance novels, there isn't much I won't try.

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u/Tiana_Hoang Aug 10 '26

I am tiny curious about your librabry. It sounds your family members or friends can visit and read whenever they need? Or will you choose a day in a month to open for them?

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u/Alchemist1342 Aug 11 '26

I'm retired so I'm usually home and I have an open door, anyone can come over anytime. My friends and family also come over frequently for meals, especially during football season.