We, that being two of the owners and editors of Draumr, buy a lot of books. What's a lot? Let's just say that the local Borders really should be rolling out a red carpet when we visit.
Anyway. That's not news.
What I'm here to talk about is what we do with those books.
I can't speak for Rida, but typically I buy a book, read the book, and put it up on a bookshelf. Occasionally it will be moved around, dusted off, reviewed – occasionally, like if it is part of a series or among the collected works of an author I really like, etc.
But given the volume of books I consume I seldom take the time to re-read books I've bought.
Some will ask – why buy them in the first place? The American Library system is perfect for the one-time consumption of stories. Well, nothing against the library, but I haven't actually visited one in years and years. When I was a teenager I was a frequent consumer there, with the notoriously bad habit of returning things late. Or, um, occasionally not at all. (Shame!!)
I have a strong collector side – not news – and I do hope, with every book acquisition, that it earn a place on the re-read list. Most don't, but occasionally they make it.
But there are gems…
Currently I'm finishing up Woken Furies by Richard K Morgan, the third book (and so far, final) book in the Takeshi Kovacs books. A very violent, dark cyberpunk world splashed with a lot of ruminations on the politics of revolution. I've very much enjoyed the series – and for that matter, Morgan's other two books, Market Forces and Thirteen as well. Good stuff, and I'm pleased it's on the re-reading list.
Of course this means there are 20-odd books that I haven't read even once yet waiting for me, and oh, look, submissions!
–Robert