I couldn't help laughing at 'truly violet's' reply as I can SO empathize. I have had years to gather these friends about me too, and for a long time it was just as she described, then I built a house with a huge library, with all the aisles and alcoves etc to store them. Over eleven thousand.
When we left that house I just had to be ruthless and hold each one and think, "As much as I loved you, will I ever read you again?" I could excuse keeping many of the youth titles as I have children and grand children, but others ... truthfully, I had changed. As an adult they didn't pass the test of time.
Many I had purchased secondhand as a student with my lunch money. I had grown up with them and carried them all over the world with me. I now have less than four thousand, but my ebooks are increasing, and I don't need to buy them shelves or pay for storage!
