Book Collector's Anonymous

bib·li·o·phile (ˈbi-blē-ə-ˌfī(-ə)l) noun
1. A lover of books.
2. A collector of books.

I am a self-confessed bibliophile. I probably should be in some sort of 12-step program for bookaholics. As in:

Step 1 - I admit I’m powerless over my addiction.

Well, maybe it’s not that bad, but I do admit I have a lot of books. After all, I’ve been collecting them since I was a kid. (And NO, I don’t have any on stone tablets, papyrus scrolls or even parchment!)

There are shelves on walls of two rooms in our house that are cover to cover filled with books. There are several individual bookcases in different rooms jammed full of books. There are stacks of books by my computer. There are piles of books by my leisure station (the living room couch). A book here, a book there, I’ve got books everywhere! And in the words of my sassy parrot, “Sooooo??????” You can never have too many books!!!

Books are knowledge. They tell you things you want to know. Like when you can’t get a vet to the farm and you have to figure out what to do with a sick sheep or goat! Gardening tips, how to build things, on and on it goes. “How to” books can be a lifesaver!

Books are entertainment. They take you places you might otherwise never go. They can introduce you to new ideas, people and places. Books are just flat out good company.

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. ~ Charles W. Eliot

My books are loved and well read. So it’s always a thrill to get new books, and I have 10 on the way for my birthday. Oh boy! That’s a big batch of books! It’s a book bonanza! A bountiful blessing of books! A… well, you get the idea.

Half of them are new cookbooks. A cookbook club made me an offer I couldn’t refuse, with 5 books for less than the price of one, and I only have to buy one more book at club prices to fulfill my obligation. How could I say no??? (What was that number for the bookaholics 12-step program?)

I’m really excited about these. I’ve been working on improving our diet, and regularly cooking much more than I have the last few years. Here’s a list of the books bouncing through the postal system to get here:

BEST DIABETES SLOW COOKER RECIPES
by Judith Finlayson with Barbara Selley, BA, RD

CORNBREAD GOSPELS
by Crescent Dragonwagon

HOW TO COOK EVERYTHING VEGETARIAN
by Mark Bittman

MEDITERRANEAN HARVEST
by Martha Rose Shulman

VEGETARIAN COOKING FOR EVERYONE, 10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION
by Deborah Madison

I can’t wait to get my hands on them and check out the new recipes!

The other half of the books are health/medical books. That’s another area I’m trying to improve in our lives, and these are supposed to contain news on the latest breakthroughs in alternative and conventional medicine, in addition to some reference works. (My little brain is fermenting with ideas of different uses for that information.)

Books, books, books! I love to collect them! I love to read them!
Forget Book Collectors Anonymous --
I’ll proudly proclaim I love to collect books!!!