Re-reading, a quick take

So why do we keep books?

Sure there are many reasons, such as reference books that can be used over and over. One of my favorite TV lines comes from an episode of M*A*S*H in which Hawkeye talks about his favorite book. “The dictionary. I figure it’s got all the other books in it.”

Like many of you, I have many, (many, many) books on my shelves; I recently “rescued” a perfectly good bookcase someone left on the curb for our town’s bulky waste day. But if I got rid of all the books I’ve already read, I would have a lot more room in the house. My family would love that.

Let’s face it, at this point in my life I’m never going to get to most of these again and if/when I do, I almost feel guilty about “wasting” the time with so much I haven’t read yet. (I am currently rereading Sometimes You See It Coming, Kevin Baker‘s first novel. There will be another Bookshelf Conversation with him to discuss the differences between writing novels and non-fiction after his most recent title, The New York Game: Baseball and the Rise of a New City).

I have always thought rereading novels is even worse, because you know how it ends. But evidently, I’m in the minority. Yet I’ll re-watch movies constantly. The Pride of the Yankees, Eight Men Out, A League of Their Own, etc. Although, to be honest, they’re mostly just on in the background. I once viewed Casablanca more than a dozen times in a week for a project, each time concentrating on a different aspect such as scenery, lighting, etc. But evidently I am in the wrong about such things. I’ve looked into the topic and found several articles along the lines of “10 Reasons Why People Like to Reread Books.” and “Notes of a Chronic Rereader.”

Yet still I hold on to old Bill James Abstracts, various encyclopaedia about the game, and just about everything about the Mets and Montreal Expos, even though I doubt I will ever reread them. And I will never get rid of books that have been autographed by the author with a personal message. Sorry, family, your burden to deal with after I’m gone.

At least I’ve gotten into the habit of trying to get rid of something when I get a new book. Key word, trying.