[Book Talk] How I Accidentally Went on a Book Ban

10:13 Cilla 17 Comments

I have been trying to put myself on a book budget - if not an outright book ban - for the last two years. Last year, it was overly ambitious and I failed miserably. This year, I actually haven't been keeping too close an eye on my book budget, until I was writing my May rewind post. I realised then that I hadn't bought a new book since March! How did that happen?

I was not in a reading slump. In fact, I read seven books in those three months, which is pretty good for a reader as slow as I am! They were largely books I either borrowed or already owned. So it's possible that I had a clear TBR list in my mind and didn't feel the urge to buy more.

I thought that maybe I just haven't been tempted by any of the new releases. This is not true - I can think of at least three books that I would like to read (Strange the Dreamer, Begin End Begin, Breaker and the Sun), all of which I'd have to buy because the library either doesn't have them or there's a looong wait list for a copy.

I think this accidental book ban came down to one reason: I didn't think about buying books. I was preoccupied with my studies, and having new books didn't feel as rewarding as it used to be (shocking, I know). I didn't go out much, and when I did, I mostly ate out with friends who don't gravitate towards bookshops. I still went to the library, but only twice in three months and I didn't check out anything new the second time.

In hindsight, it's a bit sad that I didn't have the energy for something I usually enjoy. (Not buying books also meant I didn't spend time browsing bookshelves and getting excited or curious about all of the titles.) On the other hand, it's funny to me that I didn't need to hold myself strictly to any budget to save money, I just had to be really busy!

What was the longest time you went without buying a book?

17 comments:

Aj @ Read All The Things!17 June 2017 at 20:51
I’ve gone several months without buying a book. I agree that being busy does help with book-buying bans. If I’m not thinking about books, I’m not buying them.

Aj @ Read All The Things!
Rachel @ chocolateandchapters18 June 2017 at 02:40
Gosh, I wish this would happen to me! I have set a New Year's Resolution for the past TWO years to not buy any books until I've read all the books I already own on my actual, physical TBR shelf. I try so hard, and then I always break. It's so bad! I was down to about 20 books, which is totally readable for me in about a year, and then I went to the bookstore... and boom, I'm drowning in books again. I just get weak! I really should make a goal with another person and be accountable about it. haha

So that's awesome that you did so well with not buying any for so long!

By the way, I found your post through the It Starts at Midnight discussion challenge. :)

https://chocolateandchapters.wordpress.com/
Unknown18 June 2017 at 20:30
As I'm heading towards college, it's pretty important to me to stop buying books to save money. It's hard, but I tend to find alternatives, such as using Overdrive from my library to borrow ebooks, etc.
Erika19 June 2017 at 07:54
I'm the same! I go on unintentional book bans mainly because of school too. Everything just piles up, and I don't even think about going to the bookstore to buy books since I'm so busy with homework. It's both horrible yet good (for my wallet)!
~Erika @ Books and Stars
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction20 June 2017 at 03:36
Guess you found a way to kick the habit---just get way too busy. Unintentional book bans are the best kind because you're not forcing yourself to make sacrifices. :-)

Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Unknown20 June 2017 at 15:05
AHA yeah I find during super busy periods of the year I never buy books because I don't have time and energy to think about shopping but whenever I'm free or I see my favourite bookstagrammer post about a book I SUDDENLY NEED IT!
Rachel 21 June 2017 at 07:30
Do you have any books on your shelves you can read? I have limited my book buying too as I still have so many backlist books I've yet to read. I keep up with new releases through eARCs, but I always buy books to support my favorite/up-and-coming authors. Cheer up, the book ban will end eventually!

Rachel @ A Perfection Called Books
Kel22 June 2017 at 23:29
I can go quite a while without buying books. I don't remember exactly how long, but when I'm on a budget and don't have much money coming in, I go into super cheapskate mode. Being busy definitely keeps you from spending time getting wrapped up in the hype and rush (and fun) of looking at all the new books to buy/read. And libraries are true wallet-savers.
If I really want to buy books, I'm usually still a cheapskate about it and make a challenge of finding it for as little as possible. :)
Rissi23 June 2017 at 11:25
I never seem to curb my monthly "add-to-my-shelf" books. Oh, I have the thought that I'll curb the book buying, but then I see all the new (monthly) releases, and yeah... there goes those good intentions. ;)

Like the comment above, it can sometimes be a bookstagram pic, and I'm all like, "Ooo! THAT ONE IS OUT ALREADY!? GET ON MY SHELF." It's a problem for sure.

Despite the book buying ban, I'm glad you still read some good ones.

Thanks so much for visiting Finding Wonderland!