I think I need to go to rehab. It's time to admit that I am an addict. (Warning: sad)

[XemaSab]

So I lost my job a few months ago, and I have been living on unemployment. Money is tight. :(

I always thought I was in control, but lately I've been thinking about indulging a bit.

I had lunch with my friend Michelle, and after lunch I was driving down upper State Street and spur of the moment, I did it. I gave in.

I went into Chaucer's and spent 30 bucks I couldn't afford to spend! :cry:

http://www.chaucers.booksense.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp

So does anyone know of a good program for this? :shrug:

[WildEyedLiberal]

1. I am sad to say that there is no cure.

I used to work at Barnes and Noble and for all extents and purposes they might as well have paid me in books. That's what I spent my paycheck on anyway.

[Mythsaje]

2. I'm not sure there's a rehab program for bookaholics...

Though there is a treatment option that helps certain select addicts save money. We call it reviewing.

[zanne]

7. Bookaholics cannot go bookless.

I'd try a used bookstore. Everybody knows us book junkies will buy dog-eared, underlined, graffiti-filled, highlighted books for $1.00.

[RetroLounge]

31. Good Advice

:D

RL

[MissHoneychurch]

3. There is a cure

its called libraries

:hug:

[DarkTirade]

8. That might satisfy the cravings, but I don't know if its a long-term solution.

I've found the best thing to do is just to collect your own library, enough that you can deal with your addiction in your own home and it doesn't have to interfere with your life outside your home.

[MissHoneychurch]

10. Ahem

I am a librarian and haven't been to a library to check out books in ages (pretty much since I started to study it in 1995) ... but please don't tell anybody .... I am not able to go to a bookstore and NOT come out with at least one book .... I am an addict myself. Here. I admited it.

[DarkTirade]

14. Aye, I have that same addiction too. The only reason I haven't worn myself down to broke-ness by it

is because I started out broke. :)

[XemaSab]

21. I usually get about a bookshelf of books a year.

:hide:

[hfojvt]

4. you ate out for lunch

and think the book money shouldn't have been spent? What did the lunch cost, and what books did you get? If it's Potter or Nabokov, then I would say you have a problem.

[XemaSab]

22. My friend treated me for lunch!

I got the rerelease of John Masefield's "Box of Delights" and "Sibley's Birding Basics!" :cry:

[RetroLounge]

5. There's NO CURE!

:hi:

RL

[supernova]

15. Pusher!

:hi:

I have the same addiction. I have more books than clothes, more books than shoes. More books than makeup (and I do have A LOT of make up.)

[Fire Walk With Me]

18. Ask RetroLounge if "the first one's free" ;)

[crispini]

25. Oh hells yeah.

I think I have more books than clothes, shoes, AND makeup put together. In fact, I believe the library outnumbers pretty much every damn thing in the house. :D

[Tommy_Carcetti]

6. I too am an addict....

At one time, a book store was a delightful once in a while treat due to the fact I was 30 miles from the nearest serious bookstore.

But ever since I've had a B&N three miles down the street from the office....well...well...well...every other lunch hour I take I end up there, reading my politics books, my baseball books, my travel books, perusing the CDs! I can't help it!

If anything, at least take solace in the fact that you are not alone. That there are many out there like you and me who suffer from this crippling afflicition!

[XemaSab]

23. I have a Borders *and* a Barnes and Noble

four blocks from me! :o

[NightWatcher]

9. of your book collection, what percentage have you not read completely yet?

for me it's about 75%. I have read a little of all of them, but each time I get started another one jumps onto the bookcase. Damn you Barnes and Noble

[BreweryYardRat]

11. Same problem here.

Whenever I've had to move lately, I've been carting around TWO BOOKCASES worth.

[redwitch]

29. We can never move again.

Too many books to pack. We're insanely fond of books. And between us, we've read most of them, sometimes twice!

[Ellen Forradalom]

12. I think you need to go to RetroLounge's rehab center in Milwaukee n/t

[ElsewheresDaughter]

13. Hello, my name is Cynthia, I am a Biblioholic

Biblioholism: The Literary Addiction

This is the first book I recommend to friends who already have "too many books" (as if that were possible!).

Biblioholics Anonymous?

:hi:

[nadine_mn]

16. Thank you for being brave and sharing your addiction

I too just lost my job and I am anxiously awaiting Naomi Wolf's book from Half.com.

I have had to restrain myself from going to Half Price Books and going into overload.

I too have 75% or more unread books....I am saving them for an "emergency"....my fear is someday I won't have anything to read....that fear keeps me awake at night.

The library is a good cure - especially their book sales...I usually load up.

I loved working at B&N, I was a supervisor so I got to put out all the new non-fiction books (my area was history, arts and crafts, travel etc). It was like Christmas everyday opening boxes finding all those new books....and the advance reader copies....

I might need a cigarette now...I am too worked up

[Fire Walk With Me]

17. You're doomed.

Someone is always writing a new book, and that means that it has to be read. Damn themmmmm!

[unpossibles]

19. the public library has an exchange program for junkies like ourselves.... nt

[BuelahWitch]

26. Yes, interlibrary loan is your friend!

:hi: I just placed a big ILL order of books I found online but don't have the money to buy. I suspect the librarians are cursing at me under their breath right now! :scared:

[azmouse]

20. Here's a big hug from a fellow addict!

I have so many books waiting to be read and yet I still buy more.
I can't help myself. They provide so much comfort and entertainment and education.

[LibertyLover]

24. As a confirmed book-aholic, I am sad to say there is no cure

All you can hope for is to achieve maintenance, much like the Weight Watchers program. Perhaps $15 or $20 a week. Good luck.

[hunter]

27. I bought a book yesterday at the Salvation Army for 75 cents.

Santa Barbara has a nice library, no? I used to hang out in libraries when I was utterly broke, but I didn't smell bad like some of those homeless guys because I always had clean clothes and a place to shower...

My wife and I are both book addicts. The books in our house probably weigh more than the furniture and appliances.

[mike_c]

28. I routinely move stacks of books around my house...

...as my activities require space, i.e. the book cases are always overflowing. Sadly, there is no cure for the bookoholic....

[Coyote_Bandit]

30. I too am a bookaholic

I find myself in circumstances similar to your own. I frequently abuse the local library that maintains my addiction.

Checked out a book in June. Renewed the checkout another four times. Could not renew it again. Had the book for 10 weeks before I returned it. About a month ago I checked the same book out a second time. I should be able to renew that checkout for another six weeks or so. By the time the first of the year rolls around I will have had possession of the book for 20 of the previous 30 weeks. I'd just buy the dumb book but apparently it is out of print and I haven't been able to locate a copy just yet....