Books! O (My Neglected) Books!

I confess I own in excess of many things.. a victim of consummerism as a friend once commented. But I think the most `wasteful' (not that they have no value but that they've been totally underutilised) things are.... my BOOKS!

As I was looking for a particular book from the various shelves in my room just now, it suddenly hit me that I had SO MANY books that I have not read before. `So many' is an understatement. In fact I would say more than 95 per cent of them I had not even touched. Some I had started reading a chapter or two and left abandoned.


The books on my shelves, numbering close to 100 of them - are divided into two main categories - fictions and Christian books. Just to clarify that although I bought many books, the bulk of fictions especially my shelves were free, so to speak. Yeah, the perk of being a journo ( in NSTP only) - we are entitled to RM100 book allowance a month!

Everytime when I bought a book, I was always eager to read it - or so I thought. But ended up many best sellers and award-winning novels from years back still sat on my shelves untouched!

Meanwhile, I have become a mini library for my cousins and a couple of friends.. I am very happy to lend out the books (as I'm running out of space to store them) provided I do get them back!

Besides books, I have hundreds (maybe even thousands) of CDs and cassettes (not all are displayed on these cluttered sheives) But at least I can claim that I have listened to all the albums though some old ones I had not listened for a long long time.

Sadly, it IS books that have been neglected most. Besides a feeling of guilt, I wonder whether I've become so shallow - reading blogs seem far more entertaining.. though I can remember the satisfying feeling of burying myself in a good book.

Hmmm.. the last book that I completed from beginning to end was Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. And before that I think it was Da Vincci Code and Angels and Demons - more than a year back! O dear, is my reading aptitude limited to the high profile`page-turners'?

Still I believe books are an investment.. I would continue to buy but sparingly (after all I still could claim back the money!). But I really want to be a reader again.

Sigh, it is now bit late to read The Magician's Nephew at the shelf near my bed. I began some time back. My aim is to complete The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe before I watch the movie!

p.s. I have completed the whole series of Narnia in second year Uni. That was ages ago so need to refresh memory.