I recently came across the word Tsundoku which I find greatly amusing. According to Wikipedia:
“Tsundoku” (n.) is the condition of acquiring reading materials but letting them pile up in one’s home without reading them. “Tsundoku” originated as Japanese slang (積ん読) “tsun-doku”. 「積ん読」 came from 「積んでおく」 “tsunde-oku” (to pile things up ready for later and leave) and 「読書」 “dokusho” (reading books).
I’ve always been addicted to books, and like to be surrounded by piles of them, just in case I run out of – horrors – reading matter. And since the time when, on a trip, I finished my book and found myself with no access to a library or bookshop, I’ve also collected a number on Kindle. These are a safety measure, but lack the heft and presence of print.
In my defense, I do read them. I always have two or three on the go. But I will never get through my unread pile in my lifetime, especially since I occasionally like to re-read favorites. But have a clear out? Never!
As they say ‘So many books, so little time’ – or, ‘tsundoku‘!
Our all-time favourite bookshop is Daunts here. We even go to their author talks – really interesting!
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There is nothing better than holding a book in your hands and reading! Love this ! x
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You have to have spares… just in case…. Or that was my excuse when I lined my walls with books 😉
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No, no, you do!👍
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😀
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Perfect!! What i call a good addiction!
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I have a PHD in tsundoku. Can I call myself Dr Tsundoku, now that I have discovered the word?
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Hehe! 😂😂😂
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Looks like you are in good company…I have a tendency to surround myself with reading material that I never seem to get on top of! Happy New Year!
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Same to you, Sofia! 💝
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Oh I definitely suffer from that! I’m always making and remaking piles of books, constantly shuffling them off and back on the shelves, filling spaces, having them to hand just in case, then off on another tangent and a new pile called for!
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I see I’ve struck a chord!😋
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I have a few collected on my kindle that are unread for the same reason, but I did have a clear out when we moved out of some rooms to make way for the remodel. I got rid of old paperbacks, and books I wouldn’t reread.
I kept my reference books, and all the classics, and the few series I reread once every couple of years.
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So, not too badly organized, all in all!
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You would think so…until you look at my garage. 🙂 That’s this Spring/Summer’s project.
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Guilty as charged! And now I am starting to collect the electronic ones too. I doubt they will ever all be read, and may sadly end up being sold for pennies. But I just can’t stop getting them!
Best wishes, Pete.
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I think we can start a club! I can’t help it either🌺
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I am definitely of this! In fact, my ‘just in case’ book addiction has led to desperate measures, I’ve banned myself from book-buying for the whole year so I can make some headway through the stacks I’ve already got! 🙂
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I’m trying to do the same!😊
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Perfect word!
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Isn’t it? 💕
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Oh yes, I know this feeling…
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😊
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It resonated with me too! Although these days I seem to read way more library books than ones I buy myself. And have just discovered that my Library has a service where I can download audio books to my phone. Great when I am on my daily walk.
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Oh, yes, I forgot to say about the audio books! Love those for long distance driving
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I wonder if they have a word for my problem, which is acquiring a huge pile of books from the library and neglecting everything else till I’ve read the lot… Good job I read very, very fast, or we’d both be going hungry and run out of clean clothes…
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It seems to me you’re a reverse Tsundoku! Probably driven by guilt of not getting the books back on time!
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I can’t stop myself devouring them till they’re all gone. So, does that make me an Ukodnust…? And my library record is pristine, no fines, no late returns, no lost books – and lots of traffic!
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New Year! Besides all the other sales the book ones are on naturally! Oh the enjoyment of saying ‘eeny-meeny-maany-mo’ and clicking one more onto the growing pile ordered ! I do not live in an ordinary house anyways since there are bookshelves in every room and piles of books on every horizontal surface at all times . . . but at the moment this tsundoku phenomenon is very noticeable here 🙂 ! What glorious fun !!!
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Yup, nothing like a pile of new books to keep the spirits up! I call it ‘loot’
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Tsundoku resembles the word tsunami – maybe it can be thought of as a tsunami of tsundoku. I’m just as guilty as you are – every room in the house has a bookcase, every one of them is full as are many of the cabinets and a bunch of boxes. I keep saying I won’t buy more, I’ll get rid of most of them but that never happens. Sigh….
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Sigh, indeed🙄
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Oh my! I have that, but the cookery book/recipe magazine version!! haha! What a great word!
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It is, isn’t it? I have it with cookery books too!🌺
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This word feels very familiar. My husband will be happy to know there is a word for me. 😉
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You can’t have too many…
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It seems not…
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Guilty
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You, too?😱
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Yep – converted a garage to take them all 🙂
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Only last week I depressed myself by realising that I probably do have more books than I can read in the years I have left, but I’m sure I’ll still keep buying books.
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Me too !
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It never occurred to me that any language had a word for that. When I was in my late teens, I realized that I’d confused having a book with knowing what was in the book. I’ve gotten better about it since, but I still do let books pile up.
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As it turns out, don’t we all! But life would be too sad without 😋
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Love this and what a word!
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I love it Marina! Tsundoku is my new word. I always have a pile of books on the go at once depending on my mood. The thought of not having a book to read is horrifying so I always have a few lined up just in case. An insecurity perhaps? The science of ‘stuff’ is very telling in terms of identity. Examine anyone’s house for the objects that dominate and you have a window into their souls.
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I laughed so much when I came upon this word! It seems to be a condition a lot of us suffer from:-)
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I’ve been sharing with my friends. Who would have thought so many had this problem. And that it actually has a name.
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😊
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Oh, brilliant. I have to put up my hand and plead guilty too. In fact, the woman in your watercolour could well be me. But I do have regular purges of my bookcases, though the books I haven’t read usually get to stay. Because you know, one day, I just might read them!
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I love that there’s a name for my syndrome now! Great illustration, too.
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A syndrome shared by many!😊
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