B – Book Buying vs Book Reading 😜

My bookshelf believes I am a fast reader.
Reality disagrees.

I buy books like I have unlimited time to read. Honestly, time and I are not on good terms—thanks to my long-time enemy called procrastination.

While reading, if a book really hooks me, I start appreciating the author. And then comes the strong urge—to read more about the author or check out their other books.

That urge usually wins.

And the book in my hand gets colder faster than my masala chai—the one I lovingly sip while reading.

Browse… browse…

Now let’s talk about my biggest inspirations to read—oops, I mean buy books.

OG Bookstagrammers

Honestly, I love their recommendations. The problem is not them—it’s me.
Loved the review? Add to cart.
Love the author? Add to cart.
Oh, they related so much? Then obviously, I must read it too.

Amazon’s “The Great Indian Festival”

Suddenly, all those long-forgotten books from my TBR come to life.
In reality, the ones I actually want are rarely on sale. But does that stop me? Of course not. I end up buying their “neighbors” instead.

Because, well… I have to make use of the sale, right?

The “E-books are cheaper” excuse

I do read—mostly at night, tucked into bed, fully wrapped in a blanket. That’s where my dear Kindle comes in.

I finish a classic and have this sudden yahoo!!! moment—and immediately feel the need to own a physical copy.

At 2 AM, I order it.
And while I’m at it, I browse more classics. If it’s under 100 rupees, why not? My “budget” is 500 anyway.

Just a small detail—I take about 30–45 days to read one classic.

Thrifting Books

My new-found love. Special editions, pretty covers—I’m sold.
It doesn’t matter if I already own the book. It’s a collector’s edition. I must have it.

Children’s Books

Well… I am a toddler mom. She currently says only “ba ba ba,” but I buy books as if she reads one every day.

Everything looks so colorful. You never know what she might like in the future… so it’s better to have options, right?

“Buy it, mumma. Buy it.”

They say, “Buying books and reading books are two completely different hobbies”—and I seem to excel at only one.

It’s not that I don’t read—I do. On average, about 4–5 books a month.
But my monthly buying average… let’s just say I’d rather not say it out loud. My husband might read this 😜 

I even did an audit—books bought vs books read in 2024 and 2025.
Let’s just say… they are not moving in the same direction.

And yet, I keep buying.

Maybe it’s not just about reading.
Maybe buying books is also about who I believe I am—a reader.
A version of me that still hopes to find time, to sit down, and get lost in stories again.

Maybe I’m not just collecting books.
Maybe I’m collecting possibilities.

So tell me—are you a book buyer, a book reader, or both like me? 😄

This post is a part of BlogchatterA2Z Challenge 2026

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