Long Hollow

Where seeds of thought have room to grow

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Realtor, writer, blogger in Austin, TX

Free

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No, I'm not giving these books away – I just got them!
They cost me $1 apiece.
Almost free.

I picked these up yesterday from our community library Book Sale room … the "back room", where I go to cheaply satisfy my severe book addiction.
(Please don't judge me; as far as addictions go, it's one of the better ones, don't you think?)

Anyway … I believe even if books aren't free, they hold the key to freedom.

"Once you learn to read, you will be forever free." ~  Frederick Douglass

"A book must be the ax for the frozen sea within us." ~ Franz Kafka, 1904

"The ability to read awoke inside me some long dormant craving to be mentally alive."
~  The Autobiography of Malcolm X, 1964

"The more that you read, the more things you will know.
The more you learn, the more places you'll go."
~ Dr. Seuss, "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!" 

"Oh, magic hour, when a child first knows she can read printed words!"
~  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, 1943

(This is my contribution to Jillsy's One Word Wednesday. The word is "Free"! Click HERE to read the other contributions or to learn how to play along.)

 

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16 responses to “Free”

  1. Jillsy Girl Avatar
    Jillsy Girl

    I recognized “Snow Falling On Cedars” ~ such a good book! It’s one of the few I do own. It makes me want to read it again!

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  2. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    I loved the movie – have never read the book. Hope I get to it – I have stacks like this all over my house. I really am an addict 🙂

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  3. lisleman Avatar
    lisleman

    I should connect you with our youngest daughter who will pick up books at library sales. We loved it when she became a big reader and of course it helped her. But the obsessive part of this can become an out of balance problem. She came home after college and is still reading on what to do next. I know it will work itself out and I’m thankful that we don’t have other types of issues more serious.

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  4. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    I wish I was out of balance on the 'reading' part! Mine is on the 'acquiring more than I could possibly read when I never have time to read' part. That's why I'm happy to find them cheap! But I know what you're talking about – my middle son only got in trouble at school for reading – a mixed blessing!

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  5. Lady Fi Avatar
    Lady Fi

    How creative for the word ‘free’… reading can indeed set you free! Enjoy!

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  6. Martha Avatar
    Martha

    I love books! I have way too many of them…and not enough places to put them. I got a Kindle (which I love), which helps the space problem…but I still buy books…

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  7. Sally Avatar
    Sally

    Wow – just last month I told my youngest daughter, “I think I have a book addiction. I keep buying them, and my purchasing has out-paced my ability to read them!”
    I have restricted myself to borrowing books from the library at the moment. I think, for me, this ‘addiction’ represents a desire to throw life aside as I’m living it and to indulge myself completely in something I truly enjoy. So, I’m addressing THAT rather than getting lost in book debt. (Your approach is a practical one too though. I find it double-edged sword of sorts – I feel good that there’s so much for me now to read … and then quite frustrated when I can’t carve out adequate time for reading them. Sigh.)
    And because I’m seemingly a sucker for punishment ~ I’ve just compiled a list of 25 suggested book titles for my Book Club for 2011. We’ll be narrowing it down to 8 or 9 for the year – but I just KNOW I’m going to want to read almost all of them.
    My name is Sally. And while I’m free – I’m a book addict too …

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  8. Suldog Avatar
    Suldog

    One of the most excellent things you can do is buy some books from your library! You get a great bargain, they get a few bucks for new acquisitions or whatever. Win-Win!

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  9. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    Yep, exactly why I do it. Besides helping the library, I know those books will be tossed in the trash eventually if no one takes them home. I just can't bear the thought of perfectly good books (or even really well-worn books!) in a dumpster. So I adopt as many as I can and give them a good home.

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  10. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    If your library has a book sale (or better yet, a room dedicated like mine does) I urge you to take a look. They're cheap, plus it helps the library, so even if you never get around to reading them, you know you've saved some books from the dumpster and helped your library out, to boot! And then your addiction doesn't feel like such a bad thing. lol

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  11. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    Me, too – I just look books! Mine are patiently waiting in boxes for my husband to build my 'library'. So it's silly to bring home many more – but I know they'll end up in a dumpster if no one adopts them. I just can't have that on my conscience!

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  12. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    Thank you! I will (I hope!)

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  13. cyndee Avatar
    cyndee

    that’s one word that really gets your attention.

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  14. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    That's for sure!

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  15. Debbie B Avatar
    Debbie B

    I would be in trouble if I visited that buying room.
    “Hi, my name is Debbie and I, too, am addicted to acquiring books.”

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  16. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    I seem to be in good company, at least!!

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