Personality

By --Deb on

btt button

In a related question to last week’s–

I was reading the other day a quote from JFK Jr who said on the death of his mother, that she died surrounded by family, friends, and her books. Apparently, Jackie’s books were very much a part of HER, her personality, her sense of self.

Up until recently, people could browse your bookshelves and learn a lot about you–what your interests are, your range of topics, favorite authors, how much you read (or at least buy books).

More and more, though, this is changing. People aren’t buying books so much as borrowing them from the library. Or reading them on their e-readers or computers. There’s nothing PHYSICAL on the shelves to tell strangers in your home, for better or worse, who you ARE.

Do you think this is a good thing? Bad? Discuss!


Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

Posted in: Wordpress

59 responses

  1. goosh

    I’ll take my books the old fashioned way, thank you. The best part of buying actual books? Actual book stores!

  2. goosh

    I’ll take my books the old fashioned way, thank you! And the best part of buying actual books? Actual book stores!

    http://fortypoundsack.blogspot.com/2011/04/booking-through-thursday.html

  3. Sissy

    Here’s my response:
    http://wing-heart.org/blog/?p=3690

  4. gautami tripathy

    http://readbookswritepoetry.blogspot.com/2011/04/booking-through-personality.html

  5. iwriteinbooks

    This should be an interesting day of answers…

    BTT: Ourselves on the Shelves? Or Is It About the Money, Honey?

  6. Abigail @ The Story Factory Reading Zone

    Whilst people can’t browse your shelves any more, its easy to see what people read (and therefore a bit about them) by looking at their blogs and sites such as librarything and goodreads. If anything this is easier because you don’t actually have to be in their house, However, it does stop you from looking around and getting them at a glance from books if they have no shelves of them- I guess you’d just have to get personality from other things such as ornaments and how they’ve decorated their houses.

  7. Yvonne

    Mine is here

  8. The Literary Omnivore

    Here’s my answer.

  9. Cat SaDiablo

    Excelent topic
    Here’s mine, in portuguese, as usual

    http://abibliofila.blogspot.com/2011/04/booking-through-thursdaypersonalidade.html

  10. Lisa

    Well I usually read ebooks but for the reasons you stated above, I buy them also! Even though I rarely read actual books in print, I will buy books just to own and show them off! I would really hate it if physical books stopped being published. No more shelves to fill!

  11. vampira2468

    http://dementedreading.blogspot.com/2011/04/in-related-question-to-last-weeks-i-was.html

  12. Allison

    I love my ebook reader! #GoiPad2 !! (Yes, my personality is still obvious!)

    http://wellreadreviews.com/booking-through-thursday-your-book-personality

  13. The Book Mystress

    what a toughy,

    http://thebookmystress.blogspot.com/2011/04/booking-through-thursday-6-personality.html

  14. Ellie

    Ooooh, I do love a good snoop through someone’s bookshelves! Or to sit back and enjoy looking at my own shelves, reminding myself of all the old favourites and yet-to-be-explored treasures I’ve accumulated over the years… My full answer is here:
    http://musingsofabookshopgirl.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-was-reading-other-day-quote-from-jfk.html

  15. Gigi Ann

    Read my reply here: http://annsreadingcorner.blogspot.com

  16. MizB

    Answered last week’s and this week’s all in one post:

    BTT: Visual & Personality

    ~MizB

  17. Karen

    This is something that has actually been bothering me lately.

    http://bookworldinmyhead.blogspot.com/2011/04/booking-through-thursday_14.html

  18. Pepca

    I don’t think actual books will disappear from our shelves. Here is my extended opinion: http://beyondstrangenewwords.blogspot.com/2011/04/booking-through-thursday-personality.html

  19. nightlyreading

    Here’s myn

    Booking Through Thursday

  20. DawnTreader

    Here’s my comment:
    http://dawntreader-island2.blogspot.com/2011/04/btt-personality.html

  21. carabossesbakeshop

    Oh, that’s a really good question. Here’s my answer:
    http://carabosseslibrary.blogspot.com/2011/04/booking-through-thursday_14.html

  22. Lisa M831

    http://www.lisasworldofbooks.com/2011/04/booking-through-thursday_14.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lisasworldofbooks+%28Lisa%27s+World+of+Books%29

  23. Lindsay

    Great question!
    Here’s my response:
    http://www.violethourbr.com/2011/04/i-was-reading-other-day-quote-from-jfk.html
    ALL comments and follows will be happily returned! Can’t wait to see your answers =)

  24. Mary Ann Langan

    Booking Through Thursday: Are e-readers removing personality cues if people no longer have books displayed on shelves?: http://t.co/kHkgurs

  25. elizabethwillse

    I love paper books.

  26. dragonflyy419

    I started rambling a bit … but here’s my answer:

    Booking Through Thursday — Personality

  27. Michael

    Booking Through Thursday

  28. laurelrainsnow

    Here’s my take on the topic: MY BTT2 POST

  29. Anna D.

    Here’s my answer: http://dooliterature.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/booking-through-thursday-0414/
    (:

  30. Heather @garlic and parchment

    There’s nothing quite like having an actual book in your hands… http://garlicandparchment.blogspot.com/2011/04/personality-booking-through-thursday.html

  31. Book Nympho

    Here’s my answer: http://booknympho.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/booking-through-thursday-personality/

    In short, I’d love to have a book library but if I had one, it would be just for me and I wouldn’t worry about what other people thought of me based on what I read. I love books and they make me happy; that’s enough for me! 🙂

  32. Amused

    Here’s mine: http://www.amusedbybooks.com/2011/04/booking-through-thursday-personality.html

  33. Shelley

    As a writer, I will never lose my love for the physical book in the hand. However, I do see one advantage of Kindle for older readers: you can immediately enlarge the print.

    That’s a blessing, especially since so many new books are printed in a font that looks like ants running across the page….

  34. Cheryl "Mash"

    My BTT is here

  35. Sally

    Here’s my answer:
    http://theelifylop.blogspot.com/2011/04/booking-through-thursday-13.html

    Sally.

  36. mervih

    Here’s my answer, longer than usual:

    Personality

  37. readingwithtea

    Mine is here: http://wp.me/p1t7Ho-4z

  38. Yara @ Once Upon a Twilight

    Here are our answers

    http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2011/04/booking-through-thursday-41411.html

  39. Natalie

    Old fashioned books yeah!
    http://www.thebookinn.net/2011/04/thursday-memes.html

  40. Sonia @ The Story Queen

    Please check out my response HERE: http://thestoryqueen.blogspot.com/2011/04/booking-through-thursday-4.html Thanks!

  41. Ana C. Nunes

    My answer: http://florestadelivros.blogspot.com/2011/04/booking-through-thursday-personalidade.html

  42. Matthew

    This is a great question, which sends me reflecting on my own experience. I certainly size up my friends’ book collection, which tell me certain aspects of their personality.
    My answer is posted.

  43. bookpolo

    Here’s mine: http://bookpolo.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/booking-through-thursdays-april-14th/

  44. Much Madness is Divinest Sense » Blog Archive » Booking Through Thursday: Personality

    […] week’s Booking Through Thursday prompt discusses yet another reason for folks to fear the rise of the […]

  45. Bonnie Jacobs

    Here’s my second BTT:

    http://bonniesbooks.blogspot.com/2011/04/btt-2-personality.html

  46. Sarah

    http://readawaytheday.blogspot.com/2011/04/booking-through-thursday-3.html

  47. Halie

    I can take books both ways, but I prefer them printed.

    http://halie-lifethewayiseeit.blogspot.com/search/label/books

  48. Halie

    I prefer printed books, but I can take reading materials both ways.

    My response
    http://halie-lifethewayiseeit.blogspot.com/search/label/books

  49. Becca

    http://ireadthatonce.blogspot.com/2011/04/booking-through-thursday-visual.html

    My first Booking Through Thursday, 🙂

  50. Debbie

    Good question!
    here is my answer http://thefridayfriends.blogspot.com/2011/04/book-barn-used-book-stores-and-how-many.html

  51. BeefcakeandBabes

    Really good question. http://beefcakeandbabes.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/booking-through-thursday-7-personality/

  52. Personality » The Electronic Replicant

    […] Booking Through Thursday asks: I was reading the other day a quote from JFK Jr who said on the death of his mother, that she died surrounded by family, friends, and her books. Apparently, Jackie’s books were very much a part of HER, her personality, her sense of self. […]

  53. the replicant

    I’m still not sure: http://www.electronic-replicant.com/?p=4296

  54. Barbara

    Here are my thoughts…
    http://barbara-wordswordswords.blogspot.com/2011/04/booking-through-thursday_16.html

  55. Spotlight on the Wordpress Book Bloggers! « Randomize ME

    […] Booking Through Thursday – A weekly meme about (mostly) books and reading. by deb – “Personality“ […]

  56. D Dubs

    I still prefer real books, but see the infusion of new publishing technology as a benefit. for reaching the public at large.

    Here’s my full answer:

    http://www.ddubsreads.com/DDubsReads/Blog/Entries/2011/4/19_Booking_Through_Thursday_April_14.html

  57. L. Washington

    I still have books on my shelf and still buy paper books.

  58. Jenny

    Good question!
    http://alternatereadality.blogspot.com/

  59. briwilcox

    http://lonestarprep.blogspot.com/2011/04/booking-through-thursday-personality.html