Tsundoku

I just learnt that there is a Japanese word for what I often do-

I buy books but do not read them- it is called “Tsundoku”

Books that I have bought languish in my bookcase

I leave them for a time when I might have to face

The inability to borrow books from the library

(During the early days of the pandemic, it happened already)

When there is no other book left to read

To read a book from my own bookcase is what I need

*

Being in possession of books makes me feel good

My optimism bias tells me that I would

Read all of them, one by one

In reality that is easier said than done

*

On the other hand the books I borrow from the library

Have a return deadline, I have to be wary

Of piling up fines if I do not return books timely

That fear increases my reading efficiency

*

I keep buying books and they pile up inevitably

Maybe I should exchange them at the Little Free Library..