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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle

Why do I feel impelled to keep my books? Why not just give them all away?

Book collection … time for Oxfam? Photograph: Rob Whitworth/Alamy
Book collection … time for Oxfam? Photograph: Rob Whitworth/Alamy Photograph: Rob Whitworth / Alamy/Alamy

I am moving house. Why am I taking books with me? These books have moved house seven times; why? Why do I need bookshelves to hold (1) books I have read, enjoyed, but will never read again; (2) books I have given up on (Salman Rushdie/Stephen Hawking); (3) books I will never read (The Complete Works of Shakespeare)? Why don’t we just read (or not read) them and then send them all to Oxfam?

Bill Anderson

• Post your answers – and new questions – below or email them to nq@theguardian.com. Please include name, address and phone number

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