There is a word for it in Japanese. Well, sometimes I feel like there is a word for almost everything in Japanese. And also, most probably, in Korean. English is quite rich in vocabulary, with approximately 172, 000 word entries in its dictionary. Russian has about 150 000 and Spanish over 96 000.
Having lived in Japan, I have long been familiar with the concept of 'tsundoku' and I do sometimes feel very guilty about all the unread books that I own. However, recently I came across these wonderful words, written by Umberto Eco: "It is foolish to think that you have to read all the books you buy, as it is foolish to criticize those who buy more books than they will ever be able to read. It would be like saying that you should use all the cutlery or glasses or screwdrivers or drill bits you bought before buying new ones.
"There are things in life that we need to always have plenty of supplies, even if we will only use a small portion.
"If, for example, we consider books as medicine, we understand that it is good to have many at home rather than a few: when you want to feel better, then you go to the 'medicine closet' and choose a book. Not a random one, but the right book for that moment. That's why you should always have a nutrition choice!
"Those who buy only one book, read only that one and then get rid of it. They simply apply the consumer mentality to books, that is, they consider them a consumer product, a good. Those who love books know that a book is anything but a commodity."
Wonderful comment. Yes a library is simply a pantry filled with books. To have too many would be like having too many prayers or too many songs. If I were a tree to be felled I'd wish for my next life to be as the pages of a book.
I resonate with this post! Onmy move to Portugal from the US I had to let go of more than 3/4 of my book collection which was not easy. Sometimes I remember a book fondly that I wish I had kept but then I acquire more books and the cycle continues in some way. I love the idea of the book fairies! I’m visiting Amsterdam and here they have large bookshelves out in public stacked with books in different languages that people can leave or take. There is something about this giving of books that can restore one’s faith in humanity.
The most relatable word I read today. A few years ago (2 years ago, the border between recently, and a few years, I find). I relocated to a different country and had to part with half my books. It was so devastating I even had a tabulated Excel sheet for each book, its pages, author, genre, release year, etc. The other half? well, I filled one of my suitcases with just books and sneaked a few into my sisters. I had to take the small books too, so anything bigger than an Agatha Christie novel had to go. I still miss my books dearly, and whenever a books discussion takes place, I remember my at home library.
Ever since graduating from school, I have been buying books and telling myself that they are for reading in retirement. Way beyond normal reitrement age, I'm still holding down a demanding full-time job. I have started culling my collection of books I now know I will never prioritise reading with my limited time. Umberto Ecco's collection is not quite as large as Karl Lagerfeld's, but still immense: https://www.openculture.com/2017/03/watch-umberto-eco-walk-through-his-immense-private-library.html
When the owl swoops by, pursued by songbirds yet looks you in the eye, When your books are stored sideways and you cannot read the spines, when otters and porcupines talk to you with perfect sense, Only then do you see you must change your life.
I love the book fairy idea, in fact I've recently bought my millionth* copy of "Birdsong" collection of Rūmi quatrains (Coleman Barks) and am planning to hide it in a tree somewhere soon... *exaggerated number but not by much!
I desperately want a library full of physical books but I’m rapidly having to come to terms with the fact that digital books are more accessible in terms of font size, back light and ability to have a new one pinged into the virtual library in a blink.
I went virtual, came back to physical and I think I’m going virtual again…..
I understand your dilemma since I experienced it myself moving to 5 different countries in the last 20 years. I became an expert in packing and keeping only what matters, and I wished I had the lovely idea of memorising poems. Instead I embraced technology and have my books on a kindle and/or audible. This now makes me selfish since it is impossible to be a book fairy when you hold words in a piece of glass. It is truly inspiring to read your Substack.
I love everything about this post. In my ignorance, I thought English had the largest number of words, how naive!
Also, I forgot to get my Book Fairy pack this year 😔
In the past, I have left books in work staffroom, on buses, on a park bench and a coffee shop. What a delight to come across a gem one might not have heard of or chosen without this passing on.
Very timely read! I have just bought a paperback copy of The Island of Missing Trees to read on a long flight and gifting my hard copy which I haven't opened to a friend...I never had a name for it, have always passed on great reads because I learned i never do read a novel twice...glad to be included in the category of 'book fairy'
Thank you for sharing this phenomenon; I'm moving house for the first time in five years and have so far packed ten boxes of books. Always a comfort to know you're not alone, especially when it comes to book hoarding.
This is so interesting! French has few words (but they include wonderful ones like ‘flaneur’), and can come across harshly in translation. German is not my favourite language to listen to, but I’m fascinated with how they string many words together into one, and are apparently ‘allowed’ to create new words in this way (hard to keep track of how many words they have, if more can be made at need!)
Shockingly, ten years ago I was the—recipient?—of such a word. I spent ten days on the Isle of Iona, a ‘thin place’ that leaves its mark on people. I danced with wind on the beaches, with a ribbon in the Abby, sang spirit-songs in the cave on Staffa and in a wee chapel with exquisite acoustics. One week was spent with the international community there. Another visitor like me was from Germany. She was ill for part of the time, and I didn’t see her much. But as she boarded the ferry to leave, she said
“I made a word for you. We can do that.”
I was floored. I can’t tell you what the word was (how I wish I could!), but she told me what aspects she incorporated into it. At the time, I was a stay-at-home-mom and caregiver to high-needs family, unable to pursue writing, drowning in responsibility and low iron issues. Using the wee inheritance from my father, I’d taken a moment away to come to Iona and just be myself—and someone made a magical word, for me.
All of our words can be gifts, but this was just beyond meaningful!
(And there I go—I have ADHD, and it seems I always attach a personal story when I engage with a topic. I do not intend it to be self-centred, it just kinda goes that way! Oh, and thank you so much! I did not know about Book Fairies!)
I love being a book fairy. It’s a light and lovely job I took over after I’d finished with Tsundokus because of moving frequently. Thank you for being you Elif. You are exactly the right person for you to be. I enjoy you, delight in you, cherish you. With gratitude. Skye Isaac
Little Free Libraries are all over the place in many big, small, and medium towns/cities! Leave your books you are done with (and won't reread or need/want to keep close by at home) and pick up others to read from the LFLibs! Some folks have been so creative also in the design of theirs! Fun to see all around town.
Having lived in Japan, I have long been familiar with the concept of 'tsundoku' and I do sometimes feel very guilty about all the unread books that I own. However, recently I came across these wonderful words, written by Umberto Eco: "It is foolish to think that you have to read all the books you buy, as it is foolish to criticize those who buy more books than they will ever be able to read. It would be like saying that you should use all the cutlery or glasses or screwdrivers or drill bits you bought before buying new ones.
"There are things in life that we need to always have plenty of supplies, even if we will only use a small portion.
"If, for example, we consider books as medicine, we understand that it is good to have many at home rather than a few: when you want to feel better, then you go to the 'medicine closet' and choose a book. Not a random one, but the right book for that moment. That's why you should always have a nutrition choice!
"Those who buy only one book, read only that one and then get rid of it. They simply apply the consumer mentality to books, that is, they consider them a consumer product, a good. Those who love books know that a book is anything but a commodity."
I love this comment very much. I do read the books I buy, but then I keep them as friends.
Wonderful comment. Yes a library is simply a pantry filled with books. To have too many would be like having too many prayers or too many songs. If I were a tree to be felled I'd wish for my next life to be as the pages of a book.
A leaf.
Books as medicine! I love that.
This is so beautiful to read! Thank you.
I resonate with this post! Onmy move to Portugal from the US I had to let go of more than 3/4 of my book collection which was not easy. Sometimes I remember a book fondly that I wish I had kept but then I acquire more books and the cycle continues in some way. I love the idea of the book fairies! I’m visiting Amsterdam and here they have large bookshelves out in public stacked with books in different languages that people can leave or take. There is something about this giving of books that can restore one’s faith in humanity.
The most relatable word I read today. A few years ago (2 years ago, the border between recently, and a few years, I find). I relocated to a different country and had to part with half my books. It was so devastating I even had a tabulated Excel sheet for each book, its pages, author, genre, release year, etc. The other half? well, I filled one of my suitcases with just books and sneaked a few into my sisters. I had to take the small books too, so anything bigger than an Agatha Christie novel had to go. I still miss my books dearly, and whenever a books discussion takes place, I remember my at home library.
That is so sad.
Ever since graduating from school, I have been buying books and telling myself that they are for reading in retirement. Way beyond normal reitrement age, I'm still holding down a demanding full-time job. I have started culling my collection of books I now know I will never prioritise reading with my limited time. Umberto Ecco's collection is not quite as large as Karl Lagerfeld's, but still immense: https://www.openculture.com/2017/03/watch-umberto-eco-walk-through-his-immense-private-library.html
Tsundoku. Mea culpa!
When you know:
When the owl swoops by, pursued by songbirds yet looks you in the eye, When your books are stored sideways and you cannot read the spines, when otters and porcupines talk to you with perfect sense, Only then do you see you must change your life.
I'm so very pleased to know that! I was struggling with the notion of learning to be a book fairy...now I realize it's not yet time.
Honorable Elif Shafak, I'm a doting admirer of your work but certainly not of your choice of books in the suitcase!
Some really compiling ideas here! Thanks for sharing that Japanese word - I too am not surprised "there's a word for it."
My favorite of those is "komorebi," a word descrythe scene created by the interplay of sunlight and trees.
I like the causality of the lack of books leading to memorizing poetry, though I'm sure you'd agree those aren't necessarily mutually exclusive.
Sunlight and trees! Love it
Komorebi is a beautiful word and concept
So lovely , I have left books on buses for people . My best find from a book fairy was Tara Brach’s Radical Acceptance !! Life changer ♥️
I love the book fairy idea, in fact I've recently bought my millionth* copy of "Birdsong" collection of Rūmi quatrains (Coleman Barks) and am planning to hide it in a tree somewhere soon... *exaggerated number but not by much!
I desperately want a library full of physical books but I’m rapidly having to come to terms with the fact that digital books are more accessible in terms of font size, back light and ability to have a new one pinged into the virtual library in a blink.
I went virtual, came back to physical and I think I’m going virtual again…..
I’m sticking with physical after having read one book on Kindle. Thankfully no longer moving as I did constantly as a child.
Oh. 日本語の語彙は非常に豊富です
I understand your dilemma since I experienced it myself moving to 5 different countries in the last 20 years. I became an expert in packing and keeping only what matters, and I wished I had the lovely idea of memorising poems. Instead I embraced technology and have my books on a kindle and/or audible. This now makes me selfish since it is impossible to be a book fairy when you hold words in a piece of glass. It is truly inspiring to read your Substack.
I love everything about this post. In my ignorance, I thought English had the largest number of words, how naive!
Also, I forgot to get my Book Fairy pack this year 😔
In the past, I have left books in work staffroom, on buses, on a park bench and a coffee shop. What a delight to come across a gem one might not have heard of or chosen without this passing on.
P.S. I love your words.
Very timely read! I have just bought a paperback copy of The Island of Missing Trees to read on a long flight and gifting my hard copy which I haven't opened to a friend...I never had a name for it, have always passed on great reads because I learned i never do read a novel twice...glad to be included in the category of 'book fairy'
Thank you for sharing this phenomenon; I'm moving house for the first time in five years and have so far packed ten boxes of books. Always a comfort to know you're not alone, especially when it comes to book hoarding.
This is so interesting! French has few words (but they include wonderful ones like ‘flaneur’), and can come across harshly in translation. German is not my favourite language to listen to, but I’m fascinated with how they string many words together into one, and are apparently ‘allowed’ to create new words in this way (hard to keep track of how many words they have, if more can be made at need!)
Shockingly, ten years ago I was the—recipient?—of such a word. I spent ten days on the Isle of Iona, a ‘thin place’ that leaves its mark on people. I danced with wind on the beaches, with a ribbon in the Abby, sang spirit-songs in the cave on Staffa and in a wee chapel with exquisite acoustics. One week was spent with the international community there. Another visitor like me was from Germany. She was ill for part of the time, and I didn’t see her much. But as she boarded the ferry to leave, she said
“I made a word for you. We can do that.”
I was floored. I can’t tell you what the word was (how I wish I could!), but she told me what aspects she incorporated into it. At the time, I was a stay-at-home-mom and caregiver to high-needs family, unable to pursue writing, drowning in responsibility and low iron issues. Using the wee inheritance from my father, I’d taken a moment away to come to Iona and just be myself—and someone made a magical word, for me.
All of our words can be gifts, but this was just beyond meaningful!
(And there I go—I have ADHD, and it seems I always attach a personal story when I engage with a topic. I do not intend it to be self-centred, it just kinda goes that way! Oh, and thank you so much! I did not know about Book Fairies!)
I love being a book fairy. It’s a light and lovely job I took over after I’d finished with Tsundokus because of moving frequently. Thank you for being you Elif. You are exactly the right person for you to be. I enjoy you, delight in you, cherish you. With gratitude. Skye Isaac
Little Free Libraries are all over the place in many big, small, and medium towns/cities! Leave your books you are done with (and won't reread or need/want to keep close by at home) and pick up others to read from the LFLibs! Some folks have been so creative also in the design of theirs! Fun to see all around town.