“Hello, my name is Melissa and I am obsessed with books.”

I know you’ve heard this from me at least once before, in fact I have admitted here on my blog, but I feel I must keep saying it as much as I can until it sinks in.  For me, that is.  Apparently, acceptance is not the first step to recovery, at least not in my case.  I keep telling myself it’s not a bad obsession to have, my constant compulsion to buy books.  However, as I sit here with a copy of the Simon & Schuster Summer Catalog I got from the NESCBWI conference a few weekends ago marked up with books I want to either buy, recommend for my book club or am just curious about, I feel something has got to be done.  After all, this is just the first of many catalogs I picked up.  Help me . . . please!

If my obsession is just in my head, tell me, because I would love to know that I am not crazy.  I don’t think I am.  I met many a writers at the conference who had the same look as I did when they entered the onsite book store, the “save me” look.  In fact, I was one of the good ones who only walked away with $35 less in my bank account.  Others spent much more.  But that doesn’t stop me from constantly spending money at online book store at least once maybe twice a week.  Or walking into Borders with their recent coupon in my hand (damn them and their coupons!).  I have made a point of reserving books at Border using their online reservation.  This way, I go in, get one book and walk out.  It’s dangerous for me to browse.

However, right across the street is a Marshalls and a TJ Maxx.  I have mentioned on this site, the secret book stacks at these stores always discounted 2-4 dollars cheaper.  That’s when it gets ugly.  Not that it’s ever pretty.  In a few weeks, I will reach my one year anniversary at my job.  For your one year, they give you a $100 American Express gift card.  I’ve already got my Amazon shopping cart ready to go.  Yup, I am crazy.

Help me out here.  Either tell me I am not crazy or that I am not alone.  Misery loves company, right?  After all, someone needs to join me in the support group I’m going to have to create. 

Have I ever mentioned my obsession for books?  I'm sure you've picked up on it.  I mean you are visiting my blog on a website I created centered around children's books.  The signs are all there, but if you need me to say it, here goes: "Hello, my name is Melissa and I am obsessed with books."  How's that?

It's not a bad obsession to have really.  Most women are obsessed with shoes or purses, I just prefer something with a plot. Unfortunately, my living space can't accommodate my obsession.  I'm about as maxed as I can get with maybe a little breathing room.  What the hell am I going to do when that room has no more oxygen left?  As I sit here with 10 books surrounding me and about 10 more in the mail coming my way, I know I am going to find out fast.  So here is what I've decided. 

Next year for lent (yes I am waiting a year cause I need to prepare myself), I am going to give up buying books.  40 days and nights of no book purchasing.  Lord help me.  I have never given up something I was this obsessed with, so I know this will be difficult.  But, why am I saying this now you might ask instead of 10 months from now when I will be closer to that date?  The answers is you.  You will be there to remind me that I made this plea.  That on this Wednesday in May I vowed to give up buying books for lent.  And then when I swear to you that your are mistaken, you will pull out this blog and show me the proof I will need for you to convince me that I had gone insane.  With that proof, I will still huff and puff and then I will give in.  Are you ready for the task at hand?  I know I'm not.