Row after Row of Memories: Musing Mondays

Today's Musing Mondays prompt from Should be Reading:

Are you currently collecting any authors? Why? Do you have all of their books? If not, why not? Did you buy all the books in the collection at the same time, or did you buy a book here, a book there? Have you actually read all of the collection? If not, why not?

What an interesting topic. Will there even be book collections, row after row of beloved favorites, anymore? Won't the eBook craze take away the idea of decorating shelves in our library?

My mom has a tattered and loved first edition of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind and a complete hardback collection of Zane Grey's westerns. These have always been on prominent display in our homes through the years.

Only a drop in the bucket of
our book collection

I love collecting books, but I don't tend to focus on one author or series. Sure, I read all the Twilight series, but I also knew my oldest daughter wanted to read it soon. My husband loves Clive Cussler, and we have almost every one of his Dirk Pitt novels. A few Christmases ago, I even found a first edition signed one to add to his collection.

I consider all my beloved books part of my collection, even though my shelves are filled with various themes, genres, and authors. When I look at my rows of books, I remember the feelings each provoked and memories surrounding the time I read it. The crinkled one was a favorite I accidentally dropped in the bath, my favorite reading spot. I still have favorite classics from high school. I love the idea of my children reading from the very same book I read from. The complete circle of life.

Sadly, the days of collecting books are disappearing. Even before eBooks, hardbacks were getting harder to come by and more expensive. Most of my library is made up of quality paperbacks, but paperbacks nonetheless.

The books I haven't read are kept on the top two shelves of my linen closet. A books is only displayed once I know it's a keeper. Others get donated.

Do you collect books? How will things change with eBooks?