In the e-book age I have thousands of e-books all neatly organized in calibre. Some I have read only a few chapters of then deleted it off my kindle bored. Some I read and enjoyed but will never read again. Some I have never read or plan to read, they were downloaded because I knew someone else wanted to read it. I just cannot seem to delete a book once I add it to calibre and convert it. However only a small number of books among those in my calibre library are truly "keepers".

Before the age of ebooks. I labeled books I could read over and over again "keepers". Books you do not donate, loan or trade. Books that remain in your library and get pulled out when you need to curl up with an old friend. I have slowly replaced my hard copy "keepers" with their ebook counterparts. I have even found new "keepers" since I went paperless.

It got me to thinking. What makes a book a "keeper" because some of my keepers have books better written, with better plots and more interesting characters. Yet those books that are "better" are not keepers. Some books are just like old comfortable robes; worn and full of holes but loved for there easy fit and familiarity.

Questions-

Do you re-read books, or are you one of those no repeaters. If a no repeater the next 2 questions do not apply.

I am obviously a re-reader, but have met many a no-repeaters.

Do you have a sentimental attachment to a book due to your own life events?

I do it is Seduction by Amanda Quick. When my Mother died I was grief stricken. I did not smile. I did not laugh and reading for once was more a reminder than an escape since my love of books came from her. My 20th birthday was a few moths after her death, she made a big deal out of birthdays. My brother bought me the Amanda Quick as a BD gift. To placate him I picked it up and started to read, shockingly I forgot for a while and became lost in the book. I actually laughed while reading and felt lighter when I put it down. Needless to say the book became a comfort read and is on my "keeper" shelf even now over 20 years later.

Do you have ratty "comfort reads"? Guilty pleasures that you probably would not read if it were released today, but you love it none the less.

I dislike most 1970-1980 series romance but a few I loved as a teen like my Ann Cristy Second Chance at love and few select harlequins remain "keepers"