How I Became a Book Dragon

You may be wondering, “WTF is a book dragon?” Sit back, relax, and let me tell the tale of how I became a book dragon and what that means…

Three years ago, I walked into my university bookstore. I hadn’t been there in a while, but I needed to pick up my Spanish textbook before my professor started taking points off my grade. After I got what I needed, I realized there was so much stuff I needed to look around because who knew the next time I would be back? I walked through the lanes of university-branded clothes, art supplies, and hats that said “UINDY GRANDPA” until I saw a little shelf with popular books. I wandered over there to look, remembering a time where I loved to read books. 

It had the usuals: James Patterson, Stephen King, and other famous authors that I didn’t really care for (hot take?). I was about to leave when I saw this shining bronze cover of a woman's face titled Circe. I loved Greek mythology, so this piqued my interest. After a flash of impulsivity, I had Circe by Madeline Miller in my bookbag and was on my way home. 

Little did I know what I had done: the damage to my wallet would continue for the next four years. 

There’s a difference between a bookworm and a book dragon. A bookworm consumes books like it’s food. They are constantly at the library, looking for their next read. Any book can spark their interest, and they will read it cover-to-cover. They probably have a reading goal of 200 books a year, and they’ve read every book on their shelf. Stories are their sustenance. 

However, a book dragon hoards books like it’s a precious treasure. They don’t do well with library books because they want to keep them. They purchase books to have for their bookshelves, yet to only read when one truly intrigues them. They take pride in their collection and only lend books to trusted friends. Imagine Smaug from The Hobbit — that’s how protective I am of my books.  

I am a book dragon, hence the title of this blog. My books are my prized possessions, with the most recent count of 230 gracing my shelves. I used to work at a big-name bookstore and the employee discount became a real problem. Unfortunately, I had to quit due to the workload of school, but I found myself going more and more to indie bookstores instead. Here is some advice for fellow book dragons: shop at your local bookstores! Supporting local businesses validates my purchases, and I love talking with the employees. Their passion for books brings me back for more. If you’re on Indianapolis's south side, check out Wild Geese Bookshop. They are some of the sweetest people you’ll meet. 

I know I don’t need to own books while I have my active library card, but there is something about having my collection of books that is solely mine. My ultimate goal is to procure my library; the requirement is to have at least 1000 books. Am I under capitalism and consumerism’s spell? Probably.

Ask yourself:  Are you a bookworm or a book dragon? Let me know in the comments below.