Wednesday, March 4, 2009

New versus used books

Are you a new only person? I have a friend who won't buy used books. Says they don't feel right to her. For me, used books have always been an option, for various reasons. Price, yeah that's one. When I was a student and for many years afterward, the only reasonable way I could afford to buy books was to go to used bookstores. Now, even when I can afford to buy new, I still travel to my town's largest used bookstore and meander down the aisles. Which brings up another reason I buy used books. I discover authors all the time and guess what? They have back lists. Often, the romance and fantasy authors I discover have written a series and the only way I can find the book in the middle of the series is at the used bookstore, so I haunt the aisles until it pops up. I spent over a year finding all of the books in one series I discovered several years ago. I guard those books now, they were too tough to find!
And finally, I love to discover new and different used books. I found a storybook series a couple months ago that had fairy tales I hadn't read in them and the artwork was stunning. I wouldn't have found this in a new bookstore, the books are out of print.
So, yes, not only am I addicted to books, I'm also a used bookstore junkie.

1 comment:

  1. I love used books. The majority of my collection IS used. Matter of a fact, I rarely buy new, except for authors that I am following and anticipating the next installment of their series. When I am trying out a new author, I either buy used or try it from the library. . . after that, if they become a favorite they might move up to the "buy new" list. Part of it is the money factor, and the other part is that many of the authors and genres I read are no longer being published, so I HAVE to buy used. I have read many authors, such as Gaiman, speak highly of used bookstores and libraries. That's how they get us hooked. :)

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