Second-hand books are wild books, homeless books; they have come together in a vast flock of variegated feather and have a charm which the domesticated volumes of the library lack. Besides, in this random miscellaneous company we may rub against some complete stranger who will, with luck, turn into the best friend we have in the world.
~ Virginia Woolf
I saw this quote on.....Pinterest, I think? (And just had to share it with you, of course!) I love it. Because it's so true!
Well.......
Okay.
I admit it.
One big reason I like buying used books, is because they're so much cheaper. Yep! I confess. But truly, is there any better feeling than finding a book (especially a book you've been wanting!), in nice condition, for not very much money?
I trust you answered 'no' to that question.
Second-hand or used bookstores are a wonderful thing as well. I've renewed my acquaintance with a favorite spot from my childhood. And when I walked in, the owner remembered me and welcomed me back! That was a pretty great feeling. So, yeah, I've been back a time or three since. ;)
Used books and the bookstores or yard sales or thrift stores you find them in, they are a fabulous thing. And I hope as long as there are avid readers like me around, that there will always be the spots where we can find our stories. And for a little less money!
I love second hand books! 90% of my books (I reckon) are second hand. And it's always so exciting to find a book in a charity shop or second hand bookshop when it's currently out of print! :)
ReplyDeleteYes! Finding an out of print book unexpectedly is awesome! :) And I'd say that maybe 60-70% of my books are second hand. I do buy brand new quite a bit as I'm usually way too impatient to be able to wait to read a certain book. But I much prefer finding them used. :)
DeleteAlways great to come away with a fabulous book haul - no matter where you find them. ;)
ReplyDeleteMy aunt used to take us to the used library sales when we were kids and I'm pretty sure we found some treasures among those dusty books.
Amen to that, Rissi! :)
DeleteThat's the thing with used book sales. You usually do have to dig for the buried treasure! But when you're willing to, sometimes you can find the most amazing stories.
I agree - especially when I find a different edition of one of my favorite books :).
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean, Jamie! I'm not positive how many copies of Persuasion I have now, but most certainly more than one. I'm glad I'm not the only reader who has multiple copies of the same book! :)
DeleteI love!!!! used books. I hardly ever buy a "new" book anymore. We have a thrift store in town that's main selection of books are free for I think the first 6 books, and then a donation after that. They do have a selection of specialty books that they charge for. It's the only thing I go there for.
ReplyDeleteThe best part about used books is when you open them up and find a note written in the front or when you can tell how well loved it was by its previous owner. Sometimes I have found some interesting things inside them that people use for markers. You just never know what those pages may contain!
Now that sounds like an awesome thrift store! :)
DeleteI so agree about finding notes. Somehow it adds character and fun to reading it, if you that makes sense. And bookmarks! Oh my, have I found some strange ones myself. Especially in library books. Speaking of which, I've also found notes in them that tell about what someone liked or didn't like about the book. Very intriguing to find! :)
I love used books. I like the smell of old books as opposed to new books. And they're cheaper. Used bookstores are the best too. We used to have one in our town. You could come and trade your books in also. It had so many rooms and little closets that were all floor to ceiling books! I loved it. :)
ReplyDeleteUsed bookstores are awesome, aren't they?! I'm always amazed at all the nooks and crannies that the owners find to stash books. It definitely makes me feel like I'm going on a treasure hunt! ;)
DeleteIt's a lovely quote and I love the idea of all the stories those books lived before they got to you. I have a handful of used book - a few of them were library books - and I just love imagining the life they led before me.
ReplyDeleteI so agree with you, Alex! Stories are to be shared. I love the fact that we can share them with one another. Whether by borrowing or buying used, the stories those books could tell us about who read them....I imagine we'd find them fascinating. :)
DeleteWe have a huge used book store in town (used to be a Borders), plus two thrift stores with lots and lots of books, and our library has 3 or 4 used book sales a year. And this is why I have about 500 books (not counting children's books!) and am not in the poor house yet. I'd say at least 3/4 of my books are pre-loved. Maybe more like 4/5.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I have 3 copies of Jane Eyre, and multiple copies of several other beloved books. Cuz there's the one I got originally, and then a pretty edition I found somewhere, and then maybe a really cool antique version I picked up for a song...
"Pre-loved", I love that term! Such a true description. :) I haven't counted how many books I have, but the number is rather large for me as well.
DeleteIt's not possible to say no to a book when it's cheap and/or pretty, even if you already have several copies! I totally understand you there.