Adam Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 I found this great little used book store and I was very impressed. The atmosphere was perfect, close to home, and of course a great selection of books. They even give you a free book of your choice for a purchase over $10! The books are dirt cheap and I brought in a pretty good haul. I was even able to find some original covers of John Grisham books! BUT I got to thinking about these books. They are not all in the best condition, they are not bad, but they have been read before. It just got me thinking of who had this before me, what did they do with it, what were they like. Maybe I am over thinking this Do used books bother you? They don't bother me all that much. For the most part all my books come new, but I don't mind the odd used book considering the condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angerball Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 Used books don't bother me at all, as long as they are clean. Sometimes you can find different versions (covers) than those in shops that sell new books. There is something nice about buying a brand new book though, and opening it up and getting that "new book smell". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maureen Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 I don't mind buying a used book at all - if they are in a good condition. I have bought a large amount of book as used, and will continue to do so. Here in Malta, new books are expensive, and it is not worth it for me buying them brand new. Sometimes I buy new ones from Play or on Ebay, but I also buy lots second hand from a bookshop nearby, or from Ebay, (and a few from other members here). It never bothers me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 I've been buying used books ever since I worked in my mom's thrift store as a kid. It doesn't bother me at all, but if it's a book I really enjoy, I do wonder why the original owner got rid of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 I don't mind second-hand books at all, but if I plan to keep them, I try to get ones that are in the best condition I can find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 I don't mind second hand books either. I can spend hours browsing in the Bookbarn and usually find something. At the moment, all their paperback fiction (apart from fantasy and classics) are Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen1 Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 I don't mind buying or reading second hand books as I quite often buy books from charity shops and I'm a regular visitor to my local library. I do have to admit that I do tend to only go for ones that are in good condition, particularly when buying them, and even in the library a book that is in bad condition can put me off borrowing it even if it's a book that I would really like to read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 A large percentage of my books have been bought second-hand. I like being able to buy copies of books which have the original cover, so second-hand shops are great places to look for them. I agree with others, though, that I tend to only buy them if they are in reasonable condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louiseog Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 Used doesn't bother me at all, in fact prefer them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 I love buying secondhand books, but like others I get put off if it's not in very good condition. That said, I've given in a few times and have some pretty bad copies of books at home. I bought a copy of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne on the weekend. When I got it home and opened it, I found this written inside: 'Don't read the first 46 pages, it's boring' Turns out that the first 46 pages make up the introduction, so it looks like I'll be skipping that. Thank you anonymous person! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 LOL also used books have a nice smell and they look distinguished on my shelf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierced Musie Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 I prefer used books because I'm not afraid of reading them. With brand new books, you turn the pages carefully and hope the spine doesn't start to crack. With old books, the pages are easy to turn and feel so much nicer. Plus it makes me wonder about the person who had it before me:lol:. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mia Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 I don't like used books at all. I'm too fussy about how I look after mine, so used ones are invariably not up to my standard! I don't like the smell of them, and I don't like dirty or turned-down pages. I never go in second-hand bookshops. I don't even use my library! I prefer to buy my own books to keep in a pristine condition. Yes, I know I am too fussy! The only second-hand books I possess are ones I have been forced to buy because they are out of print. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 A large portion of my books are second hand. If you only buy ones in good condition and not split or stained and look as good as new, why pay full price if you can buy it for a fraction? I have found Amazon Marketplace to be a good source of second hand books. The dealers have to be truthful about the condition of the books because if they get too many complaints against them, there are repercussions for them. The one time I received a book that was crummy when it was supposed to be "like new" I complained and Amazon refunded my money both for the book and postage. Of course I would rather be able to get out to the store myself, but I can't always, so I rely on Amazon a great deal and their rating system has proved dependable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrathofkublakhan Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 When I was a little boy it was a Big Deal to go to the used book store. Getting ten books was a whole lot of fun and I could take some risky chances. Today when I visit a used book store, I marvel at finding old titles that I read years ago; books I'd never see in a new book store and often buy them to re-enjoy them all over again. The leap back to what was popular years ago is appealing to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 Getting ten books was a whole lot of fun and I could take some risky chances. I agree with this. You can buy so many books for so little. If you buy one you don't enjoy, it doesn't matter, because the cost was small Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 With brand new books, you turn the pages carefully and hope the spine doesn't start to crack. I'm doing this with my current book. I try not to open it wide so sometimes I have trouble reading the words near the inner margins It's irritating but ultimately worth it, I think. I hate cracked spines, although a bigger problem for me is the bottom corner of the front cover. No matter how careful I try to be, the corner always gets a little turned up by the time I've finished, and it looks terrible. I marvel at finding old titles that I read years ago; books I'd never see in a new book store and often buy them to re-enjoy them all over again. Hear, hear! I was recently trying desperately to remember the name of a book I read at school when I was young, but having no success. When I was browsing the children's section of a second-hand bookshop on the weekend, there it was! And it's not a very well known book so you wouldn't expect to find it so easily! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fireball Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 I don't like used books at all. I'm too fussy about how I look after mine, so used ones are invariably not up to my standard! I don't like the smell of them, and I don't like dirty or turned-down pages. The only second-hand books I possess are ones I have been forced to buy because they are out of print. Here, here, some people treat books like nobodies business , and if they do that to books, what are they like as people, at least in libraries they've got to treat the books with some respect, at least in most libraries I hope THAT's the case.! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Butter Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I'm not keen on second-hand books at all. Don't mind if they're in good nick and they're passed on by someone I know, but I'm not into buying from second-hand bookshops. I've probably got an over-active imagination, but I just don't like thinking about what the previous owners may have done with them! I have family in Hay-on-Wye, which is popularly known as "the second-hand book capital of the world". Good place for anyone who does like browsing - the place is awash with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Severnlad Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I agree with this. You can buy so many books for so little. If you buy one you don't enjoy, it doesn't matter, because the cost was small I too like to buy used books because as you say Adam you get so many for a small outlay. If you find that some are not as good as you first thought they can always be passed on through charity shops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I really don't have a problem with second hand books.. but then I've also picked up kiddies clothes and toys second hand too. I guess when you don't always have the money for new, you have second hand, or do without! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oblomov Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 There is something exhilarating in poking about through old books and magazines to find something with a link to one's past or different & interesting. We go to Hay-on-Wye every other year and almost a third of the books in our house are from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galactic Space Hamster Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I really like second hand books because they have a history. They meant something to somebody even if it was only that "they hated it" and each one carries the scars and marks of love or hate. I love it when you find writing in a book like a dedication or something that gives a clue to who owned it such as a bookmark left in it's covers. The laughter lines and creases of the cover or the tell tale page turned over which is like a slice of time saying "I was here, this is where I read to" and I love the amber colour of the pages and their scent of age. I think books are special and you can pass them on to others for them to be lost in another world if only for a few fleeting moments; it's nice to be able to get a sense of that with old books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I buy my books from the charity shop that I work in and then I take them bacl for someone else to buy once i've read them and then I can tell people how good they are especially if is an author that they haven't read before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 No matter how careful I try to be, the corner always gets a little turned up by the time I've finished, and it looks terrible. I've just looked at my current read and that has happened! I'm going be checking that out from now on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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