I have a thing about only buying second-hand books. I like the adventure of it. I have my “treasure hunt” list, which is comprised of all the books I want to buy and which I carry with me at all times. If I pass a second-hand bookstore I scour the shelves and flip-out (with joy) when I find one of the titles.
Will she find a long-coveted treasure?
I also have this strange belief that books find you right at the moment that you should read them, when you are ready to understand and assimilate their messages and themes, when they are most relevant to your own life. If that is true, and I personally believe it to be, it would be both cheating and pointless to buy new books. Anyway it would take all the fun out it if I could just walk into a giant bookstore and buy whichever title took my fancy.
Is anyone else nutto for used books? Why?
Love your take on this! I felt this way when traveling, because I only had access to books that had been left behind in hostels or were sold on the street. In Ghana, I found an original copy of Paul Theroux’s The Great Railway Bazaar — cost me $1. It was the exact book I was meant to be reading at that time. Also, being dependent on books I found in hostels meant I was exposed to books I might not have chosen at home. It helped me see what other travelers were choosing to read, what they had brought with them. I’ve thought several times about writing a personal essay about the books I found during my backpacking trip, and how those stories influenced my experience.
Now, of course, when I want a title I type it into Amazon, and it appears on my doorstep two days later. I like your method better. :)
I totally agree about books turning up right when you need them. I always remember a couple of lightening bolt ideas from books that I flip through and put back, only to drive all the way back two days later to buy it.
Used books are the best. Cheaper, broken-in, pre-dog eared…how can you go wrong? Well, except weird food stains. That’s a little wrong.
I adore secondhand books and used bookstores. When I lived in Oxford, I bought nearly all my books from charity-shop bookshelves. I agree – so many books have found me just when I needed them. I like to think they’re sent to me at the right time.
Great post!
Second hand is the way to go with books. So what if the spine has creases in it? You know what that means? The person(s) who had it before were really engaged in it. Plus, it’s cheaper and if you’re an environmental person, it’s greener.
Though don’t get me wrong, I love getting new books…there’s just something about finding the book you wanted at a used store right when you need/want it. Almost like fate.
[…] Courtney Kane says second-hand books come into our lives when we’re supposed to read them. Love […]
Absolutely. I (almost) only buy used books. LOVE.
Good to know there are others out there who feel the same as I do.
@Alexis – Yeah, I also like looking through backpacker bookshelves to see what people are reading, although I am usually sadly disappointed in my fellow travellers… have found a few gems though. I would love to read that essay, when you have written it. I kept a list of all the books I was reading while I was travelling (and I have continued to do so now that I am home). I find it interesting to see how what you are reading informs what you are thinking and, therefore, what you are writing.
@Susana – Food stains are ok with me, as long as you can work out what they are. Blood stains on the other hand…
@Katie and all – I would love to hear which books have been “sent” that were particularly useful/important at a particular moment for you.
@Matt – It is totally more environmental. Nice.