All other things being equal–do you prefer used books? Or new books? (The physical speciman, that is, not the title.) Does your preference differentiate between a standard kind of used book, and a pristine, leather-bound copy?
Good question, though difficult to provide a definitive answer to, honestly. I love to browse through new and used bookstores. I love the smell, the sights, the feel of both. Given the choice, I would fill my shelves with new books, but I cannot afford to be a book snob. So here's what I do. If I am shopping for something for bookclub, which necessitates a new book each month, I gravitate to the second-hand bookstore. For that special book, one I am dying to read and cannot wait for, I go for a new book. I love to check out the shelves of both. If I find something I like in a new bookstore, I will buy it if the price is reasonable. I have to confess, though, that I often buy more books at a second-hand bookstore. The price is right and quite often the variety is excellent.
PS I do love a good leather-bound book, new or used. Who doesn't? Sometimes the patina of a used leather bound book, softened with use, is more attractive. So there, how's that for definitive?
Given the choice, what is your preference? Please leave a comment below with a link to your BTT post or answer in the comment itself. Don't forget to link with the originator, Booking Through Thursday.
This Something Old, Something New theme of the week is hosted at Booking Through Thursday, a book and reading blog.
I try to get second hand or at least much cheaper books for my book club too. You don't always know if you're going to like the book. That's a big decider for me also, whether I will like the book or not or if I know the author, because I also will buy pending books that I have been wanting or waiting for brand new. They're nice to have new to start with.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, very definitive re: leather bound books. I've never really paid attention to leather bound ones and the ones I have are just because the book happened to be leather bound.
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ReplyDeleteThe older I get, the less picky I am about books. As long as they are in good shape.
Yeah, readers also need to be practical - so, used book, new book, doesn't matter as long as the actual book is a good story :)
ReplyDeleteI love new books, but I am not picky about my books, I just require that they be clean and not falling apart. I love shopping in my used bookstore, because you can get 8-10 used books for the price of one new book.
ReplyDeleteHi Shirley! Thanks for visiting my blog. ^_^
ReplyDeleteI also love walking up and down the aisles of bookstores, may they be the big ones or those which sell secondhand books. The thing is if I find a good book, I'll just write it up in my cellphone and go to amazon for ebook (yay for electronic readers!) But, if I really, really want it enough (that I'm going gaga) I'd buy it right then and there.
I always feel like it's easier to take a chance on a book if it's second-hand. If I'm in a new bookshop I spend AGES carefully whittling down my choices, making sure I really think I'll like it before I commit to buying. In a second-hand bookshop, charity shop or boot sale I usually have a 'oh, go on then!' moment and buy it anyway! Some of my favourite impulse buys and non-fiction picks have arrived that way - and who could ask more than that?
ReplyDeleteI borrow most of the books I read, so if I buy a book, I buy new. Thanks for stopping by my blog:)
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