Thursday, February 24, 2011

Booking Through Something Old, Something New



All other things being equal–do you prefer used books? Or new books? (The physical specimen, that is, not the title.) Does your preference differentiate between a standard kind of used book, and a pristine, leather-bound copy?

It does not matter either way for me. I do buy news books a lot. I like the smells of paper and a pristine book offers that. But I am not very fastidious either. If I get the same book for a much cheaper price, I go for it. Also the fact that used books are so much cheaper than new ones, lures me into buying those. I have bought 15-20 used books for the price of one new book. That is best incentive to buy those used ones!

Used books do have character. But they should be intact and should not stink! I like those with the covers. I have also found rare books whilst browsing through used books. Reading is important, books are important, new ones or used ones, it does not really matter.

12 comments:

Mason Canyon said...

I enjoy both new and used books. There's nothing like the feel and smell of a brand new book. But at the same time I enjoy finding an old copy of a book that has been taken care of while being read over and over again. At the used book store I can come home with 6 or 8 books while at the new book store I come home with 1 or 2.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress

DawnTreader said...

I agree...
Beyond the Lone Islands

Gigi Ann said...

I buy a lot of books at the used bookstore also, It always feels so good to come away with so many books for the price of a new one, I agree with you.

Ayanami Faerudo said...

I quite agree. Most of my books are soft copies (ebooks) and I only buy hard copies - new ones - when I really, really want to own them. But, I still scour for books in used-books stores and when I find books I like, even if I already have soft copies of them, I'd buy them provided they are in good condition.

Ayanami Faerudo @ Whatever You Can Still Betray

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I'm not fastidious about my books too - as long as they are good!

Here's my Something Old, Something New post!

bermudaonion said...

It doesn't matter to me either, but I do like for my books to be in good condition.

Sally said...

Pretty much agree with your answer. but I am now worried about stinky books!
Sally.
http://theelifylop.blogspot.com/2011/02/booking-through-thursday-7.html

Joy Weese Moll said...

Great answer! It is the reading that matters, after all!

Anonymous said...

here's mine http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2011/02/booking-through-thursday_24.html

Anonymous said...

I love that used books have character and I'm totally with you that reading and books are important not whether they are new or used!

Mostraum said...

The insides are my priority: http://mostraum.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/booking-through-thursday-something-old-something-new/

Shirley said...

I like both. It depends on the purpose for which I am buying them. My response to this week's BTT is here: http://shirley-mybookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/02/booking-through-thursday-something-old.html