Yesterday, I indulged myself quite a bit on a book shopping trip! Originally inspired by a tweet by @BookPensieve (A Reader’s Pensieve), who had picked up a cheap copy of The Eyre Affair at a library sale in the morning, I set out to do some yard sale shopping! Unfortunately, there weren’t too many readers unloading their gently used paperbacks on their lawns, but I did score a copy of The Life of Pi by Yann Martel. This book was recommended to me by Priya at Tabula Rasa.
Well, I hadn’t satisfied my craving yet, so I jumped on the freeway to my favorite independent bookstore Mysterious Galaxy (click here for my description of this amazing store). Once there, I made a beeline to some of the fantasy and horror books at the top of my TBR list. My first grab was Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb. This new find soared to the top of my must-reads after a recommendation was given to me by a friend at a birthday party on Friday night. This is the same woman who, last year, had recommended the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin. She is certainly knowledgeable in the fantasy genre, and so when she recommended The Farseer Trilogy by Hobb and The Memory of Flames series by Stephen Deas, I knew I had to check them out!
Next, I really indulged myself with a hardback copy of the fantasy novel The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I was supposed to read this back in September, but, at the time, I was still overwhelmed by all of the characters and sprawling locations of Outlander, so I returned it unread to the library. Now, I have my own copy with full-sized maps to boot! Score!
Then, I made it over to the horror section, which has been foremost in my focus this month. I picked up a copy of Horns by Joe Hill, as recommended by Amy at Lucy’s Football, and a hardback copy of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. The former is by one of my favorite authors on twitter (@joe_hill) and the latter has been on my TBR list ever since I saw the spectacularly creepy cover. I’m so excited! More books for the R.I.P. challenge!
So, I got my fix. I may be walking around in worn-out, scuffed flats and wearing bedraggled hair in desperate need of a trim, but at least I have my books! Who needs fashion when you have a hardback book with full-sized maps?!?
Are you like me? Compulsively buying books the way some women buy shoes or purses?
harvee
Isn’t it nice to come with a bunch of bought books in your arms? Enjoy!
borkadventures
Yes! And in a lovely, sturdy paper back from the bookstore which I won’t recycle because I love “book” bags. I love new books!
Debbie Nance (@debnance)
I’m definitely a big book-buyer, though I often walk out, after spending hours and hours at a display of books at Kroger, empty-handed.
I wonder, at times, if I am more of a book-acquirer than I am a book-reader.
borkadventures
I wonder that about myself as well…
I know eventually I will get around to reading all of these books, so in the meantime I just build up my personal library! It just makes me happy to look at them. I guess I am a hoarder of books…
lucysfootball
Whoo-hoo! You’re going to love “Horns!”
I’ve had to get better about book buying – I heavily rely on the library because a., teeny-tiny apartment in which I’ve already crammed more books than actually fit, and b., really broke. But I can’t help myself when I find either a bargain or a book I MUST own. I still buy probably 3-5 a month. *hangs head in shame*
borkadventures
I rely heavily upon the library too…but unfortunately I rack up the overdue fines. I still haven’t returned The Eyre Affair, and a week and a half ago I was up to $7.50 in overdue fines. Yikes! Might as well just say that I lost it and keep it.
To rein myself in on book-buying, I insist upon only buying books that I know I will enjoy and that I would want to read again. Unless they’re used and dirt-cheap. Or, as was the case with the Miss Peregrine book, if I really want to read it and the wait list at the library is incredibly long, I’ll buy it.
Honestly, I might have a problem…
laurelrainsnow
I would rather buy books than shoes! Call me crazy, but books, movies, and little collectible objects are my passion. You can find all of these things in quirky shops. Thanks for sharing.
I really want to read Horns…and Miss Peregrine.
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Domestic Goddess in Training
I have never been into shoes like the other girls I know. I always considered my B and N my therapy shopping. You got some good books on your trip. I loved “The Eyre Affair” and although it had to grow on me I ended up loving “Life of Pi” too.
I have more books that bookshelves right now. You would think that it would mean that I would stop buying books and focus on reading them, but no I ended up buying another book yesterday.
Kyle
Thanks for the shout out! I read the Life of Pi in high school and enjoyed it! Keep in mind, this was during my phase of “if there isn’t a romance in it, I’m not reading it,” yet I liked it. Mark of a good book if high school Kyle liked it (based on a recommendation from my stepdad nonetheless).
I also really want to read Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. I’ve seen some great reviews of it and almost got it at the library a couple weeks ago, but I figured my TBR list is so long that it would just sit there and not get read. Better that I left it for someone else to pick up.
And I like your shoes!
Books in the Burbs
I love that you went book shopping!! I have a Nook and still prefer good ole’ fashioned paperbacks. Who ever thought that a paperback would be considered old??? I am most comfortable in a bookstore that is stocked with all kinds of books, any day of the week, rather than in a mall full of crowded people who are buying clothes/shoes/etc. I love to surround myself in books and have way too many on my reader (mostly freebies) and when Borders closed, I bought a whole lot of books, too. There is something so special when I can go to my shelf or my reader and think, “hmmm, what do I want to read today”, as I sit in my pj’s and feel quite content. Of course, the shopper, would spend their time in the closest thinking, “hmmm, what do I want to wear today”. I say, forget the clothes…jump in bed and curl up with a great book
Julie
I love nothing more than mooching around a bookshop, even a stand of books. We recently returned from a short break & I did purchase a couple of books, which will feature on my TSS post just as soon as I have written it lol!
Alyce
Yes, I acquire books compulsively.
The only book I’ve read out of those was Life of Pi which I loved.
Natalie ~ the Coffee and a Book Chick
I need to read Joe Hill’s books, so far behind on that one! And I Have Miss Peregrine as well – the photos add to it!
jaynesbooks
I definitely go on book shopping sprees and would rather go on one of those than a clothes shopping spree.