“When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes”
~Erasmus
(Photo by me)
There was a time in my life where that quote was startlingly precise in its description of my book-buying habits. I could have been tattooed across my forehead. When I took control of my finances a few years back, the uninhibited indulgence in book-buying began to be curbed and that self-control has grown each year, with less income going out on books and thus fewer new-to-me books coming into the home.
But occasionally one has to splurge, especially when those splurges involve going to a used bookstore–the place where you get more bang for your shopping buck.
The following are the used (and a few new) additions that have come home with me over the last few weeks.
24 Frames is John Scalzi’s latest nonfiction book, a collection of his film essays centered on Science Fiction. The NEFSA (New England Science Fiction Association, Inc) has put together a really nice quality volume here. For those of you who have read John Scalzi’s blog entries and/or film essays you know he is highly entertaining. These essays are grouped by category and make for perfect bite-sized reading as each is roughly two pages in length. I’ve been nibbling at it a little bit at a time over the last few weeks. We don’t always agree, but that is part of the entertainment value of the book.
I started reading a library copy of David Weber’s first Honor Harrington novel, On Basilisk Station, for the Classic Science Fiction Book Club back in December. Despite my enjoyment of the first 250 or so pages I got sidetracked and eventually turned my library copy in. I found this copy at a local used bookstore last week and it was in such great shape that I decided it was high time I finish this.
A member of the Classic Science Fiction Book Club recently posted a link to an author’s Top 10 Science Fiction list which prompted a wonderful time of picking and comparing our own Top 10 works of Science Fiction and later Fantasy. Brin’s The Postman was on the author’s list. I have never seen the film adaptation–I know, I’m lame–and I decided I’d rather read the book first because the premise sounds great. Another nice pick up from the used bookstore.
I went to the used bookstore with the express purpose of tracking down two books that Joachim Boaz recently featured on his excellent classic science fiction site. If you aren’t subscribed to his site, you really should be. Several times a week he tempts with fun classic SF eye-candy, and his book reviews are always well thought out and entertaining. One of the books that caught my eye was David Gerrold’s book, Space Skimmer. While I did not find that novel, I did see this original series Star Trek novel with what appears to be a cover illustrated by Paul Lehr, a particular favorite. This one was pretty beat up, but it was still a no-brainer for me, and home it came.
George Kelly recently reviewed a John D. MacDonald novel that sounded really good. I haven’t read any of MacDonald’s work but many of his novels are graced with covers by one of my favorite illustrators, Robert McGinnis. While at the used shop I wandered over into the mystery section and found this book in very good shape. I later laughed when I came home to find that I actually own other MacDonald novels, some with McGinnis covers. One of these days I need to actually read one!
Someone online read and reviewed this novel recently (if it was you, please let me know and I’ll give you credit). I immediately fell for the cover and I’ve enjoyed the few Clarke stories I’ve read. This smaller-sized paperback was in such great shape that stumbling across it at the used bookstore brought a big smile to my face. It immediately went into my pile of books to bring home.
See that wasn’t so bad! Of course I’ve probably forgotten a handful of other purchases, but these are the most recent.
So how about you, what have you been adding to your collections?
Those of us unable to wholly refrain from buying books can at least comfort ourselves with the thought that it is at least a cheap vice (when confined to second-hand stores, library sales, and the like).
Weber’s HH series is enjoyable, at least to start, but suffers from the same defect as the Wheel of Time series: increasingly longer books where increasingly less happens.
John D. MacDonald, especially his Travis McGee novels, is awesome.
I recently took home a copy of Dodie Smith’s I Capture The Castle. No idea when I’ll actually get to read it.
It can be a cheap vice, that is for sure. It can also be expense if one gets out of control!!! 🙂
I liked what I had read of On Basilisk Station, Honor grew on me quickly.
I’ve heard good things about the Dodie Smith book. I’ve tried watching the film adaptation a few times but it was so strange that I couldn’t get past the beginning.
I wandered into the library for the first time in several months and purchased a discard paperback of ‘The Sparrow’ by Mary Doria Russell for a .25¢. Several chapters in I decided that I was liking it well enough to maybe try to get my hands on a copy of the sequel ‘Children of God’. Went to the PBSwap site & no luck, there wasn’t one available to trade…but, the more I kept looking at the cover…I swear I’ve got that fricken book in the house somewhere! After an hour search that ended up in the shop, I discovered an advanced readers copy of ‘Children of God’ that was in amongst about 8 boxes of books a friend gave me a couple of years ago that i’ve slowly been making my way thru when bored. SCORE! 😀
I’m about half way thru the first book and REALLY enjoying it!
I have heard a lot of positive stuff about The Sparrow. What a deal that was! Isn’t it frustrating when you just know you have something but can’t locate it? So glad you hit upon it and didn’t have to spend any money. Book shopping in ones’ own house is always the best!
There’s something thrilling about old books and their cover art, especially in novels – sf, fantasy, mystery, isn’t there? I love the covers you have shown here.
Plus of course, is the thrill of finding these books, which are only available second-hand. I love the excitement of going into a second hand book store, you never know what you are going to find. I do think that you taking charge of your finances like that is truly wonderful, Carl. I am really happy for you and Mary, and also that you get to treat yourself to treasures like this at the same time.
I think of that Erasmus quote often! lol it certainly applies to me 🙂 it always has.
There is, it is one of the reasons I cannot help but go to Joachim’s site every time he puts up a new post, because I know I’m going to see something interesting.
Thank you so much for the kind words. Life is certainly much more satisfying now that we are debt free and have a long habit of living on a budget. Its nice to have money to be a blessing to other people, to have money in savings, and to be using our money wisely.
I love the Erasmus quote! There are times when it applies to me better than it should. 🙂 It looks like you have a fun haul. It almost makes me want to go to the bookstore, but I’ll try to restrain myself!
Me too. Especially when it comes to clothes. I’m generally the kind of person that would wear the same rags for years if it means I can buy more books.
Love the quote… it definitely applies to me! I can’t even remember the last time I went clothes shopping, but book shopping is a completely different story. 🙂
I’ve been making myself a list of books to look for when I go used book shopping again after finals.
I’ve got a copy of The Sands of Mars that I haven’t started yet. If you end up reading it before I do let me know how it is.
I’ve gone quite a bit of clothes shopping lately, but that is an anomaly for me. Book shopping is much more of a regular habit, although one I have much better control over now.
I’ve been making a list too, and it is growing longer all the time. Thankfully this trip helped me knock a few off the list.
Sometimes you just HAVE to indulge in new books! Especially if you can get them cheap. Although the library does save me SO much money (and shelf-space), so that I can read new books without actually owning them.
Looks like you found some treasures! I’m intrigued by the Gerrold adventure, I didn’t know he wrote any Trek novels. Might have to look for that, even though I just added five new-to-me Star Trek novels to my shelf…
Yes you do!!! I knew he wrote Star Trek episodes but not novels. I don’t believe I’ve read any of his books, although I used to own (and maybe still do) Voyage of the Star Wolf. It probably wouldn’t surprise anyone to know that it is the cover that sucked me in to buy that one too. 🙂
I’ve moooostly been able to control myself on book purchases. Primarily through extensive use of the local libraries.
However on the odd occasion where the library for one reason or another offered the slightest bit too much frustration (commonly in the form of, ‘The wait list is HOW long?’) I’d go out on a book-buying-binge.
I once bought the entire Wheel of Time series (well, 1-10, which is what was out at the time) in one purchase due to this. Even though it was only in paperback, my bank accounts remember this day. 😛
That was probably one of my worst, especially since it was so illogical. I could have spread those purchases out since I wasn’t going to read them all that quickly.
Probably the next biggest, and also most recent splurge was after I was given my Kindle as a birthday present last year, along with (from other people) about $60 of Amazon vouchers.
Suffice to say, the vouchers were quickly consumed and more besides, and half the storage capacity of the Kindle is now occupied with books mostly in a TBR state. *cough*
On the plus side, I haven’t bought very much since!
I’ve been fairly good at not Kindle-splurging, but it’s downright dangerous when it comes to reading a series of books that ends in cliffhangers. Aside from that, most of the books that I read on my Kindle are public domain.
good ol’ David Gerrold lol..no matter what he writes he will forever be known for Troubles with Tribbles lol..It’s always nice to read when someone is excited about “new finds” be old or new. I think old is better.. harder to find and more cherished!
I just put a post up yesterday with my May reads and the four books that have found a new home , heh.
Can you believe it’s May? dang! I wish I could spend from now until December in a state with no humidity! (fat chance that will ever come true lol) ah well.. glad you had a good time finding your new/old books!
Yes he will, and given my fondness for the original series I don’t consider that a bad thing. 🙂
No, I cannot believe it is May. I don’t know what has happened to the year thus far. It is wild. It has started to get hot and humid here again after a couple of weeks of respite and I’m not happy about it.
Love that photo at the top of your post! You have got a good eye for photography Carl!
Thanks Stephanie! One of these days I’ll buy a new camera (since my last one died) and start taking pix again!
Always loved to see payday come so I could buy more books and music. Right now I have 2,459 books in my wish list on Amazon, and have created a new wish list with 268 items. There are a few kitchen gadgets and such on the list, but not many! LOL. Right now I need more bookshelves. It’s difficult to think of anyplace I’d rather be than a bookstore or library. The first time I entered Barnes & Noble I wanted to move in — there were comfy chairs, a coffee bar, floor to ceiling books, and a pizza parlor right next door. I could have lived out the rest of my life in complete contentment. (SIGH)
Wow, you have a HUGE wishlist! I keep a couple of separate ones, a private one where I keep a listing of books I think I want to buy and another public one I move books, etc. into for gift ideas.
I wouldn’t mind living at BN myself. They do have comfy chairs. Just not enough, LOL.
Love that cover on THE GALACTIC WHIRLPOOL! And you can’t miss with a John D. MacDonald novel. I just finished Robert Sheckley’s THE STORE OF THE WORLDS. Highly recommended! And I’m going to see THE AVENGERS tomorrow. My wife suggested that I go see THE AVENGERS at Midnight Madness tonight. But I had to remind her that I’m too old for that…
That was my thought too George, no way I’m going to the midnight show.
I’ve read one Robert Sheckley collection, The Masque of Manana, and loved it. He is a very entertaining storyteller.
One of these days I’ll get to my Honor Harrington book. It looks so good! And the Scalzi looks interesting. I just started following his blog and he cracks me up.
My most recent find at a Goodwill Used Book Store was the novelization of The Empire Strikes Back. I was really happy to find it. Now to find a copy of Star Wars and Return of the Jedi!
Me too. Or get back to it as the case may be. What I can say is that I’ve read the first 200 pages or so (in this paperback version, I think it was up to 250 in the one from the library) and Honor is a GREAT character.
I love the SW novelizations. Anytime I find a really good copy I end up buying them to upgrade the used copies I have.
it’s healthy to indulge every once in a while, and you got some treasures! Brin’s The Postman is excellent, and even though the movie barely touches on the themes of the book, it’s a fun film. I’ll be curious to hear what you think of it!
Buying second hand is my favorite, it’s like i don’t really own the books, I just get to take care of them for a while. and then i take them back to the bookstore or donate to the library bookstore, and someone else gets to take care of them for a while. and when the book is old and finally falls apart? think of how many people’s lives it touched.
It is indeed, Red. I agree. Glad to hear that you liked The Postman. I told my wife tonight that I have about 15 books that I would love to get to and get through on this vacation coming up this week. It won’t happen, but a guy can dream.
I love new books. I kind of have the same reaction to new books that Lucy does to nickels in the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. But the clever thing about science fiction and fantasy is that there are in existence all these books with wonderful book covers that, even when worn, grab hold of you and won’t let go. I have a special fondness for used SFF and my basement is ever filling with it. I too like thinking of the many adventures that books have had and who they might have had them with. Another treat of owning used books. I often feel the same way when reading library books.
Thanks for chiming in Andrea, it was fun to see your thoughts on used books. 🙂
I need to make time to chime in more, there is always something fascinating going on here.