Check out the local bookstore, flea market, or library when buying books.
Nov 21 '00
I just read two excellent reviews (by goddess 30 and by wordwalker) on where is the best place to shop for books and would like to add my two cents worth in.
Unfortunately I have not had the time to read as much as I would like, like I used to, however I am still an avid reader. Books can be so unbelievably expensive that I generally refuse to buy books at major retail stores unless I really need or want the book new.
I am lucky to live in a large city (San Francisco) that has many well-stocked libraries. I try to go to the library as often as possible. I usually am not looking for anything specific, just peruse around and look for titles of interest. Usually when I’ve read a book once it is enough for me, but occasionally I will want to own the book for myself. Sometimes I will be browsing at one of the places I like to buy books and find a title I have not read and if the price is right I will buy it, or I will write down the title to go look for it in the library.
There are three main places I go to buy books.
First is there are several used bookstores here in San Francisco that I like. Usually you can find an amazing array of subjects in used bookstores. Often the price is about 1/5th to 1/3rd the cover price and sometimes a few of the places will put a shelf outside with a sign saying “Free book take a few – no dealers please.”
Second is the local flea market and garage sales. All through growing up my mom sold at flea markets and so I spent many weekends out there running around looking at all kinds of interesting stuff and learning how to spot a good value. At the flea market you can often find paperbacks from 25 cents to $1 each and hardbacks from $1 to $5 each. The selection is usually not as extensive as in a used bookstore or the library but you can find many good treasures.
Third is at the library. Usually about once a month the libraries put out a table of about 200-400 free books. There is usually a sign asking patrons please be respectful and not take more than two/three (depending on the branch) books. Also 1 to 4 times a year (depending on the branch) there will be a book sale with about 1000 to 5000 books. These books are usually a)read so much they are falling apart b)read so little they are collecting dust or c)have been donated and the library has to many copies already. The prices usually range from 50 cents to $2 for paperbacks and about $2 to $10 for hardcover.
Reading is a wonderful and essential part of life. My parents started me toward my love of reading very young; I was reading before I was 2 years old. I remember how it was a big deal to get dad to take my brother and me to the main library in Los Angeles when we were little; we used to go about once a week. It made us so sad when it burned down that we both donated our allowance to the re-building fund (I was 7 years old). When I lived with mom in San Francisco the library was within walking distance and I would often go there after school.
I currently own over 1,000 books and have probably sold over 10,000 books at the flea market, garage sales, or local bookstores throughout the years and I have probably donated at least another 2000 to my local libraries.
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Epinions.com ID:
egab01
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Member: Gabriella
Location: San Francisco, Ca
Reviews written: 19
Trusted by: 7 members
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