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Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme (mostly) about books and reading.


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The BTT question for the week is:

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?
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If I really, really want the books, I definitely prefer new books. I want my own pristine, not leather-bound (since they're too fancy and expensive), copy of a book - if it is not available I'd take the paperback; but of course I have to consider the amount of money I could shed for that particular book.

I want a new one, since I want to have the feeling that this book, this precious copy is MINE. There is a sense of ownership, a sense that I am the first owner - no one has put his or her own mark in it. This is my preference for the books that are published today.

However, despite the Gollum-like obsession above, most of the books that I have are ebook copies (I'm all for the environment) and I'm also quite satisfied to own second-hand books particularly if they are published so long ago that they stopped printing them. I also like to scour second-hand bookstores for books and I'd rejoice if I find books that are affordable that I wanted to own for so long.    

Funny since I found boxes and trunks of old books in my ancestral home that were owned by my grandparents and I absolutely love them.

These antiquated books have a certain character to them. Knowing that these books were owned by my grandparents and were published at a time that is so different from today, it is like having a piece of history in your hands; and as I flip through the pages, read the words penned so long ago AND also read the little side notes on the margins by the previous owners, it is like stepping through time allowing me to have a glimpse of what was long ago.

I want my books that I buy by myself to be new but I also adore old books.

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11 comments:

  1. The only leather bound book I own is a Bible that I got as a gift :) I didn't even know that they still produced leather bound books

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  2. I agree. With new books, I do prefer them new. With old books though, it can be a very special feeling to have an early edition of them, especially if inherited in the family.
    Thanks for visiting my post.
    Beyond the Lone Islands

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  3. I have the variety of feelings about books that you've expressed...old AND new ones have their place.

    I found a book on Amazon the other day that is a first edition by an author I enjoy....it isn't THAT old, since it was published in 1966, but I am going to treasure it, as it speaks to a unique time in my history.

    Here's MY BTT POST

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  4. Lucky to have so many of your grandparents books. It's nice to have a history to some things. I only have a few that they have given me.
    Sally.
    http://theelifylop.blogspot.com/2011/02/booking-through-thursday-7.html

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  5. I completely forgot about ebooks when I wrote mine. Great point! http://bookskidsanimalsandmore.blogspot.com/2011/02/booking-through-thursday_24.html

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  6. I love the exception of your grandparents' books. They sound wonderful!

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

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  8. How neat to find books owned by your grandparents!!

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  9. For me content is king, age is not important: http://mostraum.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/booking-through-thursday-something-old-something-new/

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  10. I love your answer! Come on by My Bookshelf to read my response.

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  11. I love your description of how you feel about your grandparent's books, it's beautifully written. Those books must have been such a wonderful find.

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