Used Books
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
United States
October 18, 2010 9:50pm CST
So, I get a lot of used books from a local used book store, or a yearly used book charity sale. And I have to say I really enjoy having used books (as long as they are clean and well cared for).
One reason I like having used books (and a reason others may NOT like used books) is because there may be something of the previous owner left behind. Right now I'm reading Tommy Knockers by Stephen King, it's a book I bought from a used book sale. The book is in good condition, nothing wrong with it.
And inside the cover is a message written in pen:
"To Dawn,
Merry Christmas 1987
Love,
Ken"
When I saw this little, simple message I thought it was so cool! This gift was given as a gift a year before I was born. And I like to make up my own little story from it--that Ken and Dawn were soul mates, and that they're still together today. Isn't that a nice thought? lol
6 people like this
24 responses
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
19 Oct 10
Don't make me think about that! Hehe.
I'm sure they wouldn't mind their books finding new owners that would take care of them.
I know when I'm long gone, I hope my favorite books are being enjoyed by others 
3 people like this
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
19 Oct 10
lol!
Well, they're mine too, until I'm done with them or can't use them anymore :P3 people like this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
19 Oct 10
1987, the year before you were born! Now I feel old! 
I also love getting used books. There is a massive book sale on each year here which is organised by one of the local charities. Last year we spent $80 on second hand books between, myself, my wife and my two kids. We were there for hours as it took up 3 halls at the show-grounds! 
We also go to the local library each week and get lots of books at a time. 
I also love getting used books. There is a massive book sale on each year here which is organised by one of the local charities. Last year we spent $80 on second hand books between, myself, my wife and my two kids. We were there for hours as it took up 3 halls at the show-grounds!
We also go to the local library each week and get lots of books at a time. @LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
20 Oct 10
I go to a yearly charity book sale too! It's called the visiting nurses book sale, they hold it on our fair grounds. I stay there for hours too (and I can spend 80 bucks on myself!) lol. I always have to get my dad or sister to go with me though, couldn't go alone! :P
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
20 Oct 10
Yes, well someone has to help you carry all those books! 
@Angelwriter (1954)
• United States
19 Oct 10
I love used books for just that reason. Those little notes and scribbles in the pages is almost like getting a second story along with the one the actual book tells. And when I get a book where someone made multiple notes in the margins or the blank pages, I like that even more. I feel a sense of kinship, because I have a tendency to write notes and fill in those blank pages in my own books.
2 people like this
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
19 Oct 10
Yeah I like having a sense of the previous owner. Now that I'm thinking about it, something that would be really cool for me would be if the previous owner left a note specifically for the next owner (me or you). Wouldn't that be cool! lol (unless it was a scary note 
)
)2 people like this
@zapatee (477)
• Philippines
19 Oct 10
there's a small bookstore in my hometown that sells used books for half their original prices. that store was such an amazing find, i was excited when i bought my first three used books from them. there's a certain charm and warm feeling you get from old books. where i am now, i sometimes go to these book sales where i get to find nice titles too. so, it's not just the lower price that i love about old books, but their own little charm that comes from being owned by someone else in the past and that they have "travelled" many hands and homes before it got to yours, lol.
2 people like this
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
20 Oct 10
Yes! That is a good word! Charming! :) That's how I feel about my used books! I just can't believe the one I'm reading right now is 22 years old!! It's in such good condition (just some wear-no tear) on the cover paper.
It's like these books have their own stories (pun intended) lol
@saizo6 (2199)
• United States
19 Oct 10
I also love buying used books too. Most of the time I can't find the book I'm looking for at the local Barnes and Noble because it's either old or something like that. I also don't have the patience to order it online and wait for it to come in. That's where the used book stores come in handy. I have been able to find a lot of books that I was wanting to read there for more than half the price. That to me is a good deal. I honestly don't care about the condition of a book unless it's practically coming apart. As for messages and little notes in the back cover of books, I haven't really paid attention to them. But I think the coolest thing I ever found in one of the used books I bought was this pressed flower. It was a book of poems and I'm sure the person used it as a bookmark or something like that.
2 people like this
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
19 Oct 10
That is a cool little thing to find! I want a pressed flower in one of my used books :P lol
I could find all the books I wanted in the normal book stores, but I can get them MUCH cheaper at the charity book sale I like to go to every year.
2 people like this
@mira91 (985)
• Singapore
19 Oct 10
That's really nice. I guess i share a different opinion but don't you just love it to know that the book that you have in your hands right now have this history before them and i just think that it's cool that a book has been used and knowing that it has been read by another person and seeing such sentiments being left on the inside cover of the book, it's just nice to read these little notes and thinking about who these people are and where they might be in life right now. It's kind of fun putting a face to their names and messages. Whenever i'm face to face with such book sales selling used books, i never fail to walk away with a handful of them. :)
2 people like this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
19 Oct 10
I've really cut down on my book buying in recent time,as I haven't bought a used book in ages (The last couple of books I bought were 2 of a trilogy from a bookshop I used that was to reopen under new management,and they were cleasring their stock..I got them for £1 each!-haven't been back since to see how they're doing..)but do still enjoy browsing when I find a used bookshop..Now,I'll mostly either borrow library books,or check out classics online,or dip into my well thumbed collection..I feel I like your interpretation of the former Owner's current situation better than mine!
@zapatee (477)
• Philippines
19 Oct 10
there's a small bookstore in my hometown that sells used books for half their original prices. that store was such an amazing find, i was excited when i bought my first three used books from them. there's a certain charm and warm feeling you get from old books. where i am now, i sometimes go to these book sales where i get to find nice titles too. so, it's not just the lower price that i love about old books, but their own little charm that comes from being owned by someone else in the past and that they have "travelled" many hands and homes before it got to yours, lol.
2 people like this
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
19 Oct 10
I use to buy old vintage books quite a while ago because of the pictures and the messages. I found it so interesting, and yes, I use to make up stories in my head like you, about what was going on at the time, lol! I even do that now with old vintage postcards and the messages on the back. You would love to read those!
My oldest book was from 1849 and it was a Christmas story, but no message in that one, just a date. Unfortunately I had to sell it because I've been out of work forever, and it was a very sad day for me, along with many other little treasures I had.
Yes, that is a very nice thought you conjured up about Dawn and Ken. Who knows, maybe they're here on myLot, haha!
1 person likes this
@madasp (563)
• United States
19 Oct 10
I love used books too, but mostly because of the cost LOL. I read alot so I would go broke if I bought all of my books new.
As for there being something of the previous owner in them, I feel this way about my Louis Lamour and Zane grey sets. I have them all, most of them the originals, and I got them handed down to me. The Louis lamour were originally my grandfathers and the Zane grey were my husbands grandfathers. Every time I read them I feel a little closer to them (and my father in law who also possesed them before he passed away).
1 person likes this
@anurag3786 (6267)
• India
19 Oct 10
Used books also give help to those peoples who are not able to afford new books. Because new books are on very high rate and you will find used books on very less prizes. Sometimes I also buy used book because here are a good book market where I lived so I always try for used books. Because sometimes new books are not available in market so it is good for me also to try some old books.
1 person likes this
@pogi253 (1596)
• Philippines
19 Oct 10
Books is very bright. Although, it is quite clear that we are not going to find the books in paper form any more in our future because it is seen that people rely on internet technology more to get readable content and get books in word and adobe version.
@kath83 (81)
• Philippines
19 Oct 10
I also buy used books, because sometimes they are much more cheaper that the brand new. And another reason is to avoid book piracy, likewise obtaining the original copy than that of the photo-copied one are much better to kept for collection purposes. Sometimes the titles are not locally distributed to our country, therefore we result to buying used-books.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
18 Jul 12
Yes, you can find some interesting things when you decide to buy used books, especially when you can find them at a reasonable price. I myself have done this many times, and then often will resell a lot of them later on as well. But I have ended up with some even autographed by the author, etc. this way and it is interesting to see some of the lost treasures you find.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
19 Jul 12
First of, thank you for bringing one of my old discussions back to life!! It's nice to revisit them. How did you find it???
And I often resell the books I get too. I only keep the books that I really really loved, because I plan on reading them again in the future.
I have never got a book that was signed by the author, but that would be really cool! Especially if there was a small note from them too!
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
19 Oct 10
All lovely reasons to buy second hand.
A chapter circled in the front. One someone wanted another to read or the one referred back to more often or the most interesting chapter.
To my daughter.
A self-defense book had. Probably before she moved away, maybe to college or maybe to get a job. She was probably already taking self-defense classes and that would carry her until she established herself and found another Martial Arts group.
DAD was worried about his little girl who had grown up to be woman.
Yes, it's fun to make up stories that might be the way it was with the book.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
28 Oct 10
lol!! Well then it must not be you! I'm sure you would remember a Ken that gave you The Tommyknockers for Christmas!!! :D
1 person likes this
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
21 Oct 10
lol oh yeah! That could be an interesting story! My journey to find Ken and Dawn! :P ll
@vaishu122 (4)
•
19 Oct 10
but i dont get the satisfaction when reading a used book..no heart include that in my collection
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
20 Oct 10
What do you mean you don't get satisfaction from reading a used book? The story isn't any different the it would be in a new book. :P
