New or Used

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Do you prefer to buy books that are brand new or used.

  • New

    Votes: 14 45.2%
  • Used

    Votes: 17 54.8%

  • Total voters
    31

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
I have found that if it does have a musty odor you can pop the book (minus the dustjacket) in the microwave for about 30 seconds and it will help to kill the bacteria that is causing the odor.
Thanks for that tip - (tell the truth) I find those electron microscope pics fascinating! (and creepy).
 

Kurben

The Fool on the Hill
Apr 12, 2014
9,682
65,192
59
sweden
To me it doesn't matter. As long as they are in good condition, which means that the majority of my books are paperback. But i remember when i borrowed a paperback to a friend and then saw how he read, bending it all the way as if he wanted to break it. I mean, they are not newspapers, so i told him. And he just looked at me as if i were crazy and gave the book back. He never read a book more than once so what did it matter if ot broke? It is just a few books i have worn down. IT is one and another is Watership Down by Richard Adams and a third LOTR. There i had to get new copies.
 

n1ceguypaul

Active Member
Feb 2, 2015
28
115
40
South Wales, UK
Hey, started off with second hand paperbacks really what ever could be found for cheap. Since Turning 30 though i've really become fond of the way that the hardbacks feel and look so am slowly in the process of finding new and used hardbacks to replace the scrappy over read ones. As long as you enjoy the read then that's all that really matters.
 
Mar 12, 2010
6,538
29,004
Texas
To me it doesn't matter. As long as they are in good condition, which means that the majority of my books are paperback. But i remember when i borrowed a paperback to a friend and then saw how he read, bending it all the way as if he wanted to break it. I mean, they are not newspapers, so i told him. And he just looked at me as if i were crazy and gave the book back. He never read a book more than once so what did it matter if ot broke? It is just a few books i have worn down. IT is one and another is Watership Down by Richard Adams and a third LOTR. There i had to get new copies.

Some people are so unthoughtful, they don't even wonder if the person they're borrowing the book from wants to keep the book in good condition. I quit loaning people books I want to keep or can't replace. Too many people either don't return them at all or return them damaged.
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
Some people are so unthoughtful, they don't even wonder if the person they're borrowing the book from wants to keep the book in good condition. I quit loaning people books I want to keep or can't replace. Too many people either don't return them at all or return them damaged.

A hard learned lesson, right? I lost or had damaged so many books that I've decided that a loan is as good as a give now--if I really want to keep a particular copy of a book, I don't loan it. I've found that most books are not that hard to replace (used) if I need to do that, or I just buy used copies of my most often requested books & give those out--lol. I've gifted two different LOTR sets, a set of GoT to my brother (I knew I'd get them back with a strong cigarette smell), and countless SK books. I love to pass along a really good book, so seeing them as little gifts makes life more pleasant :)
 

RandallFlagg19

Well-Known Member
May 5, 2014
809
6,209
38
Would you mind reading Floating Dragon first? I read it a million years ago and don't remember anything about it. I think I remember liking it but I'm afraid to read reviews because reviews often contain spoilers. If you like it, I'll reread it :)
I'm on page 202 of 595 but I'm enjoying the story so far; it was a hard to get into the story at first (first 60 pages a lot of background information, it started getting better with the story developed and integrated the background information) but the more of the story I read the more I enjoy it.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
I'm on page 202 of 595 but I'm enjoying the story so far; it was a hard to get into the story at first (first 60 pages a lot of background information, it started getting better with the story developed and integrated the background information) but the more of the story I read the more I enjoy it.
Straub's books are sometimes difficult to get into. I know I flew thru Ghost Story but it was sometimes hard work to read Floating Dragon and Shadow Land. They were good stories tho.
 

TarkDower

Well-Known Member
May 5, 2015
163
412
Musty is an indication that it is possibly contaminated with book "creepy crawlies"
Phillips_book+louse_p96.jpg


Ah, a face only a used book lover could lo... ungh, what's it need wings for? Wouldn't all these things be pressed as it is? And what are those floppy dingles where a proper mouth should be? Appearances aside, that is one well read crawly. I wonder what kind of nasty critter goobers live on the surface of an e-book :wow:

Anywho, I'm a used book fellow myself. So long as all the pages are there I don't mind lovingly applying some transparent shipping tape to keep the thing together. Thanks for the heads up Neesy, I'll be sure to avoid looking at my fingers under a microscope :dispirited:
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Ah, a face only a used book lover could lo... ungh, what's it need wings for? Wouldn't all these things be pressed as it is? And what are those floppy dingles where a proper mouth should be? Appearances aside, that is one well read crawly. I wonder what kind of nasty critter goobers live on the surface of an e-book :wow:

Anywho, I'm a used book fellow myself. So long as all the pages are there I don't mind lovingly applying some transparent shipping tape to keep the thing together. Thanks for the heads up Neesy, I'll be sure to avoid looking at my fingers under a microscope :dispirited:
I know! - Where do they find these pictures anyway ?? =D:laugh:

plus - you have a point about E-books, too - there are germs everywhere - sometimes I think kids need to play in dirt more to build up their immune systems. Everywhere I go people have 'environmental sensitivities' etc.
Watcha gonna do, eh?