If Books Are Trash, Is Nothing Sacred?

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mjs9153

Peripherally known member..
Nov 21, 2014
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22,165
This is true, and it makes me so sad. But i trust books more than E-books when it comes to aesthetic purpose and viewing purpose (for me, who wears glasses) Take the book and e-book version of "Wonders of the Universe". I have an e-book to it but when i see the book at my school library. I feel like i want to have the book itself because of how beautiful the pages were when you open it
I agree,is there nothing like opening a brand new SK novel,in it's pristine condition,feeling the spine bend,smelling the brand new pages,slowly paging past the blanks to the printing edition page,the dedication page,and the first words?And the reverse,I have a copy of IT that I have read probably twenty or thirty times,it is shopworn,patched with tape,but it was my first edition that I bought at a store,no longer in business,in fact many people in my city never even knew it existed..kind of like my own time machine..yes,I know you can fit all the books you want into your palm sized ereader,but there is nothing like a real book..
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
53,634
236,697
The High Seas
I agree,is there nothing like opening a brand new SK novel,in it's pristine condition,feeling the spine bend,smelling the brand new pages,slowly paging past the blanks to the printing edition page,the dedication page,and the first words?And the reverse,I have a copy of IT that I have read probably twenty or thirty times,it is shopworn,patched with tape,but it was my first edition that I bought at a store,no longer in business,in fact many people in my city never even knew it existed..kind of like my own time machine..yes,I know you can fit all the books you want into your palm sized ereader,but there is nothing like a real book..
If I could get Stephen King to sign one book for me, not for greed in profit, but for the pure sentimental reasons, it would be On Writing first and then Danse Macabre. I loved Danse Macabre too. Can I have two signed books? On Writing and Danse Macabre.

My On writing has tabs in it and comments to myself and scribbles in the margins. It's a book no one would ever want, but me.
 

mjs9153

Peripherally known member..
Nov 21, 2014
3,494
22,165
I hear you..I am not one for autographs,in the main I think they are kind of silly,I mean what the hell are we going to do with a signature on a piece of memorabilia,what does it prove about the person who authored it,about us,or what? but I still have to admit,if I could get one book signed it would be that edition of IT..I don't even read it anymore,lol,I had to buy a paperback edition as it is getting old..
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
I hear you..I am not one for autographs,in the main I think they are kind of silly,I mean what the hell are we going to do with a signature on a piece of memorabilia,what does it prove about the person who authored it,about us,or what? but I still have to admit,if I could get one book signed it would be that edition of IT..I don't even read it anymore,lol,I had to buy a paperback edition as it is getting old..
...I see both sides here, and sentimentality is my reason to have collected what few I have....my King & Koontz, plus Joe Hill and for Tracy-a handful of her favorite sports stars or actors...
 

not_nadine

Comfortably Roont
Nov 19, 2011
29,655
139,785
Behind you
I have no desire for a signed book. I don't get the whole autograph thing ~
Unless I was someone close to Stephen King , like Marsha, Moderator who is appreciated and thanked on the dedication page of of two Mr. King's novels. That I know of.

Myself, I am guilty of beating up a book. They are well read more than once.

I read somewhere that Mr. SK used to like to sign tattered books.
 
Last edited:

HollyGolightly

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
9,660
74,320
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Heart of the South
Darn thing wouldn't let me edit (lol)
These don't sound like strips, though, just overstock. As much has I love books and hate to see them mistreated, I do get the business mindset: they need the space to sell stuff to pay their bills. Books are ink on paper--they only have as much value as we ascribe to them, which often isn't much in our paper-rich society (I often think of Roland when thinking about stuff like this).

Since it bothers you, you could call your local recycler, CoriSCapnSkip , and see what value they ascribe to the books. Perhaps they will arrange to pick up the excess books next time.
Do I get to keep my ribbon? No take backs!!
 

HollyGolightly

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
9,660
74,320
54
Heart of the South
I have no desire for a signed book. I don't get the whole autograph thing ~
Unless I was someone close to Stephen King , like Marsha, Moderator who is appreciated and thanked on the dedication page of of two Mr. King's novels. That I know of.

Myself, I am guilty of beating up a book. They are well read more than once.

I read somewhere that Mr. SK used to like to sign tattered books.
I love that thought - tattered books are the best. I'm not easy on my books. I read in the bath and while I eat and in waiting rooms and when I'm supposed to be watching kids do stuff. My books are tattered. I still don't have an e-reader. Not interested yet. I just recently got an Android - I have emojis and photos now! Still no iphone. I'm a hold out.

Did I just hi-jack? Sorry, Cori!
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
I have no desire for a signed book. I don't get the whole autograph thing ~
Unless I was someone close to Stephen King , like Marsha, Moderator who is appreciated and thanked on the dedication page of of two Mr. King's novels. That I know of.

Myself, I am guilty of beating up a book. They are well read more than once.

I read somewhere that Mr. SK used to like to sign tattered books.
...I don't know Nottie(if I may be so familiar), maybe I can explain it this way, at least how I view an autograph...for a moment, that item was in the hands of someone you admire or admired very much....and that minimal connection makes me feel a little closer to them...they don't know me from Adam's off ox, but I don't care-for in that moment, greatness touched something I own and treasure....that's why I have the very few that I do....they aren't for profit, but for the part of me that is all mushy and sentimental...
 

not_nadine

Comfortably Roont
Nov 19, 2011
29,655
139,785
Behind you
...I don't know Nottie(if I may be so familiar), maybe I can explain it this way, at least how I view an autograph...for a moment, that item was in the hands of someone you admire or admired very much....and that minimal connection makes me feel a little closer to them...they don't know me from Adam's off ox, but I don't care-for in that moment, greatness touched something I own and treasure....that's why I have the very few that I do....they aren't for profit, but for the part of me that is all mushy and sentimental...

Course you can! What's it been? Like 6 years now since I gave you your first cookie? :)

I just don't get it the autograph thing, unless I was there, and had a small moment and I was asked my name for autograph by SK - and replied without fainting.
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
53,634
236,697
The High Seas
...I don't know Nottie(if I may be so familiar), maybe I can explain it this way, at least how I view an autograph...for a moment, that item was in the hands of someone you admire or admired very much....and that minimal connection makes me feel a little closer to them...they don't know me from Adam's off ox, but I don't care-for in that moment, greatness touched something I own and treasure....that's why I have the very few that I do....they aren't for profit, but for the part of me that is all mushy and sentimental...
I have a lot of autographed books, for my pleasure like you. Not to sell or anything like that. Although, i have no doubt, if I die, my kids will sell every Stephen King book I have. And I do have some nice ones. And I'm sure any other autograph book, they will seek a buyer.

And I have no problem with someone selling a treasured book to raise much needed money when times are tough. Good for them.

I have always said, all stephen King has to do is sign the exact right thing for someone, and it could feed a family of four for a year.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
I have a lot of autographed books, for my pleasure like you. Not to sell or anything like that. Although, i have no doubt, if I die, my kids will sell every Stephen King book I have. And I do have some nice ones. And I'm sure any other autograph book, they will seek a buyer.

And I have no problem with someone selling a treasured book to raise much needed money when times are tough. Good for them.

I have always said, all stephen King has to do is sign the exact right thing for someone, and it could feed a family of four for a year.
...and you are most certainly correct...I'm just hoping my ashes have at least cooled before my brood chucks everything at the nearest buyer and spends the money on vape pens....
 

HollyGolightly

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
9,660
74,320
54
Heart of the South
I have a lot of autographed books, for my pleasure like you. Not to sell or anything like that. Although, i have no doubt, if I die, my kids will sell every Stephen King book I have. And I do have some nice ones. And I'm sure any other autograph book, they will seek a buyer.

And I have no problem with someone selling a treasured book to raise much needed money when times are tough. Good for them.

I have always said, all stephen King has to do is sign the exact right thing for someone, and it could feed a family of four for a year.
I've told all my peeps, get themselves to the SKMB and advise everyone of my demise, and find these beloved books a home.

I'd like an autographed SK book. But it would truly be a treat to have that moment with SK himself. Like coolly being beside him in line at a coffee shop, and I'm hellbent that I won't bother him. But he notices I have a novel of his with me. And he offers - knowing I'm a Constant Reader. He does it all secret like so no one else in the shop will notice and bug him. That moment is ALL MINE and his, of course. It's a fantasy of mine.
 

Moderator

Ms. Mod
Administrator
Jul 10, 2006
52,243
157,324
Maine
I have no desire for a signed book. I don't get the whole autograph thing ~
Unless I was someone close to Stephen King , like Marsha, Moderator who is appreciated and thanked on the dedication page of of two Mr. King's novels. That I know of.

Myself, I am guilty of beating up a book. They are well read more than once.

I read somewhere that Mr. SK used to like to sign tattered books.

That's true. It looks to him like one that has been read and reread many times which means that someone must have enjoyed it.
 

DiO'Bolic

Not completely obtuse
Nov 14, 2013
22,864
129,998
Poconos, PA
That's true. It looks to him like one that has been read and reread many times which means that someone must have enjoyed it.
Here’s my copy of Christine...

th

Know what I mean? Nudge nudge. Nudge nudge. Know what I mean? Say no more...know what I mean? :)
 

Sundrop

Sunny the Great & Wonderful
Jun 12, 2008
28,520
156,619
Like it or not,books will be eventually be gone someday,all will be on ereaders,computers,etc..it will take some time,but eventually..when is the last time you saw a corded phone hanging on a wall,or even a payphone,for that matter?Technology will be doing away with a lot of the stuff we used to take for granted..
I see a corded phone on my kitchen wall every morning......black, no less.
phone_zpsywsns8mx.jpg
 

Srbo

Uber Member
Mar 23, 2008
15,209
7,617
Canada
Not posting this on Facebook, but thought it might prove of interest elsewhere. Today while passing behind the local thrift store I saw its industrial-sized dumpster overflowing mostly with books. Those on top appeared to be mostly trashy paperbacks--if I'd seen any I wanted I would have grabbed them. I didn't have my phone at the time to take a picture, so ran some errands and came back with my phone. To my shock the dumpster was completely empty! A lady parked nearby saw me looking and asked what the issue was. I told her I was planning to take a picture of the dumpster full of books to post as an example of the decline and fall of culture. (I wasn't going to mention the store's or town's name but of course on Facebook everyone from this town would know where the picture was taken.) She said that would have hurt the store which has enough trouble as it is.

I asked if the trash collectors got the books, and if this was their usual pickup time. She said yes they got them and no this wasn't their usual time--they made a special trip and the store had to pay for it! I said that seemed a shame considering the recycling bins take books for free. She said she had no one to take them there if so and would have been glad to recruit me. Of course it would have taken hours to haul that volume of books, and they definitely wouldn't have all fit in the recycling bin nearest the store which was stuffed nearly full, and I doubt would have fit in both bins if taken there separately. (The town has only two such bins that I know of.) She said the books had been there six months and were taking up valuable space which could be occupied by items the store could sell for profit. What say all here?

Sad story....
 

Sundrop

Sunny the Great & Wonderful
Jun 12, 2008
28,520
156,619
Myself, I am guilty of beating up a book. They are well read more than once.

I read somewhere that Mr. SK used to like to sign tattered books.

That's true. It looks to him like one that has been read and reread many times which means that someone must have enjoyed it.

Now I understand why he seemed so pleased to sign my very old copy of Pet Sematary. I was almost embarrassed to hand it to him, but he made a very nice comment, and gave me a big smile when he signed it.