Your Latest Thrift/used Book Store Finds

[Coolallosaurus]

Now you know to always check the books of authors that you like for autographed copies. I have found so many signed books in the years I have spent shopping at thrift stores. Even found an unread mint hardback of Insomnia signed by Stephen in a small town north of Seattle. I've always wondered just how this book came to end up in that particular Goodwill.....

So good to know! I usually go in just looking for books I want to read. Now I am going to have to take a bit of time to explore the front covers. Thank you for the information!
And I agree about being curious as to how the books came to Goodwill. It's always an added bonus when the book has some marginalia or item tucked away insider of it. I've found photographs, concert tickets, drawings, even five dollars, etc . . . tucked away in thrifted books. It's fun to imagine the stories behind some of the books/items.

 

[Coolallosaurus]

This Perfect Day didn't do it for me, may need to read that again. Son of Rosemary was okay. Nothing to write home about for sure.

My copy of Rosemary's Baby had an excerpt from Son of Rosemary which I read. It seemed interesting, but like a sleep deprived dope I went and read reviews, saw they mostly panned the novel, and then got deep in to spoilers. Is Son of Rosemary worth it is I know the big "twist"? Either way, I have a lot of Levin to catch up on! Thank you for the recommendations Dana Jean and kingricefan!

 

[Neesy]

I have found so many signed books in the years I have spent shopping at thrift stores. Even found an unread mint hardback of Insomnia signed by Stephen in a small town north of Seattle.

You are the king of finding such books - congratulations!

 

[king family fan]

Saturday I went Goodwilling with my bestie and came home with these:
Autographed unread hardback 1st of Living Faith by Jimmy Carter
Autographed hardback 3rd of Simple Dreams by Linda Ronstadt
Autographed Hardback 1st of The Vampire Armand by Anne Rice
Bookclub edition of Bare Bones: Conversations On Terror With Stephen King (got this for a friend of mine)

Awesome!

 

[Dana Jean]

I would just like to give a warning to those of you who pick up second hand books -- apparently they can be infested with bed bugs, they get down in the spine with the glue. So, maybe kingricefan has some tips about that?

 

[Spideyman]

I would just like to give a warning to those of you who pick up second hand books -- apparently they can be infested with bed bugs, they get down in the spine with the glue. So, maybe kingricefan has some tips about that?

Just googled several links on how to kill them.

 

[Neesy]

I would just like to give a warning to those of you who pick up second hand books -- apparently they can be infested with bed bugs, they get down in the spine with the glue. So, maybe kingricefan has some tips about that?

Eww!

I left the books I recently bought at Value Village (The Talisman, Black House and Under the Dome) in the back of my Jeep Liberty, still in the bag. They are out there cooking in my garage.

Now I did not do this on purpose (I'm just getting a bit short on book shelf room at the moment) but maybe that is a good thing? I understand heat is something that will kill bedbugs.

Yikes!

I like to read in bed too (now I feel itchy all over) [scratch, scratch]

 

[HollyGolightly]

Coolallosaurus - amazing!! I read Rosemary's Baby when I was 10 - I really shouldn't have. Scared me, so it did! I find as many of my books as I can at thrifts. I will use thriftbooks and half and amazon used - but I prefer to search them out. It's thrilling to find what you're looking for, and for $2.99 or less!

kingricefan You, sir, are a masterthrifter! Come visit and show me how! Excellent finds!!

 

[Debbie913]

I'm still unsure of exactly what I acquired on my last "used book store find." I've been sooo book lazy lately...
Every six months, (April - October), my local library has a killer sale. One day during the three day sale, they have a $5 bag deal. Anything you can fit into a paper grocery bag...$5 for the bag. I picked up six bags last time. It was a lot of books! I just grab for the best looking books whether they be paperback or hardcover. And only from the fiction section. It's a free for all type thing. Grab fast and protect what you grab!
I know I got at least a few books I'm really looking forward to reading as well as a couple I have already read. Including at least four SK books. Extra copies are always a plus when it comes to SK books!
Anyway, my latest haul brings my book total somewhere over the 1400 mark.

Anyone want to come sort books??? Seriously. I need help!

Edit to add....The other days of the sale are for choosing carefully...being particular about what you choose. The books are priced individually. That's when a person might have time to browse the non-fiction, etc. sections. Stuff you may not read as often. I picked up several cookbooks for my sister-in-law at $.99 each.

 

[grin willard]

This copy of Nightmares & Dreamscapes! wedged between some L. Ron Hubbard books at a Mission Mart! I have two others already, but I thought the cover was beautiful.

 

[Debbie913]

This copy of Nightmares & Dreamscapes! wedged between some L. Ron Hubbard books at a Mission Mart! I have two others already, but I thought the cover was beautiful.

I have to agree...the cover is beautiful. Different for sure. I accidentally left a copy of this book behind once. It broke my heart. All I had left was the dust jacket. My hubby ordered me a new copy from Barnes and Noble...the only place willing to do it at the time.

 

[Coolallosaurus]

I would just like to give a warning to those of you who pick up second hand books -- apparently they can be infested with bed bugs, they get down in the spine with the glue. So, maybe kingricefan has some tips about that?

Oh, wow, that is gross and unsettling! Knock on wood, my only issue thus far with used books has been with a few that reek of cigarettes (as though the books themselves had taken up a pack-a-day habit). I've been able to take care of that with some dryer sheets, but bed bugs . . . horrifying! And, it seems like bed bug-infested books would be one of those things you don't recognize until too late (i.e. when the critters are crawling around, infesting the place). So, I will be implementing some new post-thrift book shopping practices. Thanks for the information, Dana Jean!

 

[Coolallosaurus]

Coolallosaurus - amazing!! I read Rosemary's Baby when I was 10 - I really shouldn't have. Scared me, so it did! I find as many of my books as I can at thrifts. I will use thriftbooks and half and amazon used - but I prefer to search them out. It's thrilling to find what you're looking for, and for $2.99 or less!

kingricefan You, sir, are a masterthrifter! Come visit and show me how! Excellent finds!!

I cannot imagine reading Rosemary's Baby at 10! I was petrified of all things scary as a kid and only got into horror as an adult. Have you re-read it since? As an adult reading Rosemary's Baby for the first time I found the satanist element almost comedic in its absurdity (the Adrian Steven/Andrew John scene at the very end had me laughing out loud because it was so ridiculous, yet dark). I thought the true horror was the way Rosemary was treated/gaslighted throughout the novel. It's a really brilliant social commentary (as most horror is).

 

[Coolallosaurus]

I'm still unsure of exactly what I acquired on my last "used book store find." I've been sooo book lazy lately...
Every six months, (April - October), my local library has a killer sale. One day during the three day sale, they have a $5 bag deal. Anything you can fit into a paper grocery bag...$5 for the bag. I picked up six bags last time. It was a lot of books! I just grab for the best looking books whether they be paperback or hardcover. And only from the fiction section. It's a free for all type thing. Grab fast and protect what you grab!
I know I got at least a few books I'm really looking forward to reading as well as a couple I have already read. Including at least four SK books. Extra copies are always a plus when it comes to SK books!
Anyway, my latest haul brings my book total somewhere over the 1400 mark.

Anyone want to come sort books??? Seriously. I need help!

Edit to add....The other days of the sale are for choosing carefully...being particular about what you choose. The books are priced individually. That's when a person might have time to browse the non-fiction, etc. sections. Stuff you may not read as often. I picked up several cookbooks for my sister-in-law at $.99 each.

1,400!!! That is incredible! Your home must be a wonderful palace of wall-to-wall books! How do you store so many books? I had a professor in undergrad who had such a large collection of books he had those electronic movable bookshelves (not sure of their official name, but like the kind you see in big libraries) installed in his basement.

 

[kingricefan]

I would just like to give a warning to those of you who pick up second hand books -- apparently they can be infested with bed bugs, they get down in the spine with the glue. So, maybe kingricefan has some tips about that?

I've never had any issues with books that I've purchased from thrift stores or used book stores. I do look them over carefully before I buy them just to make sure that there aren't any 'things' lurking on/it the book. I do know that if the book has a musty smell (always check for mold if it smells), you can place it in a microwave for about 20-30 seconds to diminish the smell. You may have to go a little bit longer after the initial 20-30 seconds, but don't put it in for a full minute as the book will be ruined. I have done this with a few books in the past and it sure does help to get rid of or diminish that musty smell.

 

[Debbie913]

1,400!!! That is incredible! Your home must be a wonderful palace of wall-to-wall books! How do you store so many books? I had a professor in undergrad who had such a large collection of books he had those electronic movable bookshelves (not sure of their official name, but like the kind you see in big libraries) installed in his basement.

I have a library. One whole room just for my books and book related things. At this point in time, I have lots of boxes of books in there. They don't fit on the shelves. I do have two good size bookshelves I'm working on refinishing. I'm hoping to find a way to get them to fit in that room. I expect I'll still have piles, though. And if they get to a point where I can't keep them all in my library, well, I'll just let them take over the rest of my house.

 

[grin willard]

I've never had any issues with books that I've purchased from thrift stores or used book stores. I do look them over carefully before I buy them just to make sure that there aren't any 'things' lurking on/it the book. I do know that if the book has a musty smell (always check for mold if it smells), you can place it in a microwave for about 20-30 seconds to diminish the smell. You may have to go a little bit longer after the initial 20-30 seconds, but don't put it in for a full minute as the book will be ruined. I have done this with a few books in the past and it sure does help to get rid of or diminish that musty smell.

Dammit, I like the musty smell! That's half the charm. But yeah, from what I've heard not only can our cost-efficient yet fugly and extremely non- aesthetically pleasing family friend the microwave turn out one hell of a burrito, but it can also eraticate the daily parasitic pestilences that are unceasingly striving to feed off our big fat carcasses! I don't know if I'd go a full 30 seconds. I don't want my first edition of Cujo to burst into flames.

Quote: Microwaves can successfully kill all stages of bed bugs, even with brief exposure times.

How to kill bed bugs in portable items: Unconventional non-chemical approaches

Bedbug: "I'd like to feed off Mrs. Miller's carcass!"

 

[kingricefan]

Dammit, I like the musty smell! That's half the charm. But yeah, from what I've heard not only can our cost-efficient yet fugly and extremely non- aesthetically pleasing family friend the microwave turn out one hell of a burrito, but it can also eraticate the daily parasitic pestilences that are unceasingly striving to feed off our big fat carcasses! I don't know if I'd go a full 30 seconds. I don't want my first edition of Cujo to burst into flames.

Quote: Microwaves can successfully kill all stages of bed bugs, even with brief exposure times.

How to kill bed bugs in portable items: Unconventional non-chemical approaches

Bedbug: "I'd like to feed off Mrs. Miller's carcass!"

View attachment 26397

Well, now that I think about it maybe a person should only put the microwave on for 10-15 seconds to start. It's been a while since I had to do this myself so probably 30 seconds would definitely be too long. I don't want to be responsible for anyone burning up their books!

 

[GNTLGNT]

Well, now that I think about it maybe a person should only put the microwave on for 10-15 seconds to start. It's been a while since I had to do this myself so probably 30 seconds would definitely be too long. I don't want to be responsible for anyone burning up their books!

...kingricefan 451.....

 

[kingricefan]

...kingricefan 451.....

'It was a pleasure to burn.'