What Is It About A Book...

[Setsu-P has stepped out]

..that makes it worth buying?

Living on a budget, as I'm sure most of us do, teaches us lessons.. for example, that getting things for free from the library is better than going out, buying a book, and then finding out it's not so good. I like to try before I buy, when I can.

Sometimes, though, you come across a book that you just have to own for your personal collection. It could be thought-provoking, or entertaining, or it could just give you a serious imagination high. What is it about your favorite books that fires up your need to possess?  

[Kukushka]

I have a tight budget. I don't buy clothes, I don't go out to dinner, I don't go to the movies, I barely spend any money at all. The only things I buy are books; lots and lots of books.

Now, my husband agrees with you. If I want to read a book, I should just go to the library. But for me, it just isn't the same. If I like it, I want the book so that if I want to read it again, read a passage to someone, or if I just think of something that reminds me of the book, I want to be able to go to my bookshelf and look it up. Plus, I love the smell of books. It's like perfume for my house.

I don't generally just buy books on a whim, though. I won't for example, just walk into Chapters and grab a book at random off the shelves. The books I buy are usually the ones I've read and really enjoyed, or books that someone I trust has recommended. The few times I do just pick up a book is when they have non-fiction books on sale - the kind with lots of big pictures on a particular subject and then short explanations of the pictures (for example, I have one on Tibetan Buddhism, one on the Valley of the Kings, things like that).  

[Patron with a Mission]

I think it's the fact that the book is yours to keep, bought with your hard earned money that makes a book worth buying. It's similar to when you go on a vacation that you worked weeks and weeks for, and when you finally go, you're happy.

I believe it's the same with books. Most books I have are the classics such as The Princess Bride and more modern ones such as The Demon in the Freezer I like them because they provoke my mind. Recently, my boyfriend lent me a book called Beyond Singularity, and that book really made me think. I suggest it as a must-read for those who like sci-fi and wonder about our future.  

[SilverBellsAbove]

dameonmac5918

I think it's the fact that the book is yours to keep, bought with your hard earned money that makes a book worth buying. It's similar to when you go on a vacation that you worked weeks and weeks for, and when you finally go, you're happy.

I believe it's the same with books. Most books I have are the classics such as The Princess Bride and more modern ones such as The Demon in the Freezer I like them because they provoke my mind. Recently, my boyfriend lent me a book called Beyond Singularity, and that book really made me think. I suggest it as a must-read for those who like sci-fi and wonder about our future.

I totally agree.

Except I don't buy books, I steal them.

*is killed by the literary mafia*

Just kidding! I have a library in my house! I don't steal books out of nowhere! Although I've been accused of it, I have never. So ha.  

[CristoVII]

I really don't know, it's this otherworldly phenomenon that sends a telepathic message: "Buy me! you know you want to read me!"

I think books are feeding of our minds eek .

*picks up The Great Gadsby*

No! Stop! I don't want to read you!

xp  

[darkrose_eve]

I think it's because you want something to call your own.

Plus the smell of new books is just awesome!  

[Lady Pica]

I'm a book- hoarder. u.u I'm going to die and they'll have to dig though mountains of books just to find out I'm not in the house because I couldn't fit anymore.

I try not to buy books, just rent, but when I've checked out books so many times the librarians know what I've got before I get to them, I usually decide it's time to buy. Then I never read them again.  

[Patron with a Mission]

Zweite

I really don't know, it's this otherworldly phenomenon that sends a telepathic message: "Buy me! you know you want to read me!"

I think books are feeding of our minds eek .

*picks up The Great Gadsby*

No! Stop! I don't want to read you!

xp

I love The Great Gastby...it's such an amazing book.  

[applecyder]

Zweite

I really don't know, it's this otherworldly phenomenon that sends a telepathic message: "Buy me! you know you want to read me!"

I think books are feeding of our minds eek .

*picks up The Great Gadsby*

No! Stop! I don't want to read you!

xp

I agree with this. That's how I ended up with all six books of James Clavell's Asian Saga. Shogun did the Jedi mind trick on me ninja  

[SilverMaple]

When I love a book, I tend to read it over and over without getting tired. So, just borrowing from the library isn't enough for me whenever I feel the need to have a certain book. It just has to be on my bookshelf at home, a mere arm's reach away for me to grab and savor with my eyes at the pages instead of having to walk to the library (which isn't always open for reasons uknown >_<).