My problem was I kept going to these book swaps and coming home with like 10 new books but only giving away 3. So my pile just kept growing. Last month I tried a new system where I bring a box that only fits 5 books max and I tell myself I can only take one for every two I give away. It sounds dumb but it actually worked. I went home with 2 books and gave away 6. Has anyone else tried a limit like that or do you just let yourself go wild?
I used to keep every single book I ever read stacked on every flat surface in my tiny apartment but after that comment I started actually swapping them here and now my coffee table has space for an actual coffee cup so has anyone else had to get real about letting go of books?
I grabbed this old copy of Dune from a free bin at the library last Thursday because the cover was falling off and I felt bad for it. Someone wrote little comments in pencil throughout like Paul is too cocky here and watch the spice scene. It honestly made me read slower and think harder about parts I usually skim past. I learned that other readers can totally shift your view of a book even if you disagree with them. Has anyone else found a marked up book that changed how you read it?
Last Saturday I was driving past a yard sale in my neighborhood and spotted a box of old paperbacks. I dug through and found a copy of "The Westing Game" that I read 20 years ago in 5th grade. To my surprise it was signed by Ellen Raskin on the inside flap. The lady running the sale said it was her daughter's and she just wanted it gone. I handed over a quarter and another quarter for a second book. It's not worth much money but it brought back all those memories of reading under my covers with a flashlight. I already finished rereading it and would love to pass it along to someone who never got to experience that book. Any other mystery fans here from the 80s or 90s looking for a gem?
I grabbed a beat-up copy of 'The Left Hand of Darkness' for 50 cents from some guy in Plano who was just clearing out his attic. It had a handwritten note from 1985 tucked inside talking about how the book changed someone's view on gender. Has anyone else found cool stuff hidden in used books?
I brought this pristine Gaiman hardcover to the swap meet at the Maplewood library last Saturday, and ended up trading it to a guy who told me it was his grandma's favorite and he wanted to make her banana bread recipe, but then his girlfriend messaged me later saying he just sells rare books on eBay... has anyone else gotten burned by a swap that felt too good to be true?
I've been trading books on here for about 6 months now and I keep getting books back with bent covers or sticky pages. I always wrap mine in a clean plastic bag before mailing. Yesterday I got a copy of The Road that had coffee rings on it. Is there some standard way people expect books to arrive? Or are my standards too high?
So my neighbor Dave is a retired librarian, and last week he told me he never gives away books that have underlines or margin notes anymore. He said it's like handing someone a half-finished puzzle because they miss the whole experience of discovering things themselves. I used to think my scribbles were helpful, you know little highlights of good parts, but now I'm wondering if I've been ruining books for people. Has anyone else had a book they got from a swap that was all marked up and it totally took you out of the story?
I picked this old paperback at a library sale last Saturday just because it was cheap. Reading about how World War I kicked off because of a bunch of really bad decisions made me rethink how I handle my own screw-ups at work. Has anyone else found a random book that completely shifted how you see things?
I was that person who swore reading had to be a physical book or nothing. Then last fall I had to drive from Pittsburgh to Denver for a family thing, 14 hours each way. A buddy tossed me a copy of 'Project Hail Mary' on audio just to shut me up about podcasts for once. I finished it before Ohio and immediately started another one. I still prefer paper for deep stuff, but I get it now for commutes or chores. Anyone else have a book format they swore off until something specific forced their hand?
I picked up a beat-up copy of Dune at a Goodwill in Denver for $3, but it sat on my shelf for two years. Last month I noticed the copyright page had a weird line and checked online. Turns out it's a 1965 first edition with a typo that only the first printing has. I almost tossed it in a donation bag three times. Got it appraised for around $350 at a local shop, but I think I'll keep it. Has anyone else accidentally scored a valuable book from a thrift store?
I was reading a random thriller on the F train in Brooklyn about 6 months ago, and a woman sitting next to me tapped my arm. She pointed at my book and said, "You deserve better than that, here take this one." She pulled out a beat-up copy of Station Eleven from her bag and just handed it to me before her stop came. I was so caught off guard I barely said thanks, but I read it that weekend and it completely stuck with me. Now I try to keep a spare book I loved in my bag to pass along if I see someone reading something that's just okay. Has anyone else had a random stranger give you a book that turned out to be amazing?
I used to just write notes in the margins of my books before swapping them. But someone at the last swap said they hated that. So I tried using little sticky flags instead to mark my favorite passages. Now I can recommend the book without ruining it for the next person. Has anyone else found a good way to share their thoughts without damaging the pages?