Buying second hand books (+ I love fantasy)

[TinselianAstra]

I was mooching around the charity shops today - isn't Oxfam expensive?!

I decided I might as well go onto Amazon and find books for 1p + postage.

I discovered and old thread about what fantasy authors you all liked, so I have some Tad Williams on its way. Someone come tell me I'm doing the right thing?

[nymphadora]

Oxfam is the most expensive.

I bought loads from a charity shop today that were £2 each but BOGOF so a bargain and not bad money for the shop

[TinselianAstra]

One of the shops I was in was doing 3 for 2 on all its books, but I only wanted 1.

Up to £2 seems about right for a charity shop book. I normally always go to the charity shop street (they're all together here) for holiday books, so I can leave them behind and bring back wine or holiday shopping on the way back

[AlderTree]

Our Oxfam books seems quite reasonable. £2 for adult paperbacks, 99p for children's and hardbacks esp non fiction are a bit more expensive. I don't mind their proces tbh.

Found loads of good kids fantasy stuff there. Haven't really got into any adult fantasy stuff can't seem to find the right wavelength.

Whether you are doing the right thing depends how much you are spending I guess. I have a personal rule that anymore than £15 on second hand books in one shop is too much. Bear in mind I tend to buy in bulk and get the kids some stuff too as well as cookbooks/mind body spirit stuff.

Recently found one of the other charity shops in a different town more expensive so went back to Oxfam for my books after that.

[littlerach]

Have yuo looked at Read it Swap it website?
It so brilliant.

Our local charity shop sells most of their books for 50p, much cheaper than the other ones.

[DoesntChristmasDragOn]

I have about 200 Fantasy books in my loft...

[DoesntChristmasDragOn]

I find that Oxfam are more expensive than the 4 other charity shops on the local high street.

[Flamesparrow]

Yup, Oxfam are more expensive for everything imo

What kind of fantasy are you liking TA? I would put in one to the swap, but people were Not Impressed last time it seems (not that I got any fantasy )

[TinselianAstra]

I went to this crazy website that links authors, and Tad Williams was the closest person to Robin Hobb that I hadn't already read.

My top few authors are Robin Hobb, Robert Jordan, Geroge R R Martin, Orson Scott Card... I like there to be characters as well as crazy situations. Which is a bit weird because of course Fitz (from the Robin Hobb Assassin books, go read them everyone!) is a pretty lame character, but he just assembles awesome people around himself. I have DP reading the Wheel of Time at the moment

I know a lot of people just don't seem to 'get' books that aren't set in "the real world". Even though every book takes place in an unreal world to me.

[DoesntChristmasDragOn]

My very favourite book is the Chronicles of Morgaine by CJ Cerryh. It's actually a trilogy put in one volume, plus a 4th book which followed later (Exiles Gate). It's one of the few books I re read regularly.

[TinselianAstra]

My bookshelf looks like I'm a total geek because the long fantasy series are the only books that I re-read regularly, so they are the only ones that I keep for very long. Of course when I am a grown-up I fully intend to have entire walls covered with bookshelves so I can keep all my books.

[squilly]

I'm a big Tad Williams fan, so I can only say it's a good thing. The only thing he's written that I haven't loved is Caliban's Hour, which is based on the Tempest, or so I was led to believe.

I tend to find that Fantasy books aren't as readily available as other genres in Oxfam or second hand shops generally. I don't know why. Perhaps Fantasy readers find it hard to part from their favourite novels. When you consider the time it takes to get through some of the series though, that's so surprising, I guess.

I'm almost jealous at the thought of you reading Tad for the first time. Enjoy.

[DeckTheHallsWithBling]

Yes Squilly - that's it exactly, I tend to not give my fantasy books to the charity shop!

I have a few though in my current charity shop pile that are fantasy - but only the ones I know I'm never going to read again because they're not that good!

[DeckTheHallsWithBling]

Although, actually, is it mean that I'm considering taking my two boxes of books down to the local second hand store to see what he can give me for them? Credit crunch and all that?

[TinselianAstra]

Sounds eminently sensible, not mean at all.

[AlistairSim]

TinselianAstra - You are my new best friend!
What a fabulous site.

I may be some time...

[FlamesparodyOfAChristmasName]

Lol - i was going to tell you to go for Robin Hobb then read your profile

[squilly]

I'd be careful that you're not giving away gold dust, deck the halls. Some second hand books, particularly sci-fi titles I tend to find, hard backed and first edition, do rather good money on Ebay, if you've the patience for it!

[squilly]

I love Robin Hobb Flames...one of my faves. I also recently got into Margaret Attwood, thanks to Oryx and Crake and am really enjoying Neil Gaiman's American Gods at the moment.

Ah, how I love a nice bit of Sci-fi/fantasy

[TinselianAstra]

I read Oryx and Crake, thought it was interesting but Margaret Atwood is never going to be one of my favourites because she doesn't give enough information. The mystery is interesting and everything, but my favourite books always have details, and characters.

[DeckTheHallsWithBling]

Squilly, I wish [greedy emoticon]. But sadly, I'm talking about paperback novels from Tracey Cavanagh (sp?) - the novice series and the five gods one.

[TinselianAstra]

Are they any good? Probably not amazing if you're getting rid of them.

[TotalChaos]

I don't read much fantasy - but would strongly recommend the Night Watch trilogy by Sergie Lukyanenko (?sp). Thoughtprovoking and witty.

[walkthedinosaur]

I loved the Trudi Cavanagh books the novice series etc, she's got a new one coming out in February I think. Also love Terry Brooks, but get so cheesed off these days that stories he used to fit into one book he now strings out over three, although I enjoy them I never really enjoy them as much if you see what I mean, just as you get into the story that parts finished and it's wait another year for the next installment. Although there's no way in the world I could wait three years for a whole trilogy and then read it, every September I'm there waiting to buy the new one.

Robin Hobb's a good one too.

The only books I keep on my bookshelf are Fantasy books, the rest get turfed off to the charity shop.

[FlamesparodyOfAChristmasName]

Ooh I really must borrow night watch from whoever it was I was planning to swipe it from.

Not fantasy quest fantasy, but assuming you've done Twilight Trilian??

[TinselianAstra]

Yep, I've read the first two and am waitng for a friend to get back so she can lend me the others. I'm trying to figure out when I can see the film. I know it won't be right, but I saw the trailer and it had really atmospheric musci and it made me go 'ooooooooooh'.