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What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

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Original poster

Do you prefer to buy books new or second-hand?

47 replies

Teufelsrad · 04/01/2018 16:58

I buy most of my books used from charity shops. I'm on a pretty tight budget and I read so many books(I can read 3 or 4 on some days) that I couldn't afford to buy new.

I also make use of the library, and Kindle deals. What I also love about second-hand books, besides getting a bargain, is the element of surprise. I never know what I'll pick up, and I've found so many on my wish list in charity shops.

I appreciate that authors deserve to be paid too, so if I really like a book then I'll probably buy a Kindle version, or a copy with a very beautiful cover, or just a hardback, but I can't afford to buy new all of the time. If I go to an independent bookstore then I'm happy to buy new.

Which do you prefer?

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Medeci · 04/01/2018 18:02

I used to buy a lot of second-hand books. Then read something online about stuff that gets left on the pages from people's fingers. It really put me off.

lizabes · 04/01/2018 18:19

I’ll buy new copies of my favourite series so they all match but I love getting second hand books!

There’s something really nice about a book that’s a bit well read and worn. Makes me feel like I’ve got a little connection with the people who’ve owned it and read it before me.

metalmum15 · 04/01/2018 18:23

I'll be honest, I'm tight and I'm a voracious reader, so no way I'm going to buy new books. I'll only buy new if it's a particular author I always read, and even then it will probably be an Amazon offer. Otherwise I get secondhand books from ebay, charity shops, friends, family, or occasionally cheap new ones from somewhere like The Works. I do have a kindle but prefer the feel of a book. I like old books, there's something about them, if they're well read and yellowed they're going to be good!

DramaAlpaca · 04/01/2018 18:24

I don't have a preference, I have a mixture of both new & second-hand plus kindle books. I love poking around charity shops & second-hand book shops, but sometimes buy new as well.

moolady1977 · 04/01/2018 20:33

I just love scouring the charity shops for books

Original poster

Teufelsrad · 04/01/2018 20:40

Thank you all for replying so far. It's interesting to hear everyone's opinions.

I'm glad I'm not alone in loving charity shops. I find that they're either feast or famine for me, but last month I got a brilliant haul of hard back books(many quite new) in perfect condition. It only cost me £11 for 11 of them. I shudder to think what I'd have paid for them all brand new.

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metalmum15 · 04/01/2018 20:55

That is a bargain! I do think hard back books are ridiculously priced, some are £20 and I'll only read it once. I prefer paperbacks myself, hardbacks make my wrists ache, or I end up dropping them on my toes 😆

Capelin · 04/01/2018 20:57

Since getting a kindle I’m hooked, I rarely buy real books any more.

ChristmasTablecloth · 04/01/2018 20:59

3 or 4 in a day? How do you get any work done?

Original poster

Teufelsrad · 04/01/2018 21:07

I'm a very fast reader and I'm off work long term sick unfortunately so although I do have to do things besides read, I have a lot of time for it.

My previous job sometimes allowed me to read while working which was very nice.

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Original poster

Teufelsrad · 04/01/2018 21:11

I love hardbacks because they look so good on my shelves, but I generally prefer to read paperbacks, because it's more comfortable for me. I couldn't resist these hardbacks though at that price, and there were so many of them that were on my wish list.

Also, I just counted them again and I'd actually bought 12 for £12. I'd forgotten about Tin Man.

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ChristmasTablecloth · 04/01/2018 21:11

I'm a big fan of reading but isn't there anything else you can fit in to your day just to mix it up a bit? Do you go out etc?

cromwell44 · 04/01/2018 21:17

Mostly secondhand for me, although I will occasionally have and amazon spurge. My local Oxfam bookshop is not much cheaper than the Amazon 3 for £10 deals but I figure it's probably better for the planet to buy secondhand but I hadn't considered authors rights until now . Secondhand hardbacks are often cheaper than paperbacks In the CS - I've had some great £1 bargains too, although never been lucky enough to find more than a couple of good ones at one time .

Original poster

Teufelsrad · 04/01/2018 21:19

I have anxiety, depression,OCD and autism(a few other issues but I won't go into that) so I can rarely go out unless I'm with one of the trusted few, or walking the dogs in a familiar area. (Luckily one of my 'safe' people takes me out reasonably often to go shopping and to a restaurant. Even then I have issues but I can just about get through it with their help. Some days I can't go out at all, even with help.

I've never been a party person,or a fan of going out at night. I do have a few other interests, I'm learning German, I listen to music, love watching wildlife,(I live next to farmland and woodland so can do that from home on bad days) I write fanfiction and love world cinema,but I still fit in a lot of reading. It stops me dwelling on my anxiety for a while,

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Original poster

Teufelsrad · 04/01/2018 21:27

Oxfam is one of the most expense shops so I generally avoid that, though if I happen to be near one then I look to see if there are any books that I really want but I won't casually pick up random books the way I do in other stores.

The Cancer research shop near me sells any three for three pounds which isn't bad, and a hospice shop sells 3 paperbacks for a pound and hardbacks are a pound each so they're my usual haunt.

I often come away with three or four books but rarely a haul like last month. It looked as though someone had decided to get rid of almost their entire collection for one reason or another. There were several more hardbacks I could have purchased but didn't.

Earlier in the year someone donated a ton of classics to another shop and I got so many that I wanted, several Orwells, and could have gotten a dozen more,but I had to draw a line somewhere. I love never knowing what I'm going to find.

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bluedomino · 04/01/2018 21:38

I used library, also bought a kobo to download library book via borrowbox. I justify the cost by sharing it with my daughter. I've also signed up to Bookbub, the email deals of authors/genres you are interested in. Sometimes free. I've tried some new authors I wouldn't have normally tried as the book as free or less than a pound. I've had some great deals on well known authors but naturally there is some rubbish too. Sorry if you already knew about it.

bluedomino · 04/01/2018 21:40

Gosh sorry for typos, I'm finishing Christmas chocolate whilst typing

Original poster

Teufelsrad · 04/01/2018 21:42

I certainly didn't know about Bookbub. I'll go check that out now. Thank you so much!

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Original poster

Teufelsrad · 04/01/2018 22:30

Apologies for TMI dump, ChristmasTablecloth.

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cromwell44 · 05/01/2018 11:14

I buy mostly from Oxfam because although it's not the cheapest, it has a great range and I can scan for what I'm looking for pretty quickly. I keep a list of titles I want and I can home in on the authors and relatively new releases I'm after. I think the local train commuters are generous with their donations! It's much more hit and miss in other charity shops and I can't seem to get on with kindle so don't get the 99p deals there.

MotherCupboard · 05/01/2018 11:17

I only buy kindle books now, but i do use my library alot. I prefer my kindle to real books.

Original poster

Teufelsrad · 05/01/2018 11:24

There's nothing wrong with Oxfam. I'm just too much of a cheapskate to shop there often, though as you say if you're looking for a specific book then you're much more likely to find it there. I do that sometimes, and it's worth the extra because it's still cheaper than buying new.

Kindle certainly isn't for everyone. I still enjoy reading paper books but I like being able to carry a virtual library with me, so that I can swap between books if I'm not enjoying a particular one. Though sometimes there's a little too much choice.

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cromwell44 · 05/01/2018 14:26

I found I was buying kindle books and never getting round to reading them so stick to paper now. I mostly read at home or on holiday so not much carrying except for the addition to my holiday luggage baggage allowance. That's what my DH's baggage allowance is for .

KeithLeMonde · 05/01/2018 14:32

Teufelsrad
Sorry that things are so tough for you. I'm glad that you have some people on your safe list who can go out and scour the charity shops with you :)

I love a second hand book! There's a community centre near us who have a whole room full of shelves, they sell them at 5 for £1 (they used to be 10p each). At that price, you can spend a couple of quid and go home with a bag full. I always bring them a bag or two back as well when I'm finished with them.

Original poster

Teufelsrad · 05/01/2018 22:15

Thank you for the flowers, KeithLeMonde. There are people on here dealing with much worse, but it isn't fun.

Your post just reminded me that there's a small second hand shop in my hometown that sells books for 10p. They don't have a huge selection, but as you say, at that price you can risk a bad book, and stock up. I may have to arrange to go there again soon.

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