I’m not known as a man who is influenced quickly by things mystical, supernatural, or spiritual. Yet both writing and books hold over me a power I would not have them relinquish for anything in the Universe at large.
When I was in the Army, money was hard to come by, and new books were expensive. I knew my time in the military would be temporary when a sergeant told me, “You have too many books.” He told me I would be limited to owning five books.
However, the desert of books could be traveled through the oasis of Used Book Stores, which peppered various spots in nearly every small town in South Georgia. From my post in Hinesville, Georgia, to my hometown in Blakely, a few used bookstores could be found and break the monotony of the drive. Vidalia, a place known for sweet onions and UFOs, also had a small bookstore I discovered quite by accident and happily so.
Years before, a woman tried to get me to read, “Illusions” by Richard Bach, but I wasn’t into that sort of thing at the time, and was surprised a copy had fallen off a stack of books when I brushed against them. I replaced it, and it slipped off again. The price on it was three dollars and all I had was two. They sold it to me for two, and it’s been a regular in my bookshelf since then. Not that particular copy, mind you, for I will give books away quicker than keeping them. I release them into the wild, to spread joy and happiness. The books come to me in some manner or fashion, so I send them out again.
After getting out of the military, a small used book store was within walking distance of my apartment, and they would trade three for one on books. Another bookstore across town had a bargain bin full of used books for a quarter. So for seventy-five cents I could get a book from the walking distance bookstore.
I learned that people selling books at yard sales would surrender a box of books rather than keep them, and I could get books I wanted, or needed by trading them in. I would look in the local paper and map out the best route to take in my quest for more books from yard sales.
Sadly, I don’t read as much as I once did, and paper books are slowly going the way of the dinosaur. I’m listening to an audiobook right now, and like listening as I work out at the Y. It’s not the same, no, and I miss the long hours I would spend lying to myself about stopping at the next page, or chapter.
Today, as I write this, is the first of April, the birthday of science fiction and fantasy author Anne McCaffrey. She wrote “The Dragonriders of Pern” series and I got hooked on them. After the fifth or sixth book I burned out but I still remember looking for one of the books in the series and finally finding it. No matter what you do with a computer, nothing will ever match finding a good used book in a store that has a dog snoozing behind the counter as the owner reads a real book.
Take Care,
Mike
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I used to be a bookworm, I fear now I’m more of a book dragon. I have books I mean to read, I just don’t seem to get there. It makes me sad, and mad at my self. I love my books and don’t want to part with some of them. Some I will give away. However, books by Stephen Fry, I will hoard. Same with Anthony Bourdain. Nope, not getting those.
I do love a good used book store as well. There was one here that would do the same trade thing. Sadly it closed. I despise progress sometimes.
Chick, I do miss used book stories if for no other reason the scent was so heavenly. And the feeling of finding a book that you’ve wanted for so long, and there it is.
I used to read lots of books, then didn’t. Music took over for me, but I found my way back to books, specifically music artist autobiographies. Then came the pandemic, and now I read less and most all my reading is digital.
A shame, really. Physical books can last as long as someone cares to keep it or pass it on to another to enjoy. Digital books can mean less without actually having the book in hand, and are lost without electricity. A sign of our times, books or anything else, now, it seems.
Scoakat!!!!! Where ya been? I like my Kindle, but I rather have hardcover books. When I was working nights I would take the Kindle along to read, and it was a lot easier. But other than that, at home, I rather have a real book.
I am a bibliophile as well. I even have a few books signed by the author. Meeting the authors can be fun–I met Jay Leno, Jerry Jenkins, and Weird Al Yankovic at book signings.
I enjoy going to bookstores–new or used–but can be damaging to my wallet.
I have many books lying around waiting impatiently for me to read them. I have gone digital to some extent. The only advantage to digital books are they easy to carry–my Kobo Mini is small and light but has a bunch of books on it.
If you have not seen them, there are small, free libraries around. They are wooden boxes with glass–people put books in them they no longer want and take ones they do want. These are found around neighborhoods and other areas. They are in 128 countries, so they are a bit bigger than I thought; here is their website: https://littlefreelibrary.org/ .
The local library had books to give away at the West Lafayette, IN, airport. I picked up Isaac Asimov’s collection “Nine Tomorrows” from there that I still have.
Tim, if there is nothing on earth you can do to change someone’s life, give them a great book. The little libraries and I have been doing business for quite some time now.
I have a stack of free books, that my local library has decommissioned, in my ready to read pile. When I worked further from home, I would listen to audio books on my way to and from work. Now – when it’s slow at work, I usually pull up ‘Libby’ on my computer and read at my desk. I am pretty particular though. I use to say I’d give a book 50 pages before giving up on it – but honestly, the second I’m not feelin’ it – I go to the next one.
Kris, I used to never give up on a book or a movie, but these days, not so much. Life is too short to read terrible writing.