Like this:
2 bloggers like this post.
-
-
talk nerdy to me
-
search my file
Copyright
Unless otherwise attributed, the posts on this blog were written by and belong to me. 2006-2011 All photos, unless otherwise attributed, are property of me. Do not use without permission.
confessions (via twitter)
- Fire going, no vomit for a while, and The Great Muppet Caper on. 2 hours ago
- Stupid Toy Story 3 and its ending. Why does it get me EVERY SINGLE TIME? I've watched it at least a dozen or so. 3 hours ago
- What are you doing this weekend? http://t.co/QtyJgl0w 4 hours ago
- Didn't do a damn bit of shopping today, but do plan to hit some lical stores tomorrow. #SmallBusinessSaturday 20 hours ago
- @Bookgirl96 Yep, but couldn't put up with it any longer. Some people just flat out suck sometimes. 1 day ago
I give and receive used books all the time. If it were a special edition that someone I care about really wanted, I’d get it used if that were the only way I could find it. The people in my life are not about ‘things’, they are about each other. A well loved book is meant to be shared, anyway. And like an earlier post, I’d include a gift card to the local bookstore, coffee shop or record store. You give a gift that someone wants, plus something to further the local economy. I see no downside to it.
the words read new to me………..
It really depends. If someone knew I wanted to read a book they had, or searched out an out of print book, or saw it somewhere and immediately thought of me, ie if it was personal, or some thought put into it, then it is a great gift. On the other hand, I have had some cheap siblings, exes and friends who really couldn’t be bothered, would rather spend the $ on themselves, and just grab some book that was laying about, something super cheap mass market that I’ve already two or three copies of and read 5 yrs ago, and hand it off in guise of a gift, it feels … cheap and thoughtless.
So, it isn’t a question of “new over thoughtful” but rather “thoughtful (new or used) over thoughtless (new or used… as of course some with $ just grab the nearest new book, lay down the cash and hand it over too, without any correspondence to the recipient’s interests etc…).
And yes, I have given used books as gifts: usually ones someone has mentioned was a beloved book they had in childhood and lost, the one missing from their collection, the out of print one they couldn’t find, one they wished to read and I had a copy I could sign to them, a signed copy by the author or something meaningful along these lines.
So it really does depend.
100% agree with everything this person ^ said. (Thanks for saving me the trouble of writing it myself ;-)
Is a gift about the thought or how much money the buyer spends? One year for Christmas I knew my brother in law wanted 2 specific books. I was able to find one of them used. I did hem and haw about buying it used (and asked every patron in the book store if it would be OK with them to receive a used book). In the end, i bought the used book and was able to include a Starbucks gift card in his gift. Again, if it was a book you really wanted, why would you care if the buyer was able to save a couple of bucks?
P.S. Thanks, Nerdy for the reccomendation of the book Maine. I am reading it now and I love it!
My favorite book stores are used book emporiums. Pre-loved treasures, each and every one. As you can tell from the other responses here, some people feel as if you are ‘cheaping out” on them. Of the people on your gift list, I’m sure you know who those people would be - and could find alternative gifts.
If it was a special book, I wouldn’t mind. I have a gorgeous hard-back, embossed copy of Pride and Prejudice that is used and cost $15 If it is presented as “this is a used book and I really like to support local businesses”, I think I’d be okay.
Also, I would LOVE to have a gift cert to my favorite used book store — Dusty Bookshelf in Lawrence.
A few years ago my aunt gave all us readers in the family boxes of used books. She had gone to a used book store looking for something for herself. They had flats (boxes used to hold six 6-packs for transportation) filled with books by genre. She bought me a flat of mystery books. Several were authors I knew and liked, others were new to me authors that I enjoyed meeting. One of the best gifts ever.
It depends….I mean, I appreciate books because I love to read, but when I think of all the things I could of gotten….well, you know. But maybe if it was part of a collage of gifts, such as ” here’s some inspiration for your novel” along with some fancy paper or pens, then yeah, that might be cool.
I agree with those who referred to out-of-print books. Nothing’s cooler than getting a yellowed, worn-edged copy of an out-of-print book (especially one you’ve been searching for).
And some books are not meant to be bought anew. I had to buy a friend a brand new copy of Hollywood Babylon once (all about old Hollywood scandals and insider secrets) and it felt wrong giving her a pristine uncracked copy. Something like that is supposed to feel like ancient secrets being passed on. She forgave me for not being able to find one at my usual homey used book store, though.
I meant to add at the end of my first paragraph, “…I would be honored and appreciative.”
Did you wake up, look around and realize you didn’t have to Christmas shop? ;)
Presentation is definitely key. If someone were to hand me some used books for either myself or my son and say “I thought you might like these. I was going to donate them but thought I’d see if you wanted them first.” or “This is one of my favorite books, and I thought you’d want to have it and pass along when you’re done.”
But if I got a wrapped gift for a birthday or Christmas and it was a used book with no explanation or inscription, I’d be peeved. Unless it was antique or vintage. Or filled with money. :)
I would rather buy books and DVD’s used for myself and I’d never have any problem with someone purchasing them for me used either. Or even giving me their copy just because they were done with it. While I agree it’s more thoughtful to search for a used copy of an out of print or only available in another country book that matches someone’s personality, I am just practical. If the book reads the same the second time there’s no reason for me or anyone else to spend the ‘new’ price on it. I like getting gifts, I like getting inexpensive gifts best.
I have given used books as gifts, but typically they were either out-of-print books that were very personally significant to that individual’s history (which have been bargains at times, and quite expensive at others), or they were books that would have been out of my price range if I were to buy them new. Purchasing an entire series new can cost $100 or more, but a used set can be much cheaper.
I think that the ‘used book’ gift only looks cheap if it IS cheap. If the decision to go with a used book is based on the recipient, rather than the giver’s desire to save money (with little regard for how nice the gift is), then it’s fine.
I know for SURE that my kids would rather receive ten used books than two brand new ones!
seriously? 50/50? come on people. books are meant to be shared. part of the pleasure is knowing that others have read the same book and wondering how it affected them. are you really that self-centered that you require form over substance? new over thoughtful?