A Hard Cover Book

I simply refuse to buy paperback or soft-cover books. Only hard cover for me. I never thought there was anything weird about how I handle them until I sit here to type this out. That being said, I take the dustcovers off to read them so the covers won't get messed up. But I always store them on the shelf with the cover on. Although now that I think about it, the shelves would look better (more scholarly) with books with no covers. Not that I read books that are about simply things (mostly military history from WWII and Vietnam with some hockey autobiographies and biographies thrown in). I also hate to lend my books to anyone because I treat them with the utmost care and expect others to do the same and being incredibly PISSED OFF if anyone bends a page corner.
 
Gotta love book smell...old or new

I love to hear the cracking of a new book spine...and breathe in the perfume of fresh ink..and I love to veel the velvety edges of a broken-in book...I just love books. :)
 
I thought that I was the only one who got off on the "new book smell"! But I also love the feel of my favorite books, the wearing of the covers where my fingers have worn from countless rereads. There is an old used book store that I frequent and I always check out the hardcovers first. Nothing (well, almost nothing!) excites me like finding an old copy of a favorite book, or a copy of a Shakespeare play that has notes in the margins. I even found a love letter from the turn of the century (um, you know, last century :) ) in a copy of Walden.
Plus there is something wonderful about curling up in bed with your lover and reading to each other. Not neccessarily poetry, although that can be nice, but sharing words that you love.



Again - Dillinger - I just love your threads! Be they covered or uncovered ;)
 
Thank you GeG! *smile* And everyone else.

The book experience is so very much enhanced by a hard cover...

Paperback however sure beats reading on a computer screen, and hard cover beats paperback. Sounds like that hand game kids play? *lol*

MAN - it is snowing NOW... fuck I better get in the car and get going before it gets even worse.

Anyway...

Even better - than a new hard cover - in many ways - is going to a used book store and finding a rare book, an out of print book - hardcover... a book that was once loved and taking home to be loved once more...
 
I like the heft of hard covers.

The weight of it gives it more importance than a paperback. I have been accused of buying books by the pound.

Used book stores have an odor all their own. I live in Portland OR and opening the door to Powell's City of Books on a rainy day and breathing deep offers so many opportunities. New, used.

I like used books because I can daydream of the others who have read it, another dimension to the book. I love the library, so many possible people stories in so many books.
 
One of my favorite things to do when travelling is to visit used bookstores wherever I am. You find the most amazing things.

I believe I mentioned this quite awhile back in another thread but, about a year ago, in Rochester Minnesota (of all places) I actually came across an original copy of Crowley's "The Book of the Law"... privately published. They let me hold it and look through it... you could feel the power of that book just from the touch and feel of it. The price was a couple thousand... I didn't buy it but I should have... I should have... *sigh*
 
As many of you may know......

New York City is the end all and be all of used books. Apartments in NYC aren't big enough to keep books - so they get recycled. You take your old books, too many taking up too much shelf space in your average 700sq.ft. apartment - down to the street book vendor. He pays you next to nothing for them. He resells them to others and makes a rather tidy profit.

On Ease 73rd between 1st and York is the NYC McDonald House. Every nice Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the year they sell used books donated to them - for next to nothing. Usually a buck. I get all my books there.
 
Speaking of hard covers..... ummm... Dill, your new AV....... Hope you didn't get singed there! *weg*
 
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