Books Stephen King Recommends discussion
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Collectors, anyone?
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I guess you can call me a collector, I haven't paid $40.00 for a book lately, if ever, but I do purchase hardback books. I have a mini library, even though my family would say that it is not so mini. I try to go to as many book signings as possible to get my books signed by the authors I enjoy reading. I too, take very good care of my books, and since I am so picky, I don't loan them out at all! You might say that is selfish, but by the time I give instructions on the care of my books, people usually change their minds!! :) I am not a Amazon shopper, but do have discount cards for my favorite book stores and I also purchase books sometimes from used book stores, and yes, I am picky with those as well. I have a Nook, but cannot see myself giving up my hardback books because of it. I look at it as another reading source!
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I collect books for sure. Not so much any signed or limited or special editions, though I'd love to have some. But I do collect them, rather impulsively at times. I don't really loan them out, occasionally to my mom maybe, and I take the DJs off the hardcovers when I go to read them, but then they go back on. I get really sad if they get ripped or bent out of shape...
I collect books for certain authors. One of my favorite all-time authors is Charles de Lint. I have everything he ever wrote in hardback. I also have at least 10 signed copies of favorite authors books (i do not read these copies but shrink wrap them and put them away.I do not lend out my books that i collect, but the rest i trade on paperback swap or pass on to someone.
I also have a good used book store where i live that i have stumbled on some real finds (first editions that are signed)and have paid next to nothing for them. Its like going to an antique store you never know what treasures are hiding!
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I get bummed about damage too, Kit!
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I love finding treasures like that, Cindy. Way to go on the 10 signed copies you have!
I'd love to get a signed book! Joe Hill did a reading and signing at a library about 2 hrs away from me a few months ago. I wanted to go sooo bad, had the website for making reservations bookmarked and everything... but couldn't get anyone to go with me, or a sitter for the baby, so missed out. He's young though, so hopefully I'll get to see him if he ever comes within driving distance of me again. Seeing SK live and in person would be like, so wow, I probably would stammer and not be able to say a word, or look him in the face. I'd be too awestruck or something. But to have one, signed to me live and in person? A girl can dream :)
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Here is a small excerpt from my profile that sums up my feelings about this:
"I come from a family that loves books. Ripped jackets, dog-eared pages, coffee rings and fingerprint pizzas stains are a sacrilege. As a consequence, if you wish to borrow one of my books, you will have to leave your first born as a security deposit!"
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My mother "collected" the printed word, period
She is responsible for my (and I think my sister's) love of books. She had a very large library, and always made sure that each of my siblings and I got books as gifts, in addition to that toy or, as we got older, that bottle of perfume.
She collected and clipped newspaper and magazine articles about books/authors. Many of the books that she had in her library had the New York Times (or some such) review tucked into the first few pages.
My mother should have been in charge of a newspaper morgue, she clipped and filed
a diverse array of information on any subject (not just authors). It was an obsession that had the rest of the family shaking their heads in bewilderment. Once I asked why she did it.
"Just be thankful that I'm not an alcoholic." was her reply.
Yep, Mom, I am.
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The operative word here is trying. Lately, I have taken a vow to “not buy”.
HA Ha ha!
I have been obsessively ordering books from the library, however once I pick them up, I browse the Friends of the Library sale…and What do you know? THERE is a book recommended by a Goodreads friend, OVER THERE is a book by an author that I like, LOOK OVER HERE it’s a book with a purple cover! Did I bring my wallet?
HA Ha ha!
The first thing that you see when you enter my residence is my library. I consider it a reflection of me. (You are what you eat? I devour books.) Upon entering, new people quickly choose to discuss books. I get to show off my favorites; ask them about their reading habits; assess whether this person and I would ever have anything in common; kick them out when, with glazed eyes, they mention bodice rippers.
Unless the paperback is my only choice, all of my collection is hardcover. It is displayed by author and in release date order. Well supposed to be, the newly acquired ones are stacked in front of all that organization, in complete chaos. These are the ones that I will read and put on Bookswap, once my To Read list is under control.
HA Ha ha!
Gosh, I feel as if I am playing “Truth or Dare”!
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Sigh... yes, a girl can only dream...
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Yes, sis, you know you have library privleges on anything I own! Someday I hope have whittled my library down to ONLY the Stephen King collection, as I really have room for nothing else. Then, perhaps, I'll start selling some of the duplicates. Perhaps!
ha ha ha!
Not buying any more? Ha ha ha!
Almeta wrote: "Collector or Hoarder? My mother "collected" the printed word, period
She is responsible for my (and I think my sister's) love of books. She had a very large library, and always made sure ..."
Ilove collecting old books and paper cuttings on books and authors too. My sisters dont understand this funny hobby of mine. They think I am crazy collecting old newspapers. I love to read and reread these cuttings of mine.I am happy to know there are other people like me with these funny hobbies.
Krishna wrote: "Ilove collecting old books and paper cuttings on books and authors too. My sisters dont understand this funny hobby of mine. They think I am crazy collecting old newspapers. I love to read and rere..."
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That's cool. I used to try to keep everything I could find about Stephen King, but soon it got out of control. So much is said about him in the news it just impossible to keep up.
I love going to the book store or thrift stores and finding deals. With all the reading I do my husband insist on getting me a nook or iPad but I have to respectfully refuse because I enjoy the feel of actual books. Licking my finger to turn the page. He doesn't understand
I totally understand Salina, I love the feel of a book in my hands as well, it is nothing like it!!But I do have a Nook and I love it as well. Having my Nook has not stopped me from buying real books to hold.
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You could call me a collector, although I have little to no first printings/first editions. I just love the tangible thing! My husband gripes over the amount of books I have and continue to buy. I normally go to the bookstore every Saturday and purchase anywhere from 13-25 books each time. Mind you, some of these are used, and I don't pay full price for any of them. My husband has finally given in to giving me $100 gift cards at each holiday, as much as he hates it. (Both mothers day and my birthday fall very close to each other, so I get 2 gift cards in one month! :D) We live in a very small apartment in NYC so for the time being I have to double shelve my books (2 rows of books on each shelf), but when we move next year, we are renting a house with an extra room so that I am able to have a library.
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Oooh, a library. (said in voice like Homer thinking of food &/or beer) *goes into a happy trance dream*
Good luck moving all of your books, Samantha! They are quite interesting to pack and watch people's eyes go wide at how many boxes of books you will have! Samantha wrote: "We live in a very small apartment in NYC so for the time being I have to double shelve my books (2 rows of books on each shelf), but when we move next year, we are renting a house with an extra room so that I am able to have a library. "
Debra wrote: "I come from a long line of book collectors. My mother passed on her love of books to my sister and I. And I've passed it along to my son. Between all of our collections we could open a library!..."
Nice to find out there are like-minded people out there! When it comes to my books, I can't take a joke (hope I picked the right phrase from my dictionary for that...).
However, I sort my books into several categories: favourites, e.g. all King novels (amongst several other authors), which I collect as hardcovers and handle with greatest care. I also have a growing collection of limited/signed editions and constantly look out for these. I love special editions where you can see and feel the extensive work that was put into them. Currently I have around 100 signed copies (had to check my shelf and was surprised myself by the number).
However, I do love to hunt for secondhand books, usually out-of-print titles. Mostly I'm just glad to find a copy, but I try to get them at least in good condition.
Lately, I've come to appreciate e-books as well, especially for books where I'm quite sure I wouldn't keep the printed copy, including lots of 'unknown' authors' first novels.
Some years ago, I had to sell a lot of books to make room and noticed how much books I owned I didn't care about much. Nowadays, I try to decide whether I will keep a book before buying it, so that I can choose which edition suits me best. If I intend to keep them, I go for hardcovers, if I know I will sell them after reading, I choose paperbacks or maybe to get the e-book if the price is much cheaper (for you can't sell an e-book...).
Of course, I share the dream of my own personal library room, but I guess I have to save that for my next life ;)
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I used to have tons of books, as did my mother and sister. When we all moved in together, we had to get rid of many of them, and we sold a lot of eBay, since we had a lot of first editions.
Now, I try to limit my collecting to Stephen King and a few books by other of my favorite authors.
Sounds like you have a good library, Elke. Thanks for your comments!
Debra wrote: "I love limited editions and have a few by Stephen King; although most are only signed by the artist as I couldn't afford the SK signed ones. I have 2 books signed by King, though, and am thrilled...."Thanks! When it comes to books, I just can't stop gushing about my favorite subject ;) Guess you can see it as an introduction for myself as a newbie in this group, too. I still have to check out all the other threads, already seems like I will visit this place very regularly :)
Another newbie to the board.. Have been hoarding...ehhh I mean collecting for decades since I was a preteen, maybe before even, I have kept those books I have enjoyed, now my home is decorated in literature. I try to find first of those books I truly love, so I have a signed first of E. Kostovas The Historian and my reading copy. I have many signed firsts of Alice Hoffman who I have been reading since she started publishing and I do not have any signed SK but I have all his early books and firsts of many of the past few decades.
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I thought my "collecting" was pretty extreme...then I got a job at a book store...(head hanging in shame)...We are now buying more book shelves!
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Oh, that would be me! Now I try to utilize my library more!
I collect books like you collect sea glass or shells. I can't pass up a good name, an interesting cover. I pick them up from FREE piles and yard sales and hand-me-down bags. I bring them home by the bagful from library sales and church fairs. I brought home kids' picture books and antique chapter books before my own children were even a thought. I can't leave the library with less than three at a time. I love the smell and the weight and the sight of a stack of new adventures. My son wanted to read The Hobbit and now we have several copies because each one had something better about it than another, better smell to the pages, better cover graphic. We've had to build several bookshelves and every couple months I still bring home a stack from some sale that becomes a tower against the living room wall. I collect books.
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Hi =) I consider myself a book collector, although my library is tiny. I mostly collect books from authors that I love (such as SK, Haruki Murakami, Agatha Christie, etc) and books I loved to read but don't own. I also collect classics, and series. I cannot be too picky about the book itself, because beautiful hardbacks don't usually fit in my budget. Since I'm portuguese, I also try to collect books in the original language, for example, I have almost all of the Jane Austen's work in english ^^I do lend out my books, but only to book lovers in my live that will respect them as I would :)
I'm along the same lines as Elizabeth, I just collect and love books. I don't have any first editions or autographed ones or the like, but I cannot go past a charity shop without looking and that is where I get all my books, because like a lot of us, I cannot afford new books (and don't own a Kindle). In fact at least once a week I can't NOT look at the op shop bookshelves, because I volunteer in one, lol. Because my reading tastes are varied there is NEVER a time I come out empty handed - I guess it's something of an addiction, as my friends will attest to and more to the point my partner will agree with as well, much to his horror :)
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I collect a lot of different books. I have one of each of the hardback, first prints of all King's books. I also have one each of Joe Hill's. When either has something only available in PB, I get that too and I have every ebook by them.I also collect hardback first editions of Colleen McCullough, Michael Crichton, Amy Tan and James Clavell.
I have a signed Joe Hill, Colleen McCullough, Amy Tan, Mitch Albom, Charlaine Harris and a few others.
I have been slowly, slowly collecting the leather bound collectible Barnes & Noble classics. My hope is that my grandchildren will read them someday. :D
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Debra wrote: "That's a great collection, Kandice. I pass along of the great books I read to my son. It's always fun to share our favorites with friends and family."Thanks! I am so glad all three of my children are readers because I can't imagine being unable to share books with them.
I have all of Kings books in hardback too except the Dark Tower series, never interested me. I also collect Anne Rice's books and have all those first editions too. A few others here and there, Phillipa Gregory for one, but not complete collections. I love books, my whole family are voracious readers too. My daughter actually is an aspiring author as well.
I have all of Anne Rice and Phillipa Gregory's too! Not all first editions, though.
I 'keep' a lot of books, I have stacks but I only collect signed copies. We have a book festival every year that attracts a lot of interesting authors. Last year I got to see Anne and Christorpher Rice and JAnet Evanovich. King came too but tickets went in a blink and I missed it! His and Roger Ebert are the two I still kick myself about missing.
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My sister and I are slowly trying to reduce our libraries as we just don't have the space anymore. Amazon and eBay have come in handy with this, plus BookSwap here on GoodReads.
In addition to the love of collecting books, I've learned to truly care for and respect them. For the hardcovers I collect (limited, or first printings/first editions), I always remove the jackets and safely stow them away to prevent damage. I try to keep my hands clean and always use bookmarkers; NEVER dog-ear pages. I'm appalled when I hear of people throwing the jackets away. (Now I'm going to get hate mail! lol)
For the few paperbacks I've collected, I try my darnest not to break the spine too much and treat them the same way I do my hardcovers.
Since I now am borrowing library books, it is hard to get over the abuse many have taken. And as my co-moderator has said, it's pretty icky to consider what all those stains are and how many germs you might be holding in your hands. I just have to put it out of my mind or go crazy! lol
The advent of e-books has certainly had me thinking about the art of collecting the physical objects. I'm finding that many books can only be found as e-books, and have recently purchased a Nook so I can further expand my ability to read the "printed" word.
But huge stores like Borders are going out of business. Does anyone pay $40 for a book anymore when you can find them cheaper on Amazon and eBay? I still buy my Stephen King books brand-spanking new and pay more for them then they are likely ever to be worth, since millions of the first editions are printed.
But I digress.... collectors' anyone? Tell us about it!