Any second hand bookshop addicts here?
Discussion
I can't seem to pass a charity shop without going in to check out their bookshelves, even if its just a couple of shelves. Point me at a second hand bookshop and I'll happily be there for ages, just leafing through old volumes (and invariably buying a few). Sometimes I think acquiring these books is more important than reading them; my "not yet read" pile gets ever higher.
Is it just me?
Is it just me?
prand said:
I love any sort of bookshop, had a great nose around the Speaking Tree in Gloastonbury village when we were visiting last weekend (selling a lot of discount/remainders), and then someone told me to go and pay a visit to http://www.bookbarninternational.com/ just north of Wells. Oh my gosh what a place!
Oh my, that looks rather fine... Quite a way from me unfortunately.Charity shops like that are a real bonus. We have a couple - 1 is definitely an Oxfam one - which are usually decent prices but not quite that cheap! I try and get there every few weeks too. National Trust places often have used books now but they seem to vary at each property on prices - some can be 50p or a quid, others 3 or 4 times as much. I often come back with military biogs/first hand accounts.
I bought a book via Abe Books online recently and it was actually sold by Old Hall Books (http://oldhallbooks.com/) which is only half an hour from me - so I went over there this morning. I did write a blog at the weekend about that particular purchase - I won't link to it here as its probably against the rules but anyone googling my user name and "blog" will find it.
Anyway - this shop. Some of the wall shelving was given over to some lovely rare books - the kind you find in NT libraries - real antiquarian stuff, with prices to match - some of them in the thousands. But they do cover all budgets - I got 3 hardbacks in their dust jackets for a fiver each:
Heroes of Greece and Troy from 1973
The Diary of a Victorian Squire from 1983
The Gilded Lily - a biog of Lillie Langtry from 1958
I could have got a lot more really, especially with an unlimited budget. I tend to go for non fiction mainly, especially biogs and first hand accounts.
I was also tempted by a copy of Pepys' Diaries, dating from the 1920s and The Life and Times of Sir Walter Raleigh from about 1887 - each were about 12 quid I think. I got away with the 3 anyway - my wife thought she'd like 2 of them too, so I didn't get a lecture.
I have, however, been told to find some room and sort out another bookcase - our existing ones are all overflowing.
Will definitely be going there again (when I get the new bookcase and make some room for it).
I bought a book via Abe Books online recently and it was actually sold by Old Hall Books (http://oldhallbooks.com/) which is only half an hour from me - so I went over there this morning. I did write a blog at the weekend about that particular purchase - I won't link to it here as its probably against the rules but anyone googling my user name and "blog" will find it.
Anyway - this shop. Some of the wall shelving was given over to some lovely rare books - the kind you find in NT libraries - real antiquarian stuff, with prices to match - some of them in the thousands. But they do cover all budgets - I got 3 hardbacks in their dust jackets for a fiver each:
Heroes of Greece and Troy from 1973
The Diary of a Victorian Squire from 1983
The Gilded Lily - a biog of Lillie Langtry from 1958
I could have got a lot more really, especially with an unlimited budget. I tend to go for non fiction mainly, especially biogs and first hand accounts.
I was also tempted by a copy of Pepys' Diaries, dating from the 1920s and The Life and Times of Sir Walter Raleigh from about 1887 - each were about 12 quid I think. I got away with the 3 anyway - my wife thought she'd like 2 of them too, so I didn't get a lecture.
I have, however, been told to find some room and sort out another bookcase - our existing ones are all overflowing. Will definitely be going there again (when I get the new bookcase and make some room for it).
had ham said:
No visit to my folks in rural Northumberland is complete without a visit to Batter books in Alnwick http://www.barterbooks.co.uk/html/About%20Us/The%2... - my only complaint is that they're not as cheap as they could be!
Hoping to get up to Northumberland next year so I've bookmarked this, thanks. Looks a fantastic place.had ham said:
If you're up that way, I'd recommend the Ship Inn for some lunch in a stunning setting http://www.shipinnnewton.co.uk/ - a bit further North, but worth the effort, I promise!
Always good to have recommendations - in my bookmarks now, ta. cherie171 said:
I always get congratulated if I manage to walk past [u]any[/u] bookshop without drifting towards it. My weakness at the moment is Folio Society editions (I need to find room in my budget for the HG Wells set). There's a local 2nd bookshop near to where I work (Harrowden Books, Finedon) that I've only been in once so far, but I need to get over there sometime, as they've always got Folio editions in stock.
I wish I hadn't followed to trail to The Old Hall Bookshop. I can see me dropping in there when I take my car to APS for a service!
You've actually reminded me that last time I was at my dad's cottage in Dorset, I was admiring a couple of Folio Society books and I did think I'd investigate further. I'm just over the border in Bucks, so it looks like I may well be taking a trip to Finedon as well, thanks for that. I wish I hadn't followed to trail to The Old Hall Bookshop. I can see me dropping in there when I take my car to APS for a service!
Edited by Flip Martian on Wednesday 16th September 21:39
vanordinaire said:
I love second-hand book shops, but avoid most of the charity shops. Most of them seem to display only the 'bestsellers' and popular biographies, I don't know what they do with interesting books but I can never find them. Some of the charity shops charge more for a second hand trashy book than it was sold for originally in a supermarket.
Charity shops vary widely in the quality of their stock, I find. I have access to about 8 within 15 mins of where I live, in different towns - and after repeated visits, really only 3 are worth shopping in (and 2 of those are dedicated bookshops). Same with NT properties - a few have fantastic second hand bookshops, some are just pants.The charity shops got me again. Spent a relaxing morning trailing around them this morning and came back with 7, including 3 hardbacks for just under 8 quid. Two books by Laurence Rees, biogs on Rex Harrison, Joan Crawford, Ernest Borgnine and Gene Roddenberry and a book by Lynne Truss on her sports reporting.
The irony is I'd gone shopping for an old bookcase... :/
The irony is I'd gone shopping for an old bookcase... :/
Chocmonster said:
I'm lucky enough to have a free book shop within walking distance. You're allowed any 3 books each visit, over the couple of years I've been going there I've had everything from modern biographies to books over 100 years old!
Check this map to see if there is one near you:
https://beta.healthyplanet.org/what-we-do/sustaina...
Great idea. Luton is my nearest and even that's some way off. I'll bookmark that though, cheers. Check this map to see if there is one near you:
https://beta.healthyplanet.org/what-we-do/sustaina...
spikeyhead said:
Ta for the link. Within an hour's drive I think.I found a great guide to second hand book shops around the country (with reviews) - http://www.inprint.co.uk/thebookguide/index.php
I've visited Skoob twice this week http://www.skoob.com as its near work, and also Any Amount of Books http://www.anyamountofbooks.com while in London 3 days, and once again run out of shelf space at home despite buying a new bookcase recently. I really do need to take a break...
I've visited Skoob twice this week http://www.skoob.com as its near work, and also Any Amount of Books http://www.anyamountofbooks.com while in London 3 days, and once again run out of shelf space at home despite buying a new bookcase recently. I really do need to take a break...
cherie171 said:
I might have to pop in there the next time we're in London. It's less than a mile away from the Folio Society shop, and I [u]have[/u] to go there at some point!
There are quite a few in the area, I had failed to realise. Charing Cross Road has 3 plus a few more down 1 of the back streets (which are rather more "exclusive" I understand).Welshbeef said:
I do IMHO read / buy a lot of books some brand new but I will very frequently pick some up at the many charity shops or even doctors surgery.
Best bit of all they are really good condition so once I've read it I simply give it back to the charity so they can sell it again + the ones I've bought brand new elsewhere.
Yet another reason why physical books are hands down superior to these e books. I've never had one nor would I ever consider one.
Must admit mine rarely go back to the shops - only if I'm sure I'll never read it again/bought a duplicate will it go back. E-books I'm ambivalent about - I have a Sony one with out of copyright books on, so its good for that - and for holidays and saving room in the luggage. But I love the physicality and age of books and the e-book reader is not a replacement for books (for me, anyway). I can see why some who just love reading and don't have much room like them.Best bit of all they are really good condition so once I've read it I simply give it back to the charity so they can sell it again + the ones I've bought brand new elsewhere.
Yet another reason why physical books are hands down superior to these e books. I've never had one nor would I ever consider one.
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