Collectibles – Booking Through Thursday
This week’s Booking Through Thursday question is:
- Hardcover? Or paperback?
- Illustrations? Or just text?
- First editions? Or you don’t care?
- Signed by the author? Or not?
I’ve never been a book collector. It’s always been my dream to be able to collect every single book I read, but I realized by the age of, oh, I don’t know, 18 or so that keeping every book I’d ever read would be next to impossible.
Also, I’m of the variety that books should be used. I don’t want my books to have to sit behind a glass case where people can’t touch them. I know people who collect books, but for as much as I read, I don’t really get it.
BUT, I’ve been going to author appearances for the first time in my life in the past couple of years, and I am a SUCKER for books I can get personalized. I fear those books will quickly overtake my already overflowing bookcase, making it that much more difficult to cull out unnecessary books when the time comes.
What is it with those personalized books that makes them so appealing? I think it’s that I’ve made a connection with the author. I have proof that my hero knew I existed, if at least for a minute or two. Authors — they are my rock stars. And if they sign a book that I’ve read (or have every intention of reading), that I’ve loved, then I will treasure that book.
I promise, though, for as much as I am a rabid fan of various authors, I will never ask them to sign my breasts.
Don’t forget to enter the Slanket Giveaway I have going on!
| Tags: Authors, booking through thursday, Books, btt, meme 29 comments »
February 25th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
I agree. I believe that books fare better when they’re read, but of course, they also have be taken care of, whether they be paperback or hardcover.
Ditto on the signing thing haha. When I met Neil Gaiman, you’d think it was a rock star who was here, not a writer. Happy BTT!
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February 26th, 2009 at 2:07 am
I am in total agreement with you on not wanting my books behind cases. I dont understand that. One of my favourite things to do when am at other peoples houses is go and have a nosey through their bookshelves and pull out ones haven’t read and have a mooch. You cant do that with glass cabinets.
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February 26th, 2009 at 2:13 am
I think books are much more attractive when they look as if they have been read and enjoyed! Thats what they are for after all.
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February 26th, 2009 at 3:35 am
I’ve been collecting first edition Nancy drew. My post will be up in a couple of hours.
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February 26th, 2009 at 3:36 am
I’m with you, I love when a book has been signed, but even those books are for reading and I’m not particularly into keeping them perfect. I’m not too interested in specific editions, I just like books that I enjoy.
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February 26th, 2009 at 3:41 am
I feel much the same way you do. While I do treasure my books and take great care with them, they’re not off-limits for thumbing through and touching. However, when I do get a signed copy, it makes it hat much more special to me.
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February 26th, 2009 at 4:42 am
Good to know that I’m not alone. (I always write & post my answer before reading the other responses.)
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February 26th, 2009 at 4:52 am
Yep, I love having books signed by the author. It does give you a sense of connection with them!
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February 26th, 2009 at 5:06 am
I’d love to go to author signings for my favorite authors, but they never come around this area. I’ve received a few through contests and I do love those!
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February 26th, 2009 at 5:14 am
I love personalized books too!
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February 26th, 2009 at 5:15 am
pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeee let me win the slanket.
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February 26th, 2009 at 5:31 am
I’m totally with you. One of my biggest pet peeves is fancy, leather-bound books purchased merely for decorating purposes. (If you like to collect such editions, fine. But for DECORATING? Books are meant to be READ. And they are beautiful–I have a shelf of 100-plus books in my kitchen, and I love staring at their spines. But they’re for READING.)
I’ve been fortunate enough to interview some amazing authors over the years, but a few months ago I met one of my very favorites. And I was absolutely, ridiculously tongue tied. I blogged about it later … http://inkstainedlife.wordpress.com/2008/10/26/we-cant-get-much-louder-than-this/
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February 26th, 2009 at 5:32 am
Having an author sign your breasts – FUNNY!
If I had an author sign my breasts, they’d have to use initials only!
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February 26th, 2009 at 7:15 am
Much as I love getting books signed, I tend to be a circler. And my only criteria for books I own is that if I think a book is going to get a lot of readings, I will sometimes spring for the hardback. Otherwise, a paperback is fine with me. People who own cats know the importance of a lightweight book that you can hold in one hand.
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February 26th, 2009 at 7:16 am
Good post. In my post, I discussed how folks buy books just for decorative purposes, too. I’m hoping someday they’ll be bored and actually read their decorations.
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February 26th, 2009 at 7:20 am
Oh, but it would be such an entertaining story for you to come and tell us all how you asked X author to sign your breasts. I can just imagine the reaction of the author and other people at the book signing…
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February 26th, 2009 at 7:43 am
Hi!
I’ll agree, I like my books to be looked at and read. Not behind a glass door. Have a great day!!
Sherrie
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February 26th, 2009 at 7:48 am
I would love to have some books signed by the authors
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February 26th, 2009 at 7:54 am
You don’t have them sign your breasts? I ALWAYS do! Part of the fun!
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February 26th, 2009 at 8:14 am
I love books and the knowledge they bring to the reader. I never have thought of myself as a collector, but my kids have no doubts on the subject
I have given away A LOT of my books, some at my knowledge and some without 
. As you say Trish books should be used and so off most go to others to read.
Hardcover? Or paperback? = Hardcover
Illustrations? Or just text? = Text
First editions? Or you don’t care? = Don’t care
Signed by the author? Or not? = Signed is great but not a MUST
Love your Blog
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February 26th, 2009 at 8:37 am
I agree 100% with your assessment of books being collected. Books are made to be read not for decoration. If I wrote a book and found people using just as a collectible I’d be a little PO’d. But unlike you I have almost every single book I’ve ever purchased or have read. I just haven’t been able to part with any of my books.
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February 26th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Now that’s funny… I can just see an author’s reaction to the request for a signing of the breasts. Plus if all the women in line threw their panties at the author and held up lighter flames, it would really liven things up. I tend to pass on books (not the personalized ones, though) pretty freely because I have too damn many. The special ones I save, but my house is cluttered enough.
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February 26th, 2009 at 9:10 am
I so agree.. books are definitely for reading, not for keeping behind closed doors.
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February 26th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
I would never want books so valuable I’d feel like they can’t be handled. I buy my books intending to read them over and over again, so I try to get ones that will last- that means I favor hardbacks over mass market paperbacks, but I have lots of trade papers, too- they’re just more affordable!
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February 26th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
One of my heros is Alafair Burke. I love her books. She signed all five of her books for me, and I loaned one to my sister because I knew she would love it, too. Well, so did her boxer, Tyson. He literally devoured it. But, I didn’t get crazy. I just saw it as an excuse to see Alafair again the first chance I get. I share books all the time. I loan them to family, friends, co-workers. It is just thrilling for me to help another person discover the great books I’ve discovered.
Anyway, I also adore my signed copies. I don’t have a ton, but each one I have signed has special significance for me. Probably the most significant is the one Thomas Holland sent me. I cherish it.
And like you, Trish, I will never been asking ANY author to sign my breast!!
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February 26th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
whew!! I’m glad that you haven’t had one sign your breasts but that is something that could happen in the future depending on who the author is? I really liked your post and agree with you that I don’t understand collecting books and never reading them. But I do tend to have the habit of acquiring books because they make me feel comfortable and content!
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February 26th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
I’ve never been big on signed books — I mean, someone just wrote in the front of my beautiful new book, and shouldn’t the author have already said everything they have to say?
On the other hand, I love beautiful old books, and if I had the chance to get my hands on the first edition of a favorite book, I would.
I also wanted to stop by and invite you over to Literary Menagerie. A friend of mine just gave her first stab at a book review, so if you could charm her into sticking around, I’d owe you a huge favor!
Happy reading!
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February 27th, 2009 at 6:46 am
It is very hard to hang on to all those books! And I like to buy used books also, becuase I feel they deserve a second chance.
I would definitley keep my author signed books, and maybe cut down on the authors I meet. Maybe make a top 10 list or something.
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February 27th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
I think that I like to have an author sign my book because it is their own handwriting, a reminder that someone personally crafted this text. This is not just a mass-produced product. An attachment to some type of old fashioned ideal I suppose.
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