4 ms·

I think mine is an uncommon opinion, but libraries actually make me kind of sad haha. Most of the books are not well-cared-for. There's tattered pages, ruined h

I think mine is an uncommon opinion, but libraries actually make me kind of sad haha. Most of the books are not well-cared-for. There's tattered pages, ruined hardcover slips, markings, etc. I really hate it, so I never go to the library. But one of my girlfriend's and my favorite dates is to just find a bookstore and just walk around. (Often we use B&N because of availability, but we try to find local when we can.) We don't usually come away having purchased anything, but just walking around and talking about books you've heard of or read, and leafing through some of the pages to see if anything catches your eye — I love that. I also like that bookstores are often a bit more aesthetic than the local library, plus they frequently have a cafe attached or adjacent where you can sit for a while afterwards, sometimes with some new books to poke through.

inanutshellus 6y ago
Funny, I'd come away with the opposite opinion upon seeing a library book with so much use. Personally, I'd be happier to see a thriving library and a well-loved book still going strong than see it with perfect, uncracked book-bindings.
- DonaldPShimoda 6y ago
  Yeah, this seems to be the overwhelmingly common opinion among book-lovers, hence the lead-in that I thought my perspective was unusual. I seem to be unique in hating the appearance of a "well-loved" book like so many people seem to enjoy. My books never end up looking that way haha. At most, the spines break-in a bit, but most of my books look very new despite having been read multiple times. Just how I like them, I suppose.
  - LeonB 6y ago
    Collectors (and listeners) of LP records tend to want their items pristine, even if second-hand, as sound quality is easily disturbed. I think books are more the outlier though, where many people are happy for them to be well-loved.
- WalterBright 6y ago
  Me too. One of my favorite thrift store finds was an ancient copy of "The Nemesis from Terra" by Leigh Bracket. Inside the front cover was written: "This Book Belongs to Ken Xxxxx for you see no other human being would read such trash. - Guess Who" followed by, in another hand: "your just jelous because you don'T UNDersTaNd IT!" Best book review ever.

inanutshellus 6y ago

Funny, I'd come away with the opposite opinion upon seeing a library book with so much use. Personally, I'd be happier to see a thriving library and a well-loved book still going strong than see it with perfect, uncracked book-bindings.

DonaldPShimoda 6y ago
Yeah, this seems to be the overwhelmingly common opinion among book-lovers, hence the lead-in that I thought my perspective was unusual. I seem to be unique in hating the appearance of a "well-loved" book like so many people seem to enjoy. My books never end up looking that way haha. At most, the spines break-in a bit, but most of my books look very new despite having been read multiple times. Just how I like them, I suppose.
- LeonB 6y ago
  Collectors (and listeners) of LP records tend to want their items pristine, even if second-hand, as sound quality is easily disturbed. I think books are more the outlier though, where many people are happy for them to be well-loved.
WalterBright 6y ago
Me too. One of my favorite thrift store finds was an ancient copy of "The Nemesis from Terra" by Leigh Bracket. Inside the front cover was written: "This Book Belongs to Ken Xxxxx for you see no other human being would read such trash. - Guess Who" followed by, in another hand: "your just jelous because you don'T UNDersTaNd IT!" Best book review ever.