There’s something about walking into a used bookstore.

The heavy scent of aged pages lingering in the air.

The quiet voices barely breaking the stillness.

The multicolored spines lined up for yards and yards.

The silent call beckoning you to tarry as long as you need.

How does it move you?

I hit a big birthday milestone this year. In years past, I’ve wanted to go on epic day-long trips, explore, come back home late, eat lots of good food.

But this year has been rough. I’m tired. So my request?

A funded trip to one of my favorite used bookstores. 🤓

I picked up 12 books, plus a board game. I was very excited to see a fully stocked Star Wars section—the newer and nicer books usually go pretty quickly, but I had so many to choose from I eventually had to put some back.

I may be a bibliophile, but I stick to my budget. (Mostly. Am I alone here?)

But then something magical happened. On a birthday expedition with my mom, we just happened to end up in a bookstore. For coffee, of course.

We definitely didn’t end up spending most of our day methodically browsing…

My mom got me an illustrated edition of Pride and Prejudice I’ve been on the fence about for a while, as well as a discounted Austen biography that includes more letters and pictures than blocks of text.

But the gold nugget? I found art books on two of my favorite painters in the discount section. I’d always wanted beautiful hardcover art books like these, and there they were, on the proverbial silver platter!

Wait. There’s more!

On a trip to Chicago, my friend showed me to yet another used bookstore in a thriving mall. Though space in my luggage was limited (read: nonexistent), I bought two old Doctor Who books that could fit in my jacket pocket.

Alas, they didn’t even take a second look at the size of my bag as I boarded the plane home. I could have stuffed so many more books in there!!

So, in indignation, I got more books with my birthday money when I got home. Isles of the Emberdark, of course, like any good Brandon Sanderson fan. Between Friends, since it was the last book I needed to complete my City Between collection.

And then yet more Jane Austen to complete my collection of the annotated versions by David M. Shapard. Don’t worry—I already have Pride and Prejudice!

I like Jane Austen just a little bit.

And so, dear reader, this is the story of how I ended up with 25 new (to me) books for my birthday.

(I’ve already devoured Isles of the Emberdark, so next on the list is Project Hail Mary. Anyone seen the movie? Read the book? I’m so excited to finally experience it!)

The only problem is I already have three stacks of books waiting to be shelved—an organizing day is definitely in order.

Do any of these books appeal to you? Have you read any of them?? What’s your favorite place to buy books???

(Please talk to me about books, bookish friends, or else I’m doomed to show off my new collection to every poor soul I meet.)

Happy reading!
—E.J.

Cover photo by Pickawood on Unsplash

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