Exceedingly Mundane

If there’s one thing I love, it’s books. Books and cooking, as Dianne talks about in her blog, Unfinished Work. And here she is, posting this great set of questions that you know I just have to answer! Thanks Dianne!

1. Where do you most often buy your books? Online? Secondhand stores? Big name bookstores? Various places – online at usually Amazon.com and locally at library sales and bookstores. I have a Borders Reward card, so I like to buy there, but I’ve also been known not to leave Barnes and Noble empty handed! I prefer to get books as gifts and get them from the library though, being the frugal person that I am 🙂

2. If you buy online, which do you prefer – B&N or Amazon.com? Ebay? Christianbook.com? or elsewhere? Oops, answered that above. Usually Amazon.com. Love their wish list feature and I also like reading the reviews there.

3. Do you put your name in your books? If so, are you a bookplate or stamp person? I only put my name in books if I loan them out, or if they are gifts from someone. I write in the inside cover or inside front page who gave it to me and what holiday and year. I have never used a bookplate or stamp, just my own handwriting.

4. How do you feel about loaning books to others? I am a bit possessive of my books and prefer to only loan them to family or friends, when I know I will get them back. I don’t like loaning them out and losing them. That’s happened once before, years ago, with a book that I loved, a first edition of an author I like to read, and I never got it back. Once bitten, twice shy.

5. Do you highlight or mark your books as you read? Nope, I don’t mark in my books in any way.

6. How often do you visit your local library? Regularly. Usually every couple of weeks.

7. Do you collect any certain kind of book? No, I mostly read women’s fiction and Christian fiction, and I do like to get books by certain authors I know and like. But I don’t really collect any, per se.

8. What do you do when you’re done with a book and no longer want it? Usually hang on to it! As I said, I’m a bit possessive about my books. If they are paperback or I didn’t really enjoy them, I will put them in a garage sale or donate them somewhere. My hardbacks and paperbacks by authors I really enjoy stay with me in my bookshelves. 🙂

9. Do you keep a list of or catalog the books you own? No, but I want to do this. We have a system like this for our DVD collection and I’ve been *meaning* to do this for my books. One of those projects on my never-ending to-do list.

10. Any other weird book habits you’d like to share? Hmm, that I don’t mar my books in any way. I don’t write in them or turn down the corners. It’s only bookmarks for me! I don’t like to bend the spine too much, I don’t like to bend the paper jacket/cover over to mark a page, etc. I’m a little particular about how I care for my books!

Okay, so let’s hear it from you other book lovers!

I won’t tag anyone in particular, but I’d love if you would play along, and thanks again to Dianne for this great meme!