Do you cheat and peek at the ends of books? (Come on, be honest.)
If it’s a really good book and I don’t have enough time to finish it exactly before wherever it is I ought to be–then I’ll read the very last page. Not the last chapter, just the last page. Mostly, I’m looking for my favorite names (to be sure they all lived through the book) and a funny send-off line or so. I don’t really care who did it/who did what, but I love being able to keep the complete ‘story’ in my head until I have time to read it all the way through.
If it’s a really bad book, or I’m just bored with it. I’ll read the last page, then the last chapter and then read backwards if I feel like figuring stuff out. Otherwise, I’ll read the end and just leave it be.
All other things being equal–do you prefer used books? Or new books? (The physical speciman, that is, not the title.) Does your preference differentiate between a standard kind of used book, and a pristine, leather-bound copy?
New! I love the smell and feel of new books. I’ve been known to buy and entire short series upon its debut–simply because I didn’t want to wait for it at the library or order it off of amazon. If a used book is in fairly decent condition for an equally decent price, then I’ll buy it. I hate buying books that have marks or highlighting inside–maybe it’s a student thing–but it drives me nuts! I’m liable to buy it and trade it or return it if I can’t stand it. I don’t like creased pages either or torn covers. If I can repair a book, I’ll repair it as best as I can and keep it, otherwise–it’s out! I tend to collect my books so I want them in good condition and precisely the way I like them–because I’ll have it for awhile. It also means I don’t lend them. At all. Ever.
Simply speaking–I treat my books like chocolate. With great care before I devour them immediately–at which point, they are mine–all mine. 😛
