[nick1689]

Ive been looking around the forums lately and noticing that most people talk about how they order their books. Now i dont know if im really cheap, i may be, but i always borrow the books i read from the library. I havent bought one book. So i was just wondering what everybody does, buy their books or borrow them from a library? Are there any out there that borrow their books? Am i the only cheapo!!???!? (i hope not...)

:D

[JBI]

I borrow if the book isn't available in paperback. Also I borrow all my classics, and all my non-fiction/mythology books. As well, if it is a big author I will try to borrow books simply because publishers like TOR charge an arm and a leg for a novel.

When you get to the point where you are reading 300+ pages a day, buying books takes up too much of ones paycheck.

[Beleg]

Library all the way. :)

[Gildor]

I can't bring myself to borrow, its not a cost factor, I just have to own the book I read.

Of course academically I make an exception, for University Couse books and literature I loan them out as they tend to be ultra expensive.

[Anomander1]

I buy, not necessarily new though.

I also have to own the book I read. For me it's an achievement and often I feel proud of (good) books i've read.

Also, by having my fave book on my shelf I always catch glance of the titles and the whole story comes flooding back to me on a day to day basis and the story stays fresh (books that I don't own I often forget about).

[CrazyReader]

Some books I buy and some books I borrow from the library. I think I'm gonna end up buying lots more this year than borrow. Cause when I read library books I feel bad about not reading all the books I actually bought!! And I just hate returning a good book back to the library. :o

[Miriamele]

I used to buy everything. Stuffed bookshelves are a lovely sight. These days, however, I don't have the money to buy very many books. So I borrow a lot of stuff from the library. Same goes with the books I read with my kids--a lot of them come from the library.

I still buy some books, but only ones that I know I will like. If I'm the least bit unsure about a book, I don't want to spend money on it so I just borrow it.

[Evil Agent]

I used to borrow almost everything, especially as a teenager. As I hit my 20's, I started buying more and more. Mainly because A) sometimes its hard to find certain books in the library, and I love the convenience of just taking it off my shelf, B) the books that I truly love are books that I will want to re-read sometime in the future.

[FuzzBunneh]

Hehe.. the eternal debate.

I tend to prefer owning the books I've read - having something material to associate the stories to, with a physical and tangible existence, and seperate from the one contained in the memories, seems to reinforce the intimacy and relationship that exists between me and the story. I don't know if that's clear, the idea is pretty murky in my head to begin with and putting it into words isn't the easiest of tasks. I don't, however, have any problem borrowing non-fiction books, classics, or those that I chose to read just so I can say I've read them. In the end I think it all boils down to the relationship you have, or wish to have, to a particular story.

I think my dislike for reading battered books has a lot in common with my preference for buying.

I'm a student, and most of the money I spend is on books, eating japanese food and photography gear. I must say that I can't quite rid myself of the impression that I'm wasting my money buying books.. most of what I get is in paperback form :(

[AuntiePam]

I haven't been to a library in years. I don't like having to return the books by a certain time.

I don't have a lot of disposable income, but much of what I do have goes for books. I buy used at Amazon and ABE when I can find a reasonably priced copy. The only problem with that is so many sellers don't give a good description of the book. "May have highlighting"? I'll pass on that one, even if it's only a penny book. :)