Brought to Book

I'm a great lover of books - all sorts of book, and always have a novel on the go to read before going to sleep.  I'm pretty predictable when it comes to 'bedtime reading', anything under the genre of crime / thriller is my preference.  I particulary like anything by Ruth Rendell (or her pseudonym Barbara Vine), Nicci French, Margaret Yorke, Patrick Redmond, Stephen Booth, Minette Walters - the usual suspects in British crime writing.  Sometimes I become very exotic and even read the American writers Patricia Cornwall and Karin Slaughter (what a fitting name for a crime novelist!!). 

Now I can get through two or so of these books a week which would add up to a lot of dosh if I had to buy the books new.  However, I can honestly say I can't remember when I last bought a new book for myself.  I do buy new books for presents for other people and most Christmas or birthdays I am given at least one new book as a present.  Lately these have been some rather wonderful craft books given by my mother, who knows just what I like in the way of books.  But to feed my crime / thriller habit I buy all my books second hand, usually in charity shops (50p is top dollar for even a hardback book in my local charity shop).   

The other great place for pre-read books is Greenmetropolis (www.greenmetropolis.com).  You can list your used books on their site and if one sells you get £3.00 credited to your account.  You can either have this money transferred to your bank account or use it to buy another book from their site.  If you buy a book it usually costs £3.75 (though some books can be a bit more expensive if they are hardbacks or a particularly heavy paperback), and Greenmetropolis give 5p from every sale to the Woodland Trust to help them plant and conserve trees.  I really like the philosophy of Greenmetropolis because they actively encourage the recycling of books and the planting of trees, if you haven't come across their site before do have a look. 

Comments

[Denise]

Hi Elizabeth Thanks for visiting my blog and for your comments. I agree there is no need to buy new books - except possibly craft books (but as you say, they can be on your Christmas and birthday list and other people can buy them for you!). I get the majority of my books from charity shops, though the library is good if I want something in particular, I also swop with friends at work etc and that way get to read other people's favourite writers. I am reading the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books by Alexander McCall Smith at the moment - a bit less harrowing than Karin Slaughter! Have you read any of Val McDermid's books? They'll keep you awake at night!!!! I'll be looking in again soon. Take care. Denise