This week: You and Your Books Edited by: Kit  
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Do you like eBooks or physical copies? Hardbacks or paperbacks? New or second-hand?
What is the most treasured book in your collection? What makes it so special?
This week's Drama Newsletter is all about you and your books.
Kit |
Where do you buy your books? Do you purchase them online, or do you prefer to browse a book shop? Do you like eBooks or physical copies? Hardbacks or paperbacks? New or second-hand?
It’s never been easier to access books. Once upon a time, they were rare and extremely expensive. Now you can go to the library, or pick up a second-hand paperback for a pound and start your own collection. If you lack the space, or like to carry your own library with you, eReaders are a perfect solution. They’re also great for people with visual impairments who struggle with certain font types and sizes, as these can be adjusted.
I love my physical novels. I love looking around my bookshelves, at all those literary journeys I’ve been on. I have had to downsize my collection, though. I had to choose which books to keep and which to donate before my move to Scotland. It wasn’t easy to let go of those books. To decide which ones I couldn’t do without, and which should go on to brighten someone else’s day. But it was necessary. Also, my eyes aren’t what they used to be and some font sizes are too small for me now to make for a comfortable read. Hardback novels tend to have a larger font, with better spacing, so I’ve began to replace my best-loved paperbacks with hardback copies.
I also have an eReader. It’s not my preferred method of reading – I still love to curl up with a physical novel. It is, however, convenient. I can take it with me on journeys, and it’s lighter to hold when an old hand injury acts up. It is also a great way to discover up-and-coming authors. It’s easier to give someone’s work a go for a couple of bucks, without their work taking up shelf space, than buying something I might not like and having to find a new home for it afterwards. If I end up truly loving a novel and there is a physical version available, I can always purchase it later.
That does mean that I purchase most of the books I read online. I live in a rural area, miles away from the nearest shops, so online shopping is pretty much a must for me. Last weekend, though, I rediscovered the joys of wandering around book stores. My husband and I went to Wigtown, a place in Scotland known for its book shops and independent artists. It’s a book lovers' paradise!
One of the shops I visited, called The Book Shop (yes, really), has around 100,000 books to explore, spread over several rooms with comfy seats and tables. The owner of The Book Shop, Shaun Bythell, is an author himself, and you can get signed copies of his work there at no extra cost. I purchased his The Diary of a Bookseller – it looks like a fun read.
There was a café selling nice food, and lovely cakes, and books written by women and for women. I fell in love with a beautiful edition of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park. It has a lovely cover, and shiny, golden edges, and it feels like pure luxury – though it only cost £20.
Beautiful editions are a trend I am fully on board with. Wonderful covers, great art, sprayed edges… I have the most magnificent illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. It’s a joy to look through. Unfortunately, I got to Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing too late to get my hands on the special editions with the sprayed edges – those dragons look so cool! My sister was fortunate enough to get the Dutch special editions and boy am I envious – I’m having no such luck with the English versions. Beautiful editions can really add to the fun of collecting books. They’re also a good incentive for those who want a physical copy of their favourite eBooks – they make it worth purchasing the same book twice.
In addition to beautiful editions I have some signed novels in my collection. Their authors include John Grisham, Michael Connelly, Sophie Kinsella, Raymond E. Feist, Miriam Margoyles, Brent Spiner and TJ Klune. If you cannot get a novel signed in person, some care must be taken to ensure the authenticity of the autograph. There are people on sites like Ebay who sell fake autographs. They may offer a ‘certificate of authenticity’, but those are meaningless – if they’re going to fake an autograph they can fake a piece of paper saying ‘no, it’s really real’ as well. A better way of buying signed copies is through well-respected bookstores and publishers. Here in the UK, stores such as Waterstones and Forbidden Planet sell signed novels for very reasonable prices. They’ll only have a limited amount available, so it does take keeping an eye out, but it’s worth it if it’s something you’ll enjoy having on your shelves.
If you love Game of Thrones, by the way, or George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels, it’s worth knowing that he has his own bookshop where you can purchase signed copies of his work. The prices are reasonable. Unfortunately, shipping costs to the UK are too high for me to secure a copy, but if you’re in the States it’s worth a look.
For me, then, in the end, it’s a mixture of the physical and the digital. A nice balance that keeps me reading. We truly live in a wonderful age when it comes to the written word.
Kit
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The Drama Newsletter Team |
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Drama: April 30, 2025 Issue [#13103]
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