Musing Monday

Today's Musing Monday asks the questions:

How has the economy impacted your book buying? Do you think it will change the reading and book-buying habits of the country. Will it increase your library visits? Will it make you wait for the paperback edition instead of buying the hardcover?

Let me start by saying, I am already a heavy library user. I currently do weekly book reviews for my local public library, so it is not unusual for me to check out 5 to 8 books every week. Although I sometimes miss out on reading the "latest" best seller until months down the road, I am loyal to and support my library.

That being said, for the past 5 years, I rarely buy brand-new books, choosing instead to buy used books through Amazon, eBay, or library sales. Of course, there are exceptions to that rule ...

I have several authors that I truly adore, so I must have their hardcover books for my collection: Laurell K. Hamilton, Stephen King, Bobbie Ann Mason, and Silas House, just to name a few. These are books I plan to keep, and I ocassionally like to go back and re-read them. I recently added Stephenie Meyer to that list; even though I read her books first through the library, I enjoyed them so much, that I had to own the hardcovers.

I have never been a fan of paperback books, although many new authors I read are only published in paperback. If I have a choice between hardcover and paperback, I will choose the hardcover every time. The main reason I don't like paperbacks is because the printing is so small, and the older I get, the harder it is for me to read small print - even with my glasses on.

However, a funny thing has happened to me over this past year. I started a book review blog back in the spring - mainly to remind myself of books that I've read and enjoyed. As more people started to visit my book review blog, I started to receive review copies of books in the mail to read and review. Now, it is not unusual for me to receive anywhere from 5 to 12 books every week. My TBR pile is growing by leaps and bounds - almost to the point that I'll have people waiting months instead of weeks for me to post a review. Because I am a book whore, I love and treasure these books and my home library continues to grow, without me having to spend a dime!

One word about eBooks and the new Amazon Kindle: although I think it is wonderful that you can store books like an MP3 player, for me, nothing will change the sensation of holding that book in my hands, feeling the pages and smelling that sweet aroma of paper. Books may be a thing of the past in a distent future, but they are something I will always cherish.

Visit my book blog at Bobbi's Book Nook.