Today we are excited to host Terri of Second Run Reviews for a guest post! Welcome Terri!
Hi everyone! My name is Terri and I am “the director” in charge of Second Run Reviews. I’ve got a bit of a thing about theatre and books. I’m also, usually, about 5 years behind the latest fad. Or in case of Doctor Who–48 years behind the times. I also have a bit of a problem. I love buying books. I’m not talking about one-click mania. I have an e-Reader, I just don’t enjoy reading on it that much. I’m talking real, physical books. New, used…doesn’t really matter. Bonus points if I attended a reading or author event. And you see, my dear readers, that is where my real problem lies.
I live in an area that authors love to visit. And since I started my blog, I’ve increased the number of author events I’ve attended. In the past, I would only go to the event if I knew the author and had read something they wrote. Now I attend events featuring authors I haven’t even picked up a book for!
Sometimes a friend invites me along to an author event and I discover a new, fresh author with books I can’t wait to get my hands on. This happened a couple years ago when my friend, Jade, suggested I attend a reading for Heather Gudenkauf at my local Barnes and Noble. Gudenkauf is from Iowa and Jade knows good writers so I went. I enjoyed Gudenkauf’s reading and Q & A session so I picked up a copy of One Breath Away and had her sign it.
It took me 2 days to read One Breath Away. Two days. Most of the time, with work and other commitments, it takes me upwards of a week to read a book. You know I love a book when I read it that quickly. Needless to say, Jade was spot on and Gudenkauf is now on my must-read list whenever a new book comes out.
There is another stack of books on my bookshelf–my impulse buys. I attended a reading or author event and fell in love with the author like they were my first teenage crush. So I HAD to buy a book. Then I stood in line (FOR HOURS) to have it personalized. I went home, read the book and…didn’t like the book. Quelle horreur!
That’s right, dear readers, every one of those books is emblazoned with my name and a message from their author and I didn’t like what I read. And now I’m stuck. What do I do with those books?
I guess there are options right. One, I could just leave them on my shelf collecting dust and kick myself for buying them every time I clean. Two, there’s always Half Price Books. While the books are personalized, I could get cash back and buy a book or two I actually like. Three, I could leave them in The Little Libraries around town or in the “Leave a book, take a book” basket at Panera. Four, give them away over at Second Run Reviews.
All the options above are perfectly viable options. Numbers 2, 3 and 4 make my stomach churn. I feel guilty for not liking a book when I liked the author. And maybe that’s what I need to come to grips with. That I’m not slighting the author just because I didn’t like their book. It’s the book I didn’t like not the person. That and maybe hit the library after the next author event and save myself some cash and the guilt trip that sometimes goes along with it.
Are you a Book Buying Fool? Do you attend author events and feel compelled to buy a book? What do you do with books you buy and didn’t like? I look forward to reading your comments below.
Second Run Reviews By day, Terri M. LeBlanc is a project manager and software specialist. By night, she’s a reading wizard. Residing in eastern Iowa, in her spare time, she spends time with Jezebel, takes pictures and watches movies with her equally nerdy husband and adorable cats.
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[…] Will it last? Umm, probably not. I’m attending a convention this weekend. We all know that my biggest soft spot is author events. But I plan to, before I leave on Thursday, turn in my read books and magazines to Half Price Books […]
[…] Terri confesses she’s a book buying fool. […]
You are lucky then again I’m not at a point yet where I’m comfortable and can justify paying for an event plus the cost of books. But it would be cool though to meet fellow-bookworms and authors. It’s almost like a women’s conference from the photos I’ve seen
Braine Talk Supe recently posted…Suped Up! Death Takes A Holiday + High Moon by Jennifer Harlow
I’ve been lucky all of these events have been free…except for my incessant need to buy a book. 🙂
Check your local library, bookstores, colleges and universities. They often hold these types of events for free.
Terri M. LeBlanc recently posted…Rewind Review #04: One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf
So many amazing authors come to our big city that it is impossible to buy all their books and get them signed. I’ve had to be very choosy lately, and I’ve even attended events where I didn’t get any books to be signed, I just wanted to hear the Q&A.
Guess who is town tonight?! Melissa Gilbert! Yes, Half Pint is in town and I’m going just to grab a couple books as holiday gifts.
Sorry to my sister who probably read this post. Your Christmas gift isn’t going to be much of a surprise.
Terri M. LeBlanc recently posted…Book Review #36: Avery by Charlotte McConaghy
I have always wondered how would I behave if I got to live in area where authors tend to visit. I mean I’d go wild there, girl. So I totally understand you here. Still I’m sure that you enjoy at those events and I love to read about them 😉 Great guest post, Terri 🙂
Tanja recently posted…Bookish Problems #9 – Reading and music
My husband tagged along to a reading last week. John Scalzi was in town and my husband bought the book. 🙂 So I’m off the hook for last week’s book buy.
Thanks for stopping by, Tanja.
Terri M. LeBlanc recently posted…A Note from the Director: Special Guest Post
Hi Terri, it’s great that you live in an area that authors love to visit! Unfortunately I don’t get to go to many author events, but I would love to. I used to have a book buying “problem”, but for a couple of years now, I’ve been trying to control that urge to buy new books. Great post!
Rosa @ Bookish Findings recently posted…20 Book Cakes You Will Absolutely Adore
Hi Rosa! I think it’s going to be a New Year’s Resolution of mine to try and not buy any books next year. I’m closing in on 50 books read and I seriously wonder what it would be like to get all my eBooks and physical books read.
Thanks for stopping by!
Terri M. LeBlanc recently posted…Rewind Review #04: One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf
ooohh Terri, this thought is intriguing to me… I have been contemplating the same exact thing lately… Maybe we should do some sort of challenge or something…I would love to actually read all of my physicall book for sure… ebooks would be nice as well… what a way to get organized…. LETS DO IT!!!! haha
I’m in! Let’s do it. People are more successful when they have support, right?
Terri M. LeBlanc recently posted…Scenic Sundays #02: Fall Leaves and Rob Reiner
RIGHT!!!! I am still brainstorming ideas for this…
Thanks for allowing me a chance to have an article on your blog, Rose and Julie.
Terri M. LeBlanc recently posted…Rewind Review #04: One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf
ok so question… the stack of books pictured… are these the ACTUAL books you had signed, read and then didn’t like? I see On The Island in there…. tsk tsk tsk,,, (jk) I really enjoyed that book.
I liked On the Island until that very last epilogue or whatever she called it. That seemed so tacked on and unnecessary. And as a fan of Lost, I think I was looking for a bit more depth in the character development.
Did you know that Tracey is from Iowa?! She spoke at my local Barnes & Noble.
Terri M. LeBlanc recently posted…Rewind Review #04: One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf
I did not know that. Small world!