Comments on: Don’t Support Authors

By: 3m

3m — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:12:46 +0000

Excellent post! I do buy new books occasionally, like Home by Marilynne Robinson or Kafka on the Shore by Murakami and others that I know for certain that I will enjoy. Most, though, I get through the library, library book sales, used bookstores, pbs, or bookmooch. I also feel I am supporting authors through my reviews. 3m’s latest blog post:Music Munday 6.8.09 (Narnia)

By: Amy @ My Friend Amy

Amy @ My Friend Amy — Mon, 25 May 2009 17:49:53 +0000

I agree that it keeps reading accessible which is necessary for a literate society, but I do encourage that if you CAN afford to buy books full price but don't, that you at least consider doing it sometimes. The people who pay full price make it possible for others to buy secondhand. It's a symbiotic relationship and it's helpful to think we can all give back. I also don't consider it throwing my money away as Bethany put it, I consider it an investment in the future of publishing, literacy and supporting midlist authors. In fact, it would seem that most people who don't buy new only buy new when it's a big name author. I would really encourage you if you have the money to buy new when it's a midlist author, not a best-selling author. Many of these authors are losing opportunities and getting their contracts canceled. Why not help out a little IF YOU CAN. I also buy used on occasion so I'm not against it at all. But I do think more people could actually afford to then do. and FWIW, the lack of available reading resources, i.e. used books is my biggest concern with the new push for digital resources. Amy @ My Friend Amy’s latest blog post:Interview with Logan and Noah Miller

By: karen

karen — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:10:20 +0000

agreed. karen’s latest blog post:word: clapotis

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 22 May 2009 15:58:55 +0000

Perhaps this leads us to a new formula, then:

Before acquiring a book, find out whether the author is still alive.
– If they are alive, buy new.
– If they aren’t alive, buy used or use the library.

By: glumpuddle

glumpuddle — Thu, 21 May 2009 20:49:00 +0000

I think it might be important to note that the arguments we’ve all put forward on behalf of used & library books (cheap and free) vs. new books are about economics. As an author, I’ve worked hard to write a book – but a living wage for that work are non-existent. As a general rule it isn’t authors who make big bucks off books – it is publishers and re-sellers. While everyone might not have equal access, not every one gets a living wage for their work… so I’m afraid I’m still in theoretical favour of buying so authors get something out of it. Mostly.

By: Anna

Anna — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:46:24 +0000

Great post, and I agree. I buy new books usually when I have a gift certificate or they're on sale. Otherwise it's the library. And I get really excited about library sales. Anna’s latest blog post:PRINCESS KATIE AND THE SILVER PONY by Vivian French

By: susan

susan — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:45:46 +0000

Amen, Christine! I run a community library. And I don’t have deep pockets. In fact, they are empty more often than not. My community of readers have less than I do. If I hadn’t taken on the library, fewer of my girls would be reading now and the community would not be exposed to the world of reading. I could not have filled our libraries with books if I relied on donors and new book purchases alone. The truth is as generous as donors are, I have put more books on the shelves by scouring library sales, book trading sites and buying used books. Does reading have to reduced to dollars, too?

I am really annoyed at how we forget that all people do not have equal access, that reading used to be reserved for the privilege and that the majority was purposely kept illiterate. Some of us need to remember every parent can neither read or purchase new books. Libraries and use book sales allows more of us to have access to books and they promote a culture of literacy.

And many of us discover new authors and then do buy their new books because we discovered their work in libraries and used bookstores. And let’s not forget that bookstores carry what is new, what sells and what is popular. Without libraries and used bookstores, thousands of books that are not current but good reads would not be read. There are authors that I have promoted in a ton of ways beyond buying their new book. For example, I have asked my library to buy the book and I haven’t been turned down yet. I blog about library books and others have bought those books because I promoted it on my blog.

Some of us read 100 plus books a year. If I read only what I could buy, cut that by eighty percent. Given the economy and how families are struggling to make ends meet, shame on those of you for guilt tripping those of us who love reading but we can’t afford to walk into a bookstore just because we feel like it.

And let me say it again, everyone does not have equal access to books.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Thu, 21 May 2009 01:12:10 +0000

Great post! I think local libraries are such a valuable resource, and try to support mine however I can. I certainly love to spend time (and $$!) in a bookstore, but currently don't have the resources to feed my reading habit solely by what I could purchase new. And, honestly, I just like the idea of a used book - someone else read it first, and now it's my turn to care for it a while, perhaps later passing it on again to a new owner - each book has a history, and that's part of the charm, for me. Elizabeth’s latest blog post:The Nonfiction Files

By: zibilee

zibilee — Wed, 20 May 2009 21:25:43 +0000

I buy both new and used books, but I buy used more often than not because nowadays books aren't cheap. You make a valid point about just how far your dollar stretches in a big box store, and it is mostly for that reason that I buy my books from a discounted source. I agree with the others that say I support authors in many other ways, from blogging about a great book, to talking about it to whoever will listen, to sending e-mails letting an author know that their book was really appreciated. Great topic for discussion, btw. zibilee’s latest blog post:Spiced: A Pastry Chef's True Story of Trials by Fire, After-Hours Exploits, and What Really Goes On in the Kitchen by Dalia Jurgensen - 288 pgs

By: Kristen M.

Kristen M. — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:20:34 +0000

When I have the money to buy new books, I do. When I don't have disposable funds or when I'm not sure about an author or title, I go to the library. It's as simple as that. I plan to keep reading however I can! Kristen M.’s latest blog post:New Release: Behold, Here's Poison