Seeking a good home: Books

So, we've kind of got this recession going on, and I don't know anyone who hasn't felt it, but add the book business to the list of those treading water. As this industry is obviously close to my heart, I'd like to make a plea--buy books. Please buy books. I don't mean mine, just any. If you aren't already, consider becoming that person who only gives books as gifts. Birthdays, holidays, whatever.

As December approaches, fill up your shopping list with books. And consider buying those at your local bookstore. Bookstores are going out of business, and we can't have that. For those of you who are hoping to be published writers one day, you especially have an interest in keeping bookstores alive. Without them, debut writers get lost. Without booksellers who hand sell, readers won't discover unknown authors. And without a book industry, known and unknown writers alike get lost.

Buy books. And God bless us, every one.

p.s. If after buying all those books, you have another $88 dollars to spare, 88 Bikes is one of our family's favorite new traditions for the holidays.

Comments

[nikkimantyla.wordpress.com]

I second that motion! Books for everyone for Christmas! Is there really a better gift? I think not!

[Ali]

I love to get books for gifts so I think I will give out books for presents this holiday season!

[Sarah Miller]

AMEN!

[Karen]

Amen to bringing in the new year with books instead of tv :)

[Katie-wa]

My birthday list consists of one thing: Books. Pretty awesome. They're the only things worth my money right now, LOL.

[tawnya]

Here, here! As someone who HOPES to see my book in our cute little local store, I'm doing my part!

[Pussreboots]

I buy books for the holidays, birthdays and year round for friends, family and myself. It is the one form of entertainment I still splurge on. Actually one of your books is on my shopping list. :)

[Beth S.]

I'm also someone who puts books on my birthday and Christmas list.

[Christen]

I buy books, and I'll KEEP buying books! :D

[Heather Z.]

Yes, I agree completely. But have you heard something in particular, or is this just a general shout out as a whole?

[Georgie]

I wish I could buy books. For now I pester the librarians with requests for new ones. They seem to like the ones I pick out for them. :)

[Shannon M.]

I love this post!

I showed it to my husband because he's always complaining that I buy too many books (not because of financial reasons--I have SERIOUS book storage issues. There are teetering stacks everywhere...drives him crazy). But I told him, "see Shannon Hale says I need to buy books. I'm not just buying them for my own selfish pleasure--I'm saving a struggling industry."

I don't think he was as thrilled with this post as I was. Eh well, I put up with his Star Wars Action figures. It's give and take. :)

[myrna]

So far, the only thing I've gotten my daughter for her birthday (next week) is a stack of books, but she'd rather have that than anything else. She's especially going to be excited about a certain personalized copy of Rapunzel's Revenge. *wink wink*

My sister-in-law says she hasn't gotten to read her copy of Rapunzel's Revenge because her students are all fighting over it.

I almost always give books for presents, but thanks for reminding me to shop at our local bookstore. I haven't been in for a few months.

[Lucy]

Just a shout-out for libraries-- Support your library so THEY can buy more books too!

We just moved to Spain and I had to give away loads and loads of books before we moved. Hundreds, actually. I realized something. I don't need a lot of storage space for books. I can buy a book, read it, and then give it away! Easy as that.

I read somewhere, (maybe Peggy Noonan of the WSJ?) that the economic crisis could eventually have the opposite effect on reading and book sales. She thought it would make people realize what is really important in life: reading books. Here's hoping.

[Raejeanr]

We have a cute poem we use for gift giving for our kids:

Something they want
Something they need
Something wear and
Something to read!

Sometimes they also choose books for each other. A couple of my kiddos usually only have books on their wish list :)

[Chanin]

And we must remember that for Christmas---sending a book can be shipped via media mail. So, send books. It is cheap to ship!!!

[Jen]

Thanks for this reminder and for the bikes link. We were thinking of doing something like that for my parents for Christmas!

[Chelsea]

What better to spend money on then books?

[twitter.com/jessiepoet]

i should send this to all the people who constantly want to find something besides books to buy me! all i want are books! and the occasional piece of chocolate :)

[Victoria McDaniel]

For a little while there, it was books or food... and silly me, I had to choose food (it seems in poor taste to let the kids go hungry so I can have my hardcover fix). But last week I had a few extra dollars, and I splurged. "The Actor & the Housewife," and "Forest Born." I am busily trying to finish a Christmas music CD... (forcing myself myself to put in about 50-hour weeks, since my deadline is in about three weeks!) but I have been rewarding myself with a little before-bed reading, and I wanted to tell you how much I love The Actor and the Housewife. I am surprised to find that I identify so closely with the character and the situation! I am ignoring my work for a half hour this morning so that I can read the last 20 pages... thank you ever so, for the little respite:)

[Andrea H.]

You don't have to twist my arm! I'll take any excuse to buy more books. But in all seriousness, I do appreciate the reminder to buy at local bookstores. I live in a rural town with no bookstores around, so I do most of my book shopping online. One of the things I miss most about living in SLC is being able to visit cute little non-chain bookstores. I am going to make that a priority the next time I'm visiting Utah. I agree that it really is so important.

Also, thanks for the info about 88 Bikes. I think my kids would love doing something like that.

[Enna Isilee]

Wahoo! I totally agree! I spent $100 on books last week! Just... don't tell my mom. I owe her money. ;)

[Libbi]

Thank you! My darling mother always asks me why I buy books instead of borrowing them from the library or from friends. And although my prior reason was because I love seeing the book on my bookshelf, shining spine looking back merrily at me whenever I happen to glance at it, now I have another reason, one a confused mother who never understood why her daughter would rather get a B&N gift certificate than an American Eagle gift certificate, can understand! Man, typing run- on sentences sure leaves you out of breath. Whew. And people- if you haven't read The Outsiders, you are seriously missing out on life. Stay gold, ponyboy... Sorry. That was random. But my posts are always random. mmm hmmm.

[Je Reve]

So far, everyone on my Christmas list is getting books. Except for my aunt. She's getting a coffee mug with a squirrel on it, because she has a big porch and all of the contraptions for the squirrels to get peanuts out of containers...

I'm hoping to get books...

Thanks for the post! I'll be sure to buy from indies whenever I can!

[Emma Hoke]

On the contrary, I buy WAY too many books. At least my mom says so- I don't believe it. There's something about a new book thats different from a library copy or borrowed one. I looovvee boookkss. Unfortunatly, I'm broke, but all I want for Christmas is books, so it works out.

[Kathryn Cooper]

I am so one of those moms. Anytime my sons get invited to a birthday party I give books as the gift. Thanks for the reminder! I have a party to go to this week! Time to shop.

[Dr. Sallie N. Cheinsteen]

I need books. More than food. And that's saying a lot. Book stores, here I come, armed with a wallet that doesn't look at price tags!

P.S. I really like that every entry has this nifty color thing by their name. The site is beautifully colorful now, and it makes me feel special.

[jenelcc]

I'm with the gang here...if we're too broke to buy them (Though I did buy Forest Born :) does asking for them count?

[Shannon Morris]

Finally something I can be guilt free about!!! Just last week I bought my daughter 8 books, my son 3 and myself 2- one of which was Forest Born. Can't wait to read it but I have to finish Goose Girl (again) for our book club. I want it all fresh in my mind again. Next month we are reading Count of Monte Cristo- can't find it, though. Any suggestions? Does Kings English carry it?

[Sandra]

I had to smile when I read this post. Have you seen "Confessions of a Shopaholic?" That's me and books-if I were slightly less responsible. If there's anything that I would spend money on its books. I've been on a book buying moratorium to pay for a bathroom remodel, but alas, we got a book club flyer and I went a little crazy stocking my daughters' bookshelf. There's nothing better than a new book. On a completely unrelated note... I am dying to know how your praying mantis experiment work. Did they keep the bugs away? Did anyone get bitten? I know they can be territorial. I love praying mantises and was thinking about trying that next year if it worked.

[Sara]

Books are mine and my husband's weakness. We can cut back on everything, except books! In fact, my entire Christmas list this year is books! So we'll be buying, that's for sure! I bought 5 of my sisters-in-law Austenland for Christmas (which you signed, thank you!!).

[Frogster]

I think my favorite Christmas present ever was my Barnes and Noble membership card.....so of course any excuse to buy more books is a good excuse. Now if I just had more room.....

[Anne Holman]

Thank you Shannon for your lovely post. Books make the world a better place for everyone!

[Marcy]

Yes! I'm an employee at an independent bookstore, the Little Old Bookshop (6708 Greenleaf Ave. Whittier, CA for anyone who lives anywhere near Whittier -- it's between Philadelphia and Bailey, we sell both new and used books), and speaking for everyone who works here and for the owner, please, help keep our store in business! And not just our store, but other stores like it across the country (although... especially our store, please?), and everyone involved in the industry, from... oh, I don't know, a secretary in publishing to the actual authors themselves. It takes a lot to put those books in your hands, and libraries alone wouldn't be enough to support it or pay those well-deserving authors the tiny bit they're paid. And as for me, well, I need to get a "real" job, one that will actually use my college degree (and pay more!), but for now, people buying books helps me keep the job I have, and food on the table!

Since I'm poor, I especially loved Shannon M.'s comment above, "But I told him, 'see Shannon Hale says I need to buy books. I'm not just buying them for my own selfish pleasure--I'm saving a struggling industry.'" So true! It almost makes me feel guilty for using my employee discount and used book allowance!... but not quite. =) And at the same time, when I do have to check out a book from a library, apparently I'm helping the library to buy more books! It's a win-win situation.

Yep, I'll have to forward this blog post to everyone who's ever asked me to put more than just books on my wish lists. =)

[Mary@The Sweet Bookshelf]

I handed my Christmas list to my hubby, and he questioned me when all I wanted were books. It's the perfect gift!!

I'm also donating books to my library in Scotland this Christmas. Books I have already enjoyed and want to share with others. I agree! Buy books!

[Jenny]

I like to own books. Even if I don't read them, I just like them stacked beside my bed. We move a lot and tend not to unpack 27 boxes. These 27 boxes contain books. The number of boxes increases with each move. I have number 28 full already, and number 29 is empty because the books are all beside my bed in a pile as high as my nite stand. Thank you for being a proponent of books.

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