Is it tacky to give used books for Xmas gifts? (Retro?)

from the used bookstore, not from my personal library...

that would be better

1984 specifically and a couple other classics and it seems silly to pay full price for them when I know I can get them used for a fraction. It wouldn't be her primary gift, just stocking stuffers.

don't really get what they are - I thought it was tiny stuff though

Now it's an iPod.

Can I be on your shopping list?

If it's a book I wanna read, I don't care how many times it's been read or by whom.



Long as they didn't pee on it or somethin'.

I've given used books as presents, when I found an out-of-print book I knew someone wanted. There are many, many old books I would love to get as a present!

I order books from Alibris.com to give for gifts :hi:

I would much rather have a nice used hardback book with an inscription from a friend, rather than a new paperback.

I read it once in a library. It is out of print now and hard to find.

www.bestbookbuys.com

:hi:

I encourage it. and I do it myself...

:hi:

RL

it's been a while since I've been to the big city :-P

:P


Nothing wrong with used books, especially older ones. My only reluctance in giving a used book would be if it's a book that came out in the last year and is still available in bookstores. Not to say that giving such a book used is bad, but I don't think I could do it.

it being tacky. If someone truly loves books, they will care more about the content and less about the age of the pages. Besides, you can get a lot more book for your money that way.

I have some used books myself and although they are good reads, some of them have pretty cool artwork on the cover and I like to display them!

EDIT: I did buy Lee Tannen's I loved Lucy from a bookstore in Hay-on-Wye. I started reading it and it was one of those freak of nature books... midway through the book I got the last chapter instead of the next chapter. Probably a publishing error.

I also bought Ambrose Bierce's The Devil's Dictionary there as well, it was a 1950s edition thus the artwork was pretty neat. A wee devil hanging off the title of the book!

as long as the books are in good shape. Also if the books have nice old hard covers, I'd prefer them over flimsy new paperback versions.

They were absolute hits and nobody thought they'd been screwn.

generally you can get nicer editions at a better price (and you can find out-of-print books). I've always thought that used books tend to have more character - although, I suspect I am romancizing a little. Just stay away from any obvious marks (names on inside cover, unless they are really cool, that sort of thing).

Then again, I generally order my Christmas gifts myself, and books (some of them used) are always a major chunk. Except this year. I need a new car stereo.

as long as you're pretty sure it's a book the person will want to read. The same goes for CDs. I wouldn't object to receiving such a gift myself, especially from someone of limited means.

and I asked ahead of time if they'd mind, since they know I'm pretty much broke all the time.

Also, I just like used books. I don't know why, really. Just do.

In fact I bought one yesterday, a Christmas gift for that same friend. :)

if you find the 1st edition of a classic book, especially a favorite of the person receiving the gift - then yes.

If you just happen to be cheap and buy something like "The DaVinci Code" for $1 at a used book store and try to gift it - then no.

I want to encourage my daughters to read more and especially read some good stuff -- 1984, Catcher in the Rye, Good Earth, To Kill a Mockingbird, etc. I could buy them new and pay about 10 bucks and be able to afford 1 or 2 each or I could buy them second-hand and buy many more. I am a fiend for used books and it's not uncommon for me to go to a charity used book sale and leave carrying a box filled with 20+ books. Heh, I used to volunteer at Planned Parenthood's annual book sale not just because I support Planned Parenthood but also in great part because I wanted to get there on the first night of the sale and scope out good books! I know I'm going straight to hell for that...

The whole cheap thing in regards to this is so that I can get more books for the kids and stay within my budget, not so much because I'm cheap and I don't want to spend money on their gifts. They ARE still kids and even though they love books they wouldn't want their entire Christmas gift to be books when they could get used books AND something else. Yeah, I'm totally going to hell...

A book is a precious gift. Matters not if it's used....
Wanting to share the great classics with your children is truly a gift from the heart....
Children receive way too much meaningless and expensive 'stuff' for Christmas.
I think this is nothing but heartwarming.....
These are awesome books, and you're a wonderful mother!


peace~

I love books and would never turn down a used one. However if you are that worried I would suggest maybe giving several hardcover ones at once, with the jackets removed. I know that's blasphemy to some but the books look quite elegant that way, and maybe can be used for display/decorating too by the gift-ee.

in family--should not be a problem
with some people a first edition gutenberg bible would be frowned on because it was "used"

thanks :)

We celebrate Christmas with gifts...We don't celebrate gifts with Christmas. :hug:

on the streets of new york are probably some of my favorite people in the city period. call me nerdy, but i am something of a bibliophile and i am slowly trying to amass every great classical work of fiction...well ever.

I have only been there once, in the dead of winter, and there weren't very many people selling things but I did hit the Strand and bought enough there to make my suitcases get tagged by the baggage holders as being extremely heavy :-D That place is heavenly.

seriously though, there are some books from used bookstores that I would love to get. I'll send you a list :rofl:

all the time. At least my brother does.

so HELL NO it is not tacky, IMHO. :hi:

auction on ebay for a vintage 1910 Gold Medal Flour cookbook that I plan to give my daughter for Christmas. It shows a little wear and tear, but all the pages are there. She is going to love it.