Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover

Though let's face it- good cover art is what draws us to a book in the first place. When I browse the shelves, there are so many books that it would be physically impossible for me to check them all out. So instead I walk through the aisles and let certain covers pop out at me. I may be interested or I may not, but it all starts with that first glance.

It just goes to show the importance of a good book cover. In some cases, it alone may be someone's reason for buying/borrowing the book- regardless of whether they are even interested in the story.

I have no idea what draws me to certain covers. All I know is some grab my attention and some don't. I'm not sure there even is a logical reason. Is it a little sad if I get a little down when I find a book with an amazing cover, but a blurb that doesn't even begin to interest me? It's almost painful for me to put it back on the shelf. You wouldn't be interested, my mind tells me. But it's so pretty, it argues back. So I stand there like a creeper, staring at this one book, having an internal debate, until I can convince myself to put it back. Then repeat the process. I never denied that I have a problem. I call it an addiction for a reason.

How do you browse the thousands of titles at your local bookstore/library? Do you get distracted by the pretty or keep your cool? And admit it, have you ever bought a book just for the cover? In the end, we may not judge a book by its cover, but it's probably the reason we check it out.

Bookstore or Library?

An interesting discussion I recently had (with myself) was whether I would prefer to go to the bookstore or library. Both are basically the same thing, but with one you keep the books and pay money, and the other they are free, but need to be returned.

As a self-diagnosed book addict, I am certainly guilty of the 'blind buy'. I have bought many a book based on their blurbs alone. I'm not sure how many of them I would've happily bought if I'd borrowed them first.

Generally, I live by the motto of 'Read first, buy later'. Borrow a book from the library or a friend, and then if I like it I will allow myself to purchase it. The problem with this method? While neither a bookstore or a library is good for my wallet, libraries tend to hurt it more. How can that be so, you may ask, when everything is free?

Well, that's exactly the problem. When everything is gratis and my local library's book limit is an astounding 75 at a time, I'm bringing home a butt-tonne more books than I would it I visited my local store. When I shop for books I'm very aware of how much I'm spending on them, but when I can pick out as many as I want with no cost, that's exactly what I do. Hours later I emerge with as many books as I can carry (and a hope that maybe I won't enjoy most of them- therefore saving my budget).

For the most part, after a library visit I tend to end up with a painfully long list of books to buy, one that causes me to wince every time I look at it. I know I'll get plenty of use out of any book I buy. As a person who can happily read and re-read a book to the point of borderline obsession, there's no question of it gathering dust or causing 'buyer's regret'. At least not until I see my bank balance.

Which of course brings me back to square one. Where do I go for new books?

Which do you prefer to visit for your book fix- a bookstore or a library or maybe a friend's bookshelf?