Used and Rare
Used and Rare: Travels in the Book World by Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone was recommended to me on both Jim’s and Roger’s lists of books for me to read. I ordered it from the library and picked it up yesterday and spent last night and today reading it.
The Goldstone’s first stumbled upon the world of collecting books when they placed a bet on whether they could only spend $40 or less on each other’s birthday presents. When she bought a $10 copy of War and Peace, they got their first taste of used and rare books. The book follows their first journeys into smaller, dusty, bookcase-filled converted barns all the way to a “upscale” book auction in New York City. While a few reviewers on Amazon.com thought the Goldstone’s were rather harsh in their critique (or their making fun of) book dealers, I didn’t pick up on that; rather, I enjoyed their sense of humor throughout the book and felt the only people they “put down” were themselves. The characters they meet are well-described and I felt as though I had met them too!
So, thanks, Roger and Jim, for the suggestion! Now, point me to the nearest used bookstore!
I rated this book a 9.
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December 31st, 2006 at 1:59 am
December 31st, 2006 at 2:00 am
December 31st, 2006 at 7:14 pm
If you’re interested, the Goldstones wrote two sequels to this book: Slightly Chipped and Warmly Inscribed (and there may be another one or two). I didn’t enjoy them nearly as much as I did Used and Rare.
Nancy Goldstone also wrote two mediocre mysteries: Mommy and the Murder and Mommy and the Money.