Thursday, July 17, 2008

Booking Through Thursday: Vacation Spots

This week's BTT topic:

Do you buy books while on vacation/holiday?
Do you have favorite bookstores that you only get to visit while away on a trip?
What/Where are they?

Do I buy books while on vacation/holiday? Probably not as much as I used to. I think that's just a result of mostly vacationing where the bookstores are not so plentiful. But there's also the fact that our library has gotten so huge we've had to put half of it in storage – that could have something to do with it. I'm a lot more selective these days about the books I bring home.

Still, if there's a bookstore in my general vicinity, I can be relied upon to browse. So yes, sometimes I do buy books while on a trip. Generally, while I'm browsing and buying, the hubby is standing by, hands in pockets, reciting his current mantra about looming retirement and having to pack and move all those books. Which can really put a damper on one's browsing enjoyment.

Favorite stores? There really aren't any I can think of that I only visit while I'm traveling. I suppose the Strand Bookstore in NYC would be one – but, truthfully, even though I love it, we really hardly ever go there when we're in New York. And one of my all-time favorite bookstores is Blackwell's in Oxford, but it's been something like 20 years since I set foot in that one (although I visit their online store occasionally).

Most of my favorite independents have closed down in recent years (bummer). So I do most of my book shopping at the big chains and online. But I'm always keeping an eye out for interesting places (especially used-book stores), close to home or wherever I happen to be. After all, a bookworm on vacation is still a bookworm.

11 comments:

  1. My hubby and I are a good 30 years from retirement, and we're already starting to wonder what we're going to do with all these books...at this point, it's down to buying more bookshelves and eventually a bigger house.

    And you're right--Eliot and his banana are still overpriced at $1.79.

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  2. I am so jealous of you right now, I can't even think.

    *mopes about being stuck and never going on vacation* NYC and Oxford... :''( I never go anywhere!

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  3. Blackwells in Oxford is a great bookshop - I live about 20 miles away so it's easy to visit - but I haven't been in ages.

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  4. I always feel sad when a bookstore closes.

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  5. i *love* the strand! my friend took me there once and i've been back whenever i get the chance. book lover's paradise! :-)

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  6. Strand was one of my favourite places in NY to browse.

    My husband stands behind me mumbling that retirement will never be possible if I don't curb my book "hobby". Men are so cute sometimes lol.

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  7. I can relate to having limited space for books. I did buy quite a few books on my vacation, but there were two huge discount book stores within 500 yards of each other. I couldn't keep away. Still, I've only read one of those books... I need to stop.

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  8. I love secondhand bookshops. :)

    I consider reading as a good way of traveling. I've been to many places that way (though it'll probably won't compare to actually being there, y'know?) ^_^

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  9. I rarely buy books while I'm on vacation, but I often browse bookstores and jot down ideas for books to locate once I return home. It's a money/weight thing. :) For example, I just returned from a trip to Colorado and South Dakota, and that caused me to add a book about Crazy Horse and Giants in the Earth to my TBR list.

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