Favourite Edition?

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

I pretty much can't pass up a copy of any Tolkien book if I come upon it in a thrift store or used bookstore. Fortunately, such visits are rare and such sightings rarer, because although I already have three sets (none complete) and several extra copies of the Fellowship, I would be hardpressed to not buy another copy, if I came on one I did not already have.

Another rescuer of forlorn books, eh? I do this myself to be honest. I can feel comforted in the knowledge that all books which enter my house get a good home.

Originally Posted by Lalaith

I spent a lot of my childhood sitting on the floor of that bookshop that is now a Subway, reading all sorts of stuff off the shelves, it was one of the great things about little bookshops like that, you were allowed to do that...

They don't seem to encourage that sort of thing in the big chain bookshops, which is one of the reasons I don't find browsing in them all that pleasurable. Yes, you can be almost certain of getting what you want, but there is not that surprise factor that you would get in the small bookshop of suddenly discovering something you had not thought about before. That factor is one of the reasons I especially love second hand bookshops. We used to have one here that was full of chairs to sit in, they even had a cat who would sit on your knee.

Up in Scotland, the small (tiny) town of Wigtown is worth a visit as it is devoted to bookshops, and my father thinks Hay-on-Wye is another good place for books, though I haven't been there yet. York used to be good but only has one good second hand bookshop now sadly. Southport up the coast from Liverpool has lots of wonderful second hand bookshops, including the best one I've ever been in, and Whitby has two lovely little bookshops. I do judge towns on the quality of their bookshops, as I couldn't see myself living in a bookless town, even if it is a chain store. There's something about the tactile quality of browsing books that I would miss.

[Mithalwen]

I am going to have to say something in favour of chains The independent bookstore in the town where I tend to shop was absolute rubbish. It is so much better in every respect now it is Ottakars and they had most of HoME in stock as standard. The others and "The Road goes ever on" they obtained with great efficiency.