Through the musty racks of clothes,
Saturday morning shoppers, shuffling
Through the shelves of china cups
And ornaments from ugly houses,
Somehow boxed up when a person dies.
I wonder if someone will buy
The porcelain cat or dancing lady
As I make my way to find the books,
The place I can escape to like
The wardrobe through to Narnia.
I did a little bit of book shopping today – in the charity shop, of course, because I’m not extra enough to buy those things new. I do just love charity book ships though.
There is something so lovely about knowing you are about to enter a world that somebody has already walked through. I see books a little bit like theatre for one – an immersive experience that you come out of the other end, feeling like a slightly different person.
And when you buy a second hand book it’s like entering that theatre on a ticket that somebody has already used. The performance will be different because we all interpret words in our own special way.
Some people would never dream of buying a book that has already been read, but I think it’s special. And the biggest treat of all is when there is a beautiful message scrawled in the front – an extra special link to my predecessor.
Much Love
Rachel xx
Margot Kinberg
I like charity bookshops, too, Rachel. It’s like you’re giving this book a new home, and yourself a chance at a new adventure. What’s not to love? I love it when I see an inscription, too. It makes you wonder about the person who donated the book. That’s a whole life that touches yours in that small way.
Greg Dennison
Hmm… I like that 🙂
Christopher
Much of my library, so to speak, is not new. There are second-hand bookstores around here, and I’m grateful for them. Sometimes they include conversations with cats.
crispina kemp
Many of my best loved books I bought in charity shops. And when I moved last summer, I donated loads.
patientandkindlove
Yes, I have quite a small flat so I do have to rotate my books. I keep my favourites but I send the others back out into the world.