Here’s the Kind of Book Lover I Am

It’s a roller coaster ride love affair.

I’m a book junkie.

There’s really no other way around it. I devour books like it’s the last bag of chips at a party. I love to browse them at a store, flip through them, smell them, stack them, and everything in between.

But I didn’t used to be like this. Today, I’m going to walk you through my wonderful roller coaster ride love affair with books, reading and the written word.

I Wasn’t Always a Reader

I used to loathe bookstores. I never wanted to visit them. I never wanted to participate in the school trips to the library. Books just weren’t my thing.

This all changed when I started reading books I liked. These included the likes or history, presidential biographies, mystery and so much more.

Nowadays, I read dozens of books a year. Well, the ones I read in their entirety. I do have a confession to make.

I don’t finish every book I read.

There you have it folks. I just don’t. Sometimes I pick up a book and read the first few pages of it. If I don’t like it, I’m not going to suffer through that pain anymore. “The Goldfinch” and several recent James Patterson novels are examples of this.

That’s okay, though. It just proves that not every book I have will be great. It then leaves me more room to read books I do enjoy.

But there’s another issue I have about books.

I Never Pay Full Price for a Book

That statement isn’t entirely true. I have paid full price for a book and still do from time to time but not as often as I used to. I’ll never make those mistakes again.

Here’s another confession:

I can’t stand paying full price for a book. I just can’t.

Sorry Barnes and Noble and Books-a-Million, but I just can’t do it. I like living frugally and I’d rather pay big money for other items.

Even at those box stores, bargain books can be very pricey from time to time. Enter Half Price Books, and I still won’t pay even half of the cover price at times.

So, what do I do then?

I mostly shop for books at Little Free Libraries, independent used bookstores, Goodwill and local book sales. The prices are about ninety percent off most of the time. I spend the same amount of money for ten books as I would for one at a box store.

The only exception to this is buying a book signed by the author at full price. I’m an autograph junkie too. Even then, I still like paying a fraction of the price for a signed book at a used bookstore or Half Price Books.

At the end of the day, I save a boatload of cash on books. This way, I can buy more books. And read more too. Of course, this allows me to write more as well.

Books Helped Shape the Writer I Am Today

As far as Medium is concerned, I write about books, reading, my personal life, music and anything else that comes to mind from time to time. This has allowed me to focus on those topic areas and grow as a writer.

At 22 years old, I have self-published two books on Amazon through Kindle Direct Publishing: “Life: A Collection of Short Stories” and “Dana and Me: A Memoir.” They’ve sold a fair number of copies apiece and have made me a better writer.

There are more books on the way. Be on the lookout for those too.

Besides these projects, I have several ideas for screenplays, TV miniseries, songs, a Broadway musical and more books. I’m always writing, and books have allowed me to keep my creative juices flowing.

Books are a great investment financially and personally. Paying a low amount for a high value return is a great investment in my book.

Closing Thoughts

You never realize how many books you own until you have to move and organize them. I have this issue from time to time as well.

Nevertheless, I love reading, shopping for books and writing as hobbies. Who knows, maybe I will own a bookstore one day too?

I will never stop reading and caring for books. They’ve been a great part of my life, and even though it’s not the best love affair at times, I wouldn’t have it any other way.