So I have been meaning to go pick up a Seattle Public Library card for quite some time now… but I just haven't made it there yet. We did stop at Powell’s Books when we were in Portland a few weeks ago though. Talk about an amazing place - it's like a dream come true for book lovers.
And I love books, especially old books. Absolutely adore them. I’m not sure I could ever be addicted to a digital reader. The feel of a book, turning the pages, that dusty smell that wafts up… I don’t know, it’s just special in way that a digital reader could never be. I grew up turning book pages, the library was one of my favorite places as a kid. We used to check them out by the basketful. Books have that magical gift of being able to transport you worlds away...
But I digress, I've always heard Powell's has a ton of books - I mean, it is what they are known for. What I didn't realize, is that they also have a ton of vintage books. Vintage books you would actually want to read.
Whenever I hit a thrift store, I always check out the book section and look for classics or cool looking hardbacks. Sometimes, you'll score something awesome, like the vintage copy of Heidi I picked up a last month for around a buck. It's totally hit or miss though - if you are looking for something specific, well good luck with that. For example, I've been on the hunt for a copy of Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates for years - ever since I've been thrifting, I've dreamed of owning a cool old copy since I was a kid, back when I used to check out the same old copy from the library over and over again. I've seen some new copies but that's just not what I was looking for.
At Powell's they have vintage copies mixed in with the new ones. I picked up a copy of The Great Gatsby, Oliver Twist and of course Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates. So that's whats on my 'To Read' list right now. What about you? ... and I'm curious, what is your favorite classic?