Oh! That Glorious Time of Year

Like Siri, I have fond thoughts about this time of year. Not just because hints of autumn are starting to show up, and there’s the promise of hot chocolate and golden leaves and peppermint-flavored drinks. Not just because it’s back to school time and I can hoard notebooks for cheap.

But because it is library book sale time.

I am unhealthily addicted to library book sales. The tables overflowing with books. The complete lack of organization. Titles and authors and series you’ve never heard of.

You can pick up a book for whatever reason you feel like–interesting title. Cool cover. Vaguely compelling description. It doesn’t matter! It’s cheap, so it’s not like you’re taking a risk.

Because of the general lack of organization, who knows what you’re going to pick up? You can find new genres that you wouldn’t otherwise touch, but find you love. You can find new authors who tickle all the right spots. Who knows what you’ll get?

I know that I, at least, have found some older fantasy/scifi books by authors I’ve been wanting to read (one has been highly recommended to me in terms of pacing) that my local library no longer keeps on the shelves. I’ve also gotten some older mysteries, especially ones by Agatha Christie. Mmm, mysteries.

Best not get started on the mystery road. We’ll be here all day.

I’ve been to two different library sales in the last few weeks, and now probably have a good 20 new books to read. Did I have room for 20 new books? No. Do I care? Also no.

How do you feel about library book sales? Do you look only for specific things, or do you pick up anything that meets your fancy? Do you set–and keep to–a certain number of books?