Spending Your Last Dime on a Book
Typically books are considered a luxury. However, a book lover may see having something to read as essential to life as food or water. In fact, all of us who read a-lot have probably at least once put buying books over a definite need. That is the nature of a bookworm. Chasing the satisfaction of book ownership may sometimes conflict with fiscal responsibility.
Specifically, I remember a personal incident during the winter of 2005. I was in college living on the wages of a part time barista, and had been developing a taste for Russian Literature. Unfortunately, The Book Nook did not exist at this time. So, I would indulge myself with trips to Castleton to shop at Half Priced Books. This particular trip to Half Priced Books I found a copy of Dostoevsky’s The Idiot on clearance, and I felt that it was providence that I have it. However, it was priced at $15.95, and I only had twelve dollars in my wallet.
The feeling I had was desperate. The novel was hard-backed with copies of etchings depicting scenes, and to help with pronunciation the characters’ Russian names appeared before the preface. This book was a classic work of literature and an excellent specimen of the written word-printed and bound. So, I marched out into the snow with no hat to look for change in my car.
In minutes I had found some nickels, dimes, and pennies amounting to three dollars. I was thrilled, but still a dollar short. So, I opened my trunk and took everything out including the spare tire. This attracted the attention of mall security. The patrolling officer stopped to ask me why my Frisbee golf equipment was sitting in the middle of the parking lot. I smiled and said, “Just looking for change, Sir.” He gave me a bewildered look and drove off. I continued to search then, Eureka! I found three quarters, a dime, and twelve pennies hidden at the bottom of the trunk. Thanks to the cashier excusing the tax, I got my hard back copy of Dostoevsky’s The Idiot. I read it like a true intellectual, and now it has a permanent place on my bookshelf reminding me of when I spent my last dime on a book!
I feel fortunate to have The Book Nook in Anderson. Over the years, I have spent much time and money driving out of town to go book shopping. Now, I can get incredible prices on all the classics without leaving town. Thanks to the community’s generous book trades and donations, The Book Nook has an inventory to rival any chain bookstore. Also, all the monies made at The Book Nook go directly to support literacy in Madison County. Our mission is for all to read, and every time you shop and donate you contribute to our cause. Thank you for supporting literacy in Madison County. We hope to see you soon!
Written by: Brett Wiley