Used and Rare: Travels in the Book World

There's a blurb on the back of this book from Kirkus Reviews that says Used and Rare is "A sort of Year in Provence for book lovers." This is the perfect description for this book, except it was funnier; I laughed out loud in several places.

Used and Rare chronicles the journey of the Goldstones into book collecting, starting with an innocent search for a used copy of War and Peace suitable for a gift. This is how lifelong, obsessive passions begin. In fact it occurred to me as I read this that I have reason to be thankful that MT does not share my passionate love of books because if he did, we'd be the Goldstones and I shudder to think of the swath of destruction the two of us having a shared passion would wreck on our finances.
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Having started reading this last night before bed (and making MT stay awake long enough so I could read parts of it aloud to him), I blew off everything I had to do today so that I could sit down and finish it. It's well written, it's funny, it's interesting and surprisingly it has what could sort of be called a plot, in that there's a journey these two take through book collecting and by the end of the book they come out the other other side with realisations made and lessons learned. In fact, the way the book ended was just the cherry on top of a perfectly lovely read.

This book isn't necessarily going to appeal to people who love to read, but people who love to own books and take great pleasure in being physically surrounded by the works of authors who have educated, entertained and changed them for better or worse? I think those people would love this book and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. show less

In the early years of their marriage the writers Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone decided to become book collectors. I suspect the authors were being disingenuous in claiming to be completely ignorant about the hobby to the point of not even knowing what they wanted to collect. However, their feigned naïveté allows them to lead the reader through dusty old bookshops that have likely ceased to exist by now, learning what to look for. Along the way they introduce many delightfully quirky booksellers. Even to the non-collector their excursions into book land are great fun. I picked up a few tips and am glad to find out that I’m not the first would-be buyer to get snubbed in NYC’s Argosy Bookshop.

Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone, both novelists, tired of birthday competitions to see who could present the more extravagant gift. They decided to limit their spending to $20 maximum and that’s how they came into possession of a translation of War and Peace each had wanted to read complete with original illustrations and maps for $10. The book was used, of course, or “previously read,” as Cadillac owners might say, and so began a delightful obsession (or “gentle madness” that many of us suffer from) that had the pair trekking through used book stores and gradually becoming interested in the more rarefied atmosphere of expensive and rare books.

Their largest purchase by the end of this delightful book is a $650 copy of Dickens’ show more Martin Chuzzlewit. The Goldstones are clearly a literate couple who delight in the content of the books as well as the joy of owning a first edition “first state,” unlike the people who purchase books by the yard (Strand Bookstore in New York supplies books to these customers) or the customers of the bidder at an auction the Goldstones attended who was buying up collections of out-ofdate leather-bound law books and relabeling them “The Collected Works of [b:William Shakespeare|18135|Romeo and Juliet|William Shakespeare|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XTDJ3P4XL._SL75_.jpg|3349450]” to fill up shelves.

The Goldstones’ write with wit and love about the world of books, yet see the irony in the way dealers mark up prices depending on the clientele or the location. (One of the reasons dealers attend the New York Antiquarian Book Fair is to check prices of books they might have in stock, so as to hike the prices when they see titles going for higher prices than they had originally thought.)

Popularity and demand drives prices rather than an author’s fame or writing skill, so a first-edition Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs might go for $50,000 while a very good condition Bleak House first edition might go for only several hundred. These authors capture the idiosyncrasies and elitism of some of the dealers: “How did you find us?” complains one dealer whose sign was clearly marked on the outside window and in the yellow pages; “We control our advertising very carefully.” This is a delightful book, part memoir, part travelogue, part love story, and with a sequel that I am intending to track down immediately. . . . I did. The title is. [b:Slightly Chipped|12938|King Lear (Folger Shakespeare Library)|William Shakespeare|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1227285327s/12938.jpg|2342136] show less

My reading list has been far to heavy and serious of late, thanks to the fine SUNY system, so stumbling upon this small text in my even smaller local library was a real treat. 'Used and Rare' is a very specific sort of memoir focusing on the authors' accidental entrance int the world of book collecting and the significance it soon holds for them.

The Goldstones beautifully characterize both the many shops they find themselves frequenting and the often colorful proprietors whom they come to befriend over the few years this story spans. The reader is carried along with them as they uncover the fine intricacies and peculiarities of book collecting, from First Editions to 'foxing', 'rubbing', and 'boarding', whatever that means. With show more every book they find, they reveal the particular place that text holds in their relationship and bring the reader closer to the narrators so that they almost become friends. One is thoughtfully engrossed in what is tucked in the next shelf and whether or not they will ever find that perfect copy of 'Gatsby'.

Beyond just the merits of the memoir and its construction, I must say that I personally found this book in many ways enlightening. As a lover of books, as well as tales, this glimpse into how they are judged, valued, and brought together was quite fascinating. The Goldstones, in their own way, also recommended a slew of new authors I must dig up, though instead of Amazon or Waldens, perhaps I will poke around in that dark little shop the town over. You never know what treasures you might find! Peace. show less

A decent depiction about how one might grow into book-collecting.

It's actually more of a collection of anecdotes than a coherent story, most of them educational about some particular aspect oc the book circuit - almost to the point of being suspiciously so.

Competently written, but earns no bonus points for shining prose. Has a tendency to sink into tedious back-and-forth dialogue between the two protagonists that is probably sopposed to be charming banter, but really just feels embarasingly forced and phony.

The book is ultimatly saved by the genuine love for the subject, the entertaining characters, and the loving decriptions of bookstores of every kind. It's a trifle, but and entertaining trifle.

Used and Rare, Travels in the Book World, by Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone (pp. 215). This is a thoroughly delightful romp through book stores throughout New England as the authors, both writers, fall in love with book collecting. They start simply with books they love or with which they want to love, all inexpensive and easy to find. They are increasingly and reluctantly seduced by the used book world, and are then into drawn into the rarified world of rare and hard to find books. This entrancing story is, amazingly, the exquisitely detailed experiences of investigating the musty, dusty shelves of numerous book stores near their home in Massachusetts, and then extending to the locked cabinets and immaculate shelves of serious and often show more stuffy booksellers. It’s hard to explain the attractiveness of this book, and I shall suffice to say that it’s the romance of pursuit, sometimes of the known beauty that only needs to be found, and often as not finding a treasure for which you are not looking but which captures your heart nonetheless. I loved this book and recommend it highly. show less

I really enjoyed this fun, if a little dated look into the life of amateur book collectors, Larry and Nancy Goldstone. What started out as a hunt for a meaningful birthday present ended up taking the couple on an adventure to learn the ins and outs of book buying and collecting---the thrill of the chase and the self control it takes to walk away from what seems like the perfect book. I'm super inspired and just want to run right out to my favorite book store right now and peruse the rare book section that I always avoid for the sake of finances.

The book was written during the time when computers were just starting to be introduced to the general public for business and recreational use. There were several fun instances where I said to show more myself, "Oh yes, I remember that." One in particular was their thrill in finding that the library could print their cards right there in front of them (amazing technology, they said!)

Usually when I read something biographical/memoir-ish I stop about 10-15 pages in to look up what the author is doing now---especially with a book as "old" as this one. (I graduated high school in 1997) However, this couple had been having such a great time in this story that I was wary to look up anything on them for fear that perhaps their marriage didn't work out. I would be sad to think of them not continuing on these kinds of fun adventures together. About half way in, I finally couldn't stand it any longer and had to see what they were up to. Sure enough, their author pages seem to indicate they are happy and thriving---I'm so glad. In fact, I was so glad that I actually wrote the wife an email to tell her so. I'm sure I'm on somebody's weirdo list now but rarely do I engage so well with a memoir. ha!

Another interesting part of reading this book came with the "forgotten bookmarks" I found inside. In the front cover was a Barnes & Noble receipt from July 3, 1997. Someone in the Boston, Mass. store purchased this as a new release. Later in the book was a very early advertising bookmark for Amazon.com---back in the days when it was just an online bookstore. Some quotes from the back of the bookmark:

"Amazon.com: Earth's biggest bookstore."
"Offering 2.5 million titles (more than 14 times the number of books you'll find in the largest chain superstore), we're sure to have the book you want."
"Amazon.com has a wealth of information about the books and authors that interest you" (including) ... "Personalized E-mail notification about your favorite subjects and authors."

I don't remember the last time I actually bought a book on Amazon but I thought it was ironic that this novel new internet business was being advertised in this book about all the unique and often family owned book shops of the 90s---the same ones that Amazon long ago put out of business.

ETA: second irony is that my copy of this book is listed on several websites as being worth $50-$60. Ha!! I wonder if the receipt and Amazon bookmark add to that value at all???

Here is my post featuring photos of the "forgotten bookmarks": http://www.belleslibrary.com/2022/01/the-secret-lives-of-books-used-and-rare.htm... show less