Books, books and more books.

Basically, if you have ever read anything on my blog, you would know that I love books and constantly reading something at any given time. My bookshelf is literally overflowing with books and so you know what I did? I went and bought some more books.

You can never have too many books. (No, dad, it’s not just a made up thing, ok?)

So, yesterday while I was out with my sister, I hadn’t really bought any paperbacks recently, most of my purchases have been e-books and while they are mostly cheaper and easier to carry, I still can’t feel satisfied and happy till I have a physical book in my hands that I can touch and go through. Maybe I am weird seeing as many people prefer e-books now but I still need my regular dose of actual books.

Anyway, so this morning, I went to a place where they sell old books, used ones and some not-so-used ones. I say a place because it’s not a shop. It’s just a bunch of places with different vendors selling books. In fact the place is famous for that, just tons of books and you are surrounded by them. The rates aren’t extremely expensive (generally).

I went there with a few authors in mind as I hadn’t been there for a long while.

I haven’t been able to buy anything Tolkien related for a while (because of my unemployed status) but I thought even buying a second-hand copy of the books I don’t have would be ok. Would have to be okay. Now I am not someone who only needs the books to be new, I mean, I wouldn’t be here if I was.

The day wasn’t turning out the way I wanted it to though. The only Tolkien books the vendors seemed to have were your typical The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and The Silmarillion (I already have two copies of each book, don’t judge me). One rare person had a lovely copy of Unfinished Tales but my sister forbade me from buying it as it wasn’t really on my agenda.

By the time I was almost through all the stalls, I was close to giving up but then, the last stall gave me hope for the world. He didn’t have any Tad Williams but he did have a few books of Tolkien. The happy grin on my face might have troubled some but I literally didn’t care at the moment. I bought them with absolutely no regrets. They are definitely old, second-hand (I fear they might even be third or fourth hand) but I didn’t care. The books are in good condition and so I didn’t care.

I bought The Lost Road by J. R. R. Tolkien and it’s in a fairly good condition, I was not expecting this book to be available to be honest. Nor this edition, I tried to look up this particular edition on Amazon but it’s not available which makes this buy even more pleasurable. I have the e-book of the Histories of the Middle Earth but as I said before, have a proper book makes it better. (Makes me feel like a proper book collector which I am not. I promise.)

The next one is Sir Gawain & The Green Knight, Pearl, Sir Orfeo by J. R. R. Tolkien. Again, it’s not the same edition and frankly, after looking at the edition that’s available on Amazon, I would rather have this. Not because I don’t like the illustration I just like the simple cover of this edition. This one is from Arthurian legends and I didn’t actually have this one on my iPad so this is extra special. This book wasn’t in as good a condition as the previous one but I was not letting that matter. The pages are yellow and the book looks like it’s forty years old and I don’t care in the least.

The next one, this book is more recent and something I have been meaning to buy but kept forgetting. Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur . All I know about this book is that it has poetry and prose. My sister has already started reading it and she is loving it. Let’s see how that goes with me. I have read bits and pieces and I have liked it.

Again with the same author, it’s her latest book. The Sun and her flowers by Rupi Kaur. I have yet to read it but it’s a celebration of love in all forms. Something I am sure I will enjoy. Both the books are second-hand and are in excellent condition seeing as they are really recent.

I can’t wait to read them and yes, I know that these books will have to be added to my reading list and maybe that would be too much to read but I don’t really care?

The last two books would easy enough to finish in a day or two and anything by Tolkien does not need an excuse in my opinion. It’s just, I see a Tolkien book and I read it. Very simple, right?