Black Fridayish

Okay, I know. It's not black. Or Friday for that matter. But you know how some people can find amazing bargains on clothes and shoes? Or there's that legendary grocery shopper who can get $400 worth of groceries for say, $50? I'm not either of those people. My shopping talent is books. So,  in honor of all those ridiculous black Friday shenanigans, today's post is going to cover some of my favorite ways of acquiring books.

1) As a gift. Plus side? Free. Down side? Not everyone knows my taste in books, so there is the long shot chance I'll get a book I will never read. It's never happened yet (unless you count the copy of The Host my roommate randomly gave me, because she had two copies, that I never read, mostly on principle, because I boycott Stephanie Meyer. On principle. My own principles, you do not have to follow suit or agree). One of the beauty about books is that they are generally one-size-fits-so-many.

2) Amazon. This is a great way to buy books, because you can get them used. Now, having Amazon prime can be a bonus, but I have often found that I can still get a lot of books in very good condition cheaper even after paying for shipping, so Prime is not essential. The other nice thing about amazon is it sets a good baseline price. It's almost guaranteed (generally speaking) that you can find a used copy for $4.00, so you know that for most books, if you find it for less than that, it's a good deal. Another plus is that you can often find great deals on kindle versions, which only require the software, not an actual kindle. So, if there is a book I like, but don't necessarily love enough to want a hard copy, but still don't mind owning a copy, this is a good alternative.

3) The library. How did this not make number two, you ask? Because I was thinking about owning, not borrowing. However, the library works for both ends. The library is a great way to give books test runs. I often find books that I enjoy, but don't necessarily want to own. Which makes the library an ideal way to access those books. The downside is that access depends on your library having the book, and the book being checked in. But other than that--awesome!

Libraries can also be a fantastic way to buy books. Again, this is somewhat dependent on the library, but if you get lucky, library book sales can be a gold mine, literarily speaking. (Yes, I made that word up, and you know exactly what I mean, ergo, according to the Elise Reynolds' rules of vocabulary, it is a real word). I have found some incredible steals at the library. Once, I picked up 19 books and a DVD for $20. But, like all bargain shopping, you have to be consistent to get good deals on books you might specifically be looking for. But, you are bound to find a nice fifty cent copy of a book that you wouldn't mind owning, even if it's not on your wishlist.

4) Half.com is another place I like to check. I use them as a comparison for amazon. And while I tend to buy through amazon, I definitely like to keep tabs on half.com. Sometimes,, with newer books, you can find better deals through them. And sometimes the shipping fee is lower.

5) Used Bookstores. Used Book Bookstores? Hmmmm. Anyway, this is a good way to buy books. Like I said, I tend to use Amazon as my baseline, and if I can find it for less at a used book bookstore (it's the books that are used, not the bookstore...) then it's a deal. And I feel good about supporting a small business. Which it seems used book Bookstores generally are. A win all around.

So, there you have it. Some acquisition strategies for book nerds. Tried and true--I replaced the four missing boxes of books (courtesy USPS--a story for another day) using these methods. And, if you have other suggestions for book acquisition, please let me know. My budget (hypothetical though it might be at present) will thank you.

High expectations

This week I watched The Hunger Games with my niece. I have read the books but I'm going to say up front, it's been a while (year and a half?). Anyway, I enjoyed the series--well, enjoyed may not be the right word, but you know what I mean. However, there were some people I know who didn't really like the last book, Mockingjay, because Katniss just wasn't the strong superhero overcoming all the odds that people expect.

I will admit that the third book has a very different feel to it. And no, she doesn't come off as the stereotypical heroine who never lets life get her down. But I don't think that is a bad thing. Because how many people are like that? And how many of you that have had a very hard challenge (or challenges, which is the case for a lot of people, unfortunately) appreciate a heroine that knows that life is hard and sometimes, enduring is a heroic feat? I sometimes feel like the heroine who is never stressed or teary or worn out with all the hardship is pretty shallow. I know that I get worn out by how hard life gets sometimes, and while I try to be the kind of person who always comes out on top, I also know that it's not that easy.

So, yes, I think Mockingjay is not what we expect or even necessarily look for in our heroic protagonists. But I don't think that is bad. I think there is value in showing that there are different types of heroism.

I also think that Mockingjay highlights the clash between Katniss's personality and what circumstances have forced her to become. Katniss was never very comfortable with attention, and never signed up to be an icon, and Mockingjay is all about Katniss the icon. The other books show us Katniss the survivor, which is her strength. Now the story is about Katniss the image, not Katniss the person and that changes things.

Now I feel like I should have this brilliant and witty conclusion (my english and lit teachers ruined me for life--I still cannot write anything without including some kind of conclusion!) but really I guess the moral of this post is that comparing books is fun, but sometimes it is interesting to weigh a book in the context of its characters and plot, rather than other characters and plots and such. The end.

Split second decisions

I recently had an interview and was asked to tell about the best decision and worst decision I've made, and the process I used to make the respective decisions. After the interview, I had this introspective moment where I had to wonder whether I would have answered the question differently if I hadn't just started listening to Blink by Malcolm Gladwell. The decisions I chose were both decisions made more intuitively, rather than reasoning through them, and parts of those decisions may or may not have been based on what Gladwell would term "rapid cognition." Which just so happens to be the topic of the book.

I've read Gladwell's stuff before and I've really liked the insights he gives. There's a certain logic to them, and I've seen his conclusions ring true. So, I was pretty confident I'd like Blink, and I was right. Lots of insights, and it kind of gives me a bit of ammo for when I feel like I have to justify some of my decision making processes or past decisions. He also explores the pros and cons of rapid cognition, how it can be a good thing, but the traps we need to watch out for. He doesn't give a checklist or anything for how to make it work--it's not a self-help book--but he does provide a lot of examples of how this can apply. I think basically, Gladwell's works give the reader a foundation. I come away from reading his stuff feeling like I know more, and because I know more, I'm more aware of my behavior and how it might be affecting me and others, and that in turn helps me modify the parts of my behavior that I feel could improve. So much better than having someone try to tell you how you should be.

So, no. I haven't really told you much about rapid cognition, or given examples or even a good synopsis of Blink. If I did that, you wouldn't have to read it, and he tells it way better than I do. I will say, if you are looking for some good non-fiction, Gladwell is a good author to check out, and Blink would be as good a place to start as any. But you might want to be careful about reading it in conjunction with an interview.*

*I will say, the interview went well--they asked for another one, so it would seem that despite my intuitive decision making, they liked me.