From Bookish Beginnings:Like most teens I went through a stage when I was awkward and friendless. Maybe not friendless, but up until High school (and during for the most part) I really only had One or two friends. And even then our friendship was rocky. I just never met the right people and didnt know how to infiltrate a new clique. Sure I had lots of acquaintances and was able to hold my own during school hours, but I came home and spent most of my time alone. I Fell into loving books at an early age. I had reading problems as a child, but with most of my time spent alone or waiting in hospital waiting rooms as a kid reading was something of a given. By 5th grade I was addicted, and my reading problem had gone away. I collected my AR points like no ones business, and when I entered middle school I started reading allowed my favorites to my 7 year old sister. The reading helped with my speech impediment and helped me gain confidence for public speaking and thinking on my feet. (this is the best advice I can give for someone who wants to think faster, be funnier, become a better speaker/actress etc. Sometimes I read out loud to myself even because it helps me focus on difficult texts.) I remember a time when my friend threatened to destroy my copy of "New Moon" in 7th grade because I couldn't get my nose out of it long enough to hold a conversation during lunch. I would walk home from school and too and from class reading. It was a little bit crazy, but it was what I needed to get through the Middle School Blues. When I entered High School I stopped reading outside of times when it was appropriate (like while walking) and mostly read at home. I would read an average of 3 books a week, at least over 60 per year. I Joined book club after a conversation with the librarian and admitting that i had already read every book she had suggested and spent afternoons just recommending books to other readers. Since im Independently wealthy (IE dont have an allowance or anything) my bookshelf was rather sparse and for the most part I just have a well worn library card. However I have acquired SOOO MANY BOOKS in the years past then. I haven't bothered to count because it would be futile but there are definitely more then 100 fiction books in my room with me right now. I acquired my books several ways
2. From Library book sales This was heaven for middle school me, and my first introduction to thrift shopping. Every few months my local library would take inventory and sell the overstock of books very cheaply, For about 50c to $1.50. I would load up on books and at home I would peel off the library stickers and cut off the protective dust jacket before displaying on my shelf. My high school library did this as well, only they gave the overstock away for free to book club members and then sold books for a quarter, and the money would be donated. I got BAGS of books with this. 3. Goodwill and other secondhand bookstores This was my go to for a long time. At goodwill books are priced form $.80-1.50 and they are in great condition. Sometimes I would find very popular books just months after they came out because the previous owner had read it once and donated it. This was a great way to add to my collection. 4. Free books For Review For about a year I dabbled in Book blogging and reviewing and although I never got "popular" I still got a lot of page views and a bunch of review requests and books sent to me for free. Sometimes they were just online, but I would get hardcover and paperback as well. The most popular book i ever got sent to me in preview was probably Miss Peregrine's home for peculiar children by Ransom Riggs, but mostly just lots of self published people 5. Free books from websites Different websites from YA publishers like Random House's "Random Buzzers" (now bought by Figment) Simon and Shuster's "Pulse It", The Harlequin teen Panel, and a few others would send out books to members. On Random buzzers they would have sweepstakes (which I won many) for free books, and have activities tied to a point system that would allow members to "purchase" books using their points. It was the best, but about a year ago they stopped giving out as many books and then ended all together. Pulse it allows readers to read books online, and I believe that that has declined in popularity as well over the years. HTP is still awesome though. You register for the panel and they send you a book periodically. You read it and give them your feedback. Occasionally they send surveys on different types of book covers or synopsis. Anyway I got tons of books from that. And that's pretty much it. As I got more and more busy it became increasingly difficult to read for pleasure. Now I read just about 1 book during the school year, and maybe 2-3 a month during summer. But I still have the remnants of my book obsession phase in my overflowing bookshelf and stacks of books in various places in my room. If you curious check out my old book blog for some reviews, but remember, I did that YEARS ago, so don't judge me too harshly. And now what you've all been waiting for: The photographic Proof Are you as crazy of a reader as me? What do you do to get books?XOXO,
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