I'm more like Char. I get positively stubborn about my unwillingness to read a buzzy book - unless I read it as the buzz is building. If the buzz is built, I'm pretty much out. I STILL haven't read Gone Girl even though I own it.
Why? Because I'm a contrary bitch, that's why. Even when it is against my own self-interest! Even when I am pretty sure that I'll love the book, once I knuckle under to the peer pressure of bookdom and read it.
For me there's two levels of 'buying'. There's buying when I'm continuing a series or favourite author's works, and that's when I buy new and sometimes in hardcover (although I still try to get the book at the cheapest price possible); and then there's buying from the library's book sale, and that's when I go a bit crazy because none of the books are priced over $1, so even if it's crap or the book's in bad condition, it's only a dollar (or less) and when I'm finished with it I put it back on the sale shelf so they can sell it again. I don't buy popular books much as most of my purchases come from the library and the books they sell aren't the new releases. Usually I'd rather borrow the book first to make sure it's worth paying money for and giving up shelf space for.
I originally asked a librarian if I could donate unwanted books to their book sale and was told no, they don't want/need any more books. I decided that was a stupid answer and have been ignoring them for a couple of years now (the library's not THAT well-funded that they can refuse free donations). Every time I go to the library I hide a book or two in my bag, check the room is clear and then slot them onto the shelves so they can be re-sold, and then I pick up some new ones for a couple of dollars. Unless the librarians are finding them and are cutting off their nose to spite their face by removing them before they can be bought, I have to assume they are being picked up by other library users because there was only two or three of my donations on the shelves last time I was there (last week).
How can you not love Rosemary's Baby? ;P
I'm exactly the opposite usually, if a book is popular, I tend to avoid it for a long time, if I ever read it at all.
Why? Because I'm a contrary bitch, that's why. Even when it is against my own self-interest! Even when I am pretty sure that I'll love the book, once I knuckle under to the peer pressure of bookdom and read it.
I'll be back after I finish Gone Girl.
I originally asked a librarian if I could donate unwanted books to their book sale and was told no, they don't want/need any more books. I decided that was a stupid answer and have been ignoring them for a couple of years now (the library's not THAT well-funded that they can refuse free donations). Every time I go to the library I hide a book or two in my bag, check the room is clear and then slot them onto the shelves so they can be re-sold, and then I pick up some new ones for a couple of dollars. Unless the librarians are finding them and are cutting off their nose to spite their face by removing them before they can be bought, I have to assume they are being picked up by other library users because there was only two or three of my donations on the shelves last time I was there (last week).