The Curator: why I only buy books for their looks
my book-buying strategy, what I bought recently, and the "does anyone buy books" Substack war.
I’ve been feeling that when I buy a book and place it on my shelf, that’s the same as reading it. Owning the thing has become a proxy for consuming the art. I stare at my shelves and get to know the covers so intimately it feels like I’ve spent time within its pages. Lately I don’t even get to half the books I purchase. It makes me sharply uncomfortable, this thought, that I have become a consumer of the book cover and not of the content.
I want to be thoughtful about what I bring into my life, my home. The capital outlay is only the first stage of owning a thing. With books, you then must organize them, move them, dust them, and protect them from wild animals (ahem). I do not want to stop buying books completely. But since my last book-buying frenzy during the B&N hardback sale in December, my purchasing habits have slowly changed. To date, I’ve only read two of the seven I purchased that month (I can’t even face my paperback ratio…).
I’ve been considering my book-buying approach well before the mild hysteria that recently popped up on Substack (if you aren’t familiar with the debate, start here and then this counterpoint, and then this and this for the real chisme. I love to see a good honest debate, especially when data and feelings are at the center of it). I certainly buy books, but I have developed a very specific strategy.
My concerns and principles for book buying
My concerns (and yours may be different) include shelf space and physical overwhelm, cost/ability to borrow, book format, aesthetics, and emotional connection.
Every time I think about bringing a physical book into the house, I remind myself of my limits (shelf space, budget), and then consider the following:
Can I find the new-to-me-book digitally, free or at a discount? I will try Libby, Everand, Spotify, Kindle U, Kindle deals, or the used book store down the street to find the thing I thing I want to read. I check Kindle deals daily, and if a book is less than $5, I usually snatch it up even if I don’t think I will read it soon (this contributes to digital clutter & book overwhelm, but I find this to be much less taxing since it is neatly compartmentalized in the app).
If I can’t find it free or cheap, do I need to read it now? I bought James (almost full price) on Kindle because I wanted to read it immediately to review it here, but I have extremely limited space for hardbacks (a paperback copy might be imminent, though. See #3).
Did it get me in my feels? Did it have such a great emotional impact that I want to lug it around in a small cardboard box next time we move? Usually, this is a paperback version I purchase after having read the thing for free or cheap and/or digitally. It is a book I want to keep forever to remember the experience.
And finally, most importantly - is it pretty? Is the book so amazingly gorgeous that I must stare at it every day? Is it a special edition that makes my heart pitter-patter? Then I may buy a hardback copy, special edition, sprayed edge piece of paper tray-sure.
Recent purchases and why I bought them
Look, listen. This is the vibe I’m going for. I also have plenty of beige books, but I could just stare at these all day (and I do, my shelves surround the living room 😎). Here I absolutely am a consumer of the cover, but at least it’s purposeful.
The 20th-anniversary edition of Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell because this book was the genesis of speculative fiction, one I read before anyone else’s opinion mattered. It will always feel special.
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo because the Victorian goth vibes of the matte cover, sprayed black edges, and floral wallpaper insides are unmatched.
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo gets a second spot here because, once again, those matte covers and sprayed edges!!
Rouge by Mona Awad because it contributes to my ideal dark sexy bookshelf (is my thing for black showing?).
Do you have a method for buying books, or are you normal? Just kidding I know we are all neurotic in some way! Let me know so I can steal your ideas.
READING 📖→
Wanderers is getting really good. I’m about 25% of the way in, and while there are a few teeny eye-roll moments when Wendig writes teenage girls, the intelligence and scientific plotlines are top-tier.
After false starting twice, I’ve made it 35% of the way through Clarice Lispector’s slim debut novel Near to the Wild Heart. I have to read most passages twice to comprehend them, but I’ve also found three favorite quotes already. So far, “His answer, she felt, didn’t matter so much. What counted was that her question had been accepted, it could exist” is the most affecting.
I’ve been hitting the podcasts pretty hard lately (MFM and The Rewatchables episode on PTAs Magnolia - glorious), so I am STILL trying to finish my latest Karin Slaughter audiobook. I might need a break after this one - if you have any audiobook recs throw them my way (Naomi Klein’s Doppelganger is currently high on my list).
WATCHING 📽️→
Ripley, sorta. I watch it when my husband puts it on, but I just can’t get into this old guy as Tom Ripley. Aren’t Tom and Dickie supposed to look alike? Perhaps it’s just my inability to see anyone but Matt Damon as Tom. It’s getting rave reviews, so maybe I need to pay attention… Has anyone watched this?
NEW BOOKS 📚→
include a highly anticipated novel about generational American identity, the story of a queer physicist searching for belonging across universes, a novel about the lead-up to the American Civil War (the title also sounds like a great band name), and a neo-noir murder mystery for the social media generation.
BOOK NEWS 📰→
If sports people can have fun betting, why can’t we? Electric Lit’s breakdown of this year’s Pulitzer Prize possibilities had me wishing I could throw down on the results.
Crime Reads interviewed this year’s Edgar Award nominees about the future of crime writing, and their responses could also have been about anyone writing on Substack or, anywhere. I especially loved Susan Isaacs mentioning falling down research rabbit holes - very relatable.
The PEN/Faulkner Award was announced last night, and the winner is Claire Jimenez’s What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez which is completely new to me but sounds like a good time.
RESTACK OF THE WEEK ♻️→
I always love Mike’s reviews and this one of Djuna Barne’s Nightwood was equally funny and smart, per usual.
AND CATS 🐈⬛→
My new side gig is cat photographer.
In Case You Missed It 🖤
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See you around the bookshelf!
Natalie
I hadn't seen anything about the "No One Buys Books" debate and wow, what a journey to read those posts in the order you shared 😂
And I'm with you on the book buying overwhelm. I get overwhelmed mentally if I have more than ~50 unread books on my shelf (ideally that number would be like...10) and it makes buying books less fun. So this year I'm trying to be more mindful of what I purchase and when as well. I like the questions you outlined!
I'd love to see how you define a pretty book (4) !! Criteria, rubric, grading system let's go