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Do you buy books before you read them? or only after you have read and know you love them enough to own them?

I haven't always been a reader, so this is kind of a new issue for me. I have a hard time convincing myself to buy a book unless I have read it and know that I would appreciate having it on my book shelf. On the other hand it is exciting to buy a book with the excitement of not knowing. So I wonder how everyone else goes about this?

where do you buy most of your books? there are so many places to get a book for a good price, again, this is kind of a new thing for me so I'm wondering-where are your dives for good deals on books?

Yes, I buy books after I thumb through the pages and read the blurb. Sometimes, you get stinkers, sometimes winners.

I liked my local bookstore (curse you, Borders) but now will resort to Amazon.com and Kindle for iPad.

I rarely buy a book unless I've read it and loved it first. The only time I've made an exception is when the book comes highly recommended by several reliable sources. I don't have room or a budget for bombs that I'll just get rid of at the first opportunity so I use my library A LOT, and loaners from friends and family are always nice.

When I buy, I support my local bookstores. They have memberships and deals running practically all the time, so I get it for the same price as Amazon or another online retailer plus I don't have to pay the shipping or wait for the book to be in my hands. And I get to support the local economy, which I'm a fan of. I don't have an e-reader, so I haven't checked out that route yet.

I have a Kindle and purchase all of my books from Amazon. One of the main reasons for purshasing a Kindle is that our house is small and we have limited space so I don't really understand buying a book after you've read it. Just a different mindset.

I've found books from years ago that I re-read. I keep most all of them, but some go to half price books.

I'm a big-time re-reader too. I actually have a whole shelf on here of books I will be re-reading along with my first-time reads.

I never read anything I buy before I buy it. These days I might sample a chapter online but only if it is chapter one.

Depends on the author. I'm usually willing to take a flyer on a paperback from a new author. The list of authors whose work I'm willing to buy instantly is pretty short: Caroline Stevermer, Pamela Dean, Ysabeau S. Wilce, Lois McMaster Bujold (SF only), Moira J. Moore, Mira Grant (Newsflesh trilogy only), Neal Stephenson. And, I guess, Mark Del Franco (Connor Grey series only, but if my library gets these I'm willing to get them there first).

If it's a loved author or series I buy it in print immediately. If it comes highly recommended from friends, including those here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, I may buy it in print. Usually though, I get them on Kindle until I'm sure it's excellent. Then I buy it.

I don't like to buy books unless I've never read them. I find it a bit pointless. Still, for my most favourite books from the library, I do end up buying them as soon as I get to the bookstore, On the Jellicoe Road being a prime example.

I buy books I haven't read yet but love the series, love the author, love the genre, love the idea or love the reviews. I won't buy a book with brutal reviews - I'm bad that way but hey, the public speaks. :) If the story sounds interesting, I'll get it from the library.

Bluemoon - go Torontonian! (Ha ha, and Go Leafs, although we're losing big time right now :( ) The World's Biggest Bookstore is fantastic! I almost got lost in there! You ever been?

S.S. wrote: "Yes, I buy books after I thumb through the pages and read the blurb. Sometimes, you get stinkers, sometimes winners.

I liked my local bookstore (curse you, Borders) but now will resort to Amazon...."

Did you hear borders is in trouble? they are closing something like 200 stores bc of bankruptcy. Maybe that's karma for pushing out the little guys...

I like to buy all the books that I read. I'm not a fan of shopping online, going to the library, and I don't have an e-reader and don't intend on getting one anytime soon. But if a book is hard to find then yea, I will go online to buy it.

I used to buy all my books at my local borders but that particular location is sadly closing down, so I'm trying to search for other bookstores close to me. And yes, I buy my books before I read them. It's a risk but before I buy a book I usually research them to death to get an idea about it and to see what people say about it. But I have bought books at a whim and I have been pretty lucky that all of them have come out good. I also am guilty of buying books just because they have pretty covers (Infinite Days, Nightshade for example), lol.

Also, if a friend lends me a book and I end up liking it. I immediately buy it afterward because mostly I like to go back to books and look up quotes and passages I really liked that are coming to mind at the moment. Yup, I love to re-read.

What can I say, I like to buy and own my books. I am kind of creating a mini collection and library of my own, which I am very proud of. It's not a cheap hobby. And in some way, I also feel like I am supporting the authors work and it feels cool. I just always put myself in their place and yea If I write a book, I want people buying them, lol.

I went to the borders website and searched for a book I have been wanting and they had some for cheap cheap! Not bc they are closing some stores, but bc they were returns and they werent mint condition- taken out of original pakaging. That seems like a pretty good deal. I am also becoming a big fan of the book swap here on goodreads, it isnt too painful to just pay shipping on a book!

I don't know what it is about reading the book first. Maybe I am the only one! I think after giving in and buying "Once Dead Twice Shy" and not loving it I am more hesitant to spend money on a book I don't know I love...

I love having the physical book on my hands and I rarely reread books, even those I love, so I buy first before reading. When I was younger this could be frustrating at times when I end up with books I didn't like at all, but it's easier to pick books nowadays because of the internet. Nowadays I always check out reviews and recommendations before buying a book. So now I have a much higher success rate.

I buy books before i read them, and for several reasons.
1. I like to support the authors by buying the books
2. I physicaly just like having a new book in my hands and on my bookshelf
3. I prefer to read in english, and the libraries have a poor selection of english written books here, so Im kinda forced to buy them anyway if i want to read them ;)

I usually read the back and see what its about and if it sounds interesting then I buy it.

I usually buy them before reading them. But I kind of don't have a choice, I'm French and, since I read mostly books from american authors, there's almost zero chance I can borrow them from a library and I refuse to read the translated version, so yeah, I buy them on Amazon to read them. I don't like Kindles and things like that, I prefer to read the printed words but since I bought many books I didn't like, I began to download in PDF books that I'm really not sure whether I'll enjoy them or not...

I don't buy new books before reading them (in fact, I rarely buy new books). But if I see a book I've heard of in a second-hand book store for a good price, I'll buy it even if I haven't read it.

I do both. I don't have an ereader so everything I read is an actual book. Sometimes I check books out from the library and if I really like them and think I will re-read them I purchase them later. However, sometimes I just go ahead and buy books I haven't read. It's an expensive habit, especially since you can end up with a book you don't even enjoy. I am trying to restrain myself and go with library finds only (unless of course the books are from an author or series I already enjoy). :)

I used to buy books before reading them, but I discovered that covers can be VERY deceiving and sometimes reading the little synopsis gives more info than I want to know going into a book. I like to go in with little to no expectations. Also, that was before I discovered this site with all the great recommendations. Since then my book choices have greatly improved thanks to all of you.

So now I try to only get books from the library. If I love it and plan to re-read it in the future then and only then do I buy it, but I always purchase books in print. I use my ereader for library books only.

That being said there are exceptions to any rule. There are certain authors I will buy their stuff without question i.e. Melina Marchetta. Also if it's a series book and I loved the series enough to purchase the other books I will most likely buy it before reading. i.e. Mockingjay for The Hunger Games Trilogy, or Bitterblue from Seven Kingdoms but that's very rare.

When I do buy books I usually order from Amazon. I know they aren't very vendor friendly, but I cannot beat the 1/2 half sales and I always wait to place an order until I have enough to get the free shipping so I only buy books once or twice a year.

If I really like the book, I usually buy it. Haha... and there are a lot

If something really jumps out at me I will buy it before reading or if it's one that's part of a series that I already have a few books from. I'd say the majority of the books I read I buy because I can't seem to stay away from the book section of the stores, and A LOT of books jump out at me. I also have had really good luck buying them on Amazon. I don't buy hardbacks though so I get those from the library if possible then if I loved it and want to buy it I write it down so I can get it if/when it comes out on paperback.

I have a book buying compulsion, so I usually buy books before I have read them.

I use the library at times when I'm low on money, when the book is difficult to find at a bookstore nearby (I almost never buy online), or when I want to read a book but for some reason I have reservations about it.

Since I'm normally a book buyer and I'm also a re-reader, it's tough for me when I really like a book I got from the library because I'm torn between buying it and buying a new book I haven't read yet. I still don't own Leviathan because of that.

Jessica wrote: "I have a book buying compulsion, so I usually buy books before I have read them.

I use the library at times when I'm low on money, when the book is difficult to find at a bookstore nearby (I al..."

I am just like Jessica, I also have a book buying compulsion. If the book interests me, let it be the cover, the author or the synopsis, I will buy it.

I have so many unread books at home... I dont know how I will finish them all as I keep buying new books.

i'm the same as almost everyone on here, i buy them before i read them. maybe in a few random cases i have bought them after i read them at the library, borrowed from a friend or in elementary school if a teacher read a book to the class that i really liked i would usually buy it from the book order. like a lot of people have said, i have a book buying compulsion and i have a ton i own but haven't read yet! i get sucked in by pretty covers and good previews as well :)