On Bookshops, Post-Buying Ban
When the clock struck midnight, 1 January 2025, my mind was (mostly) on one thing: my year-long book-buying ban was finally over. I’ve spoken about my infamous ban a few times now, and you can even read about it here. In short, it was a necessary action since I had 88 unread books on my shelves (there’s now 24, including the eight I bought recently), and also incredibly eye-opening. Of course, as a huge bookworm and collector sort of human, the challenge was really hard, but it was completely doable. And it’s taught me plenty.
As soon as I spotted a spare Sunday in my diary, I scheduled a solo date with a coffee shop and bookshop on the agenda. Yet, when I finally permitted myself to buy books, it was like something clicked into place. I soaked up the glorious feeling of pushing forwards the forest green door, entry bell clanging overhead, and breathed in the familiar scent of new books, filled with anticipation at the thought of leaving with a Daunt Books tote full of fresh reads. I’d even arrived with a shopping list, lovingly put together with the help of my StoryGraph category and bookstagram community.
There are very few feelings greater than amassing an armful of pristine tomes as you peruse the shelves of a bookshop. I love the ceremony of falling in lust with a beautiful cover, of checking the blurb, of reading the first sentence, of moving it from right hand to left crook of arm (or vice versa). When it came to it though, things felt 1% off. For starters, I found I could no longer find titles as easily on the shelves. Next, I found it mentally difficult to let myself spend £8.99 on a book that I might not adore. In the end, I left the bookshop with just three books, none of which were on my original list.
I’ve realised that, since post-buying ban, my relationship with bookshops and the art of buying books has irrevocably changed. That’s not a bad thing. In this capitalist world we live in and are part of, buying books is hardly the worst thing to do. It’s fascinating to see how I feel towards buying new books, especially given I had a really mediocre year of reading in 2024. I also discovered that my tastes have changed so much in these 12 months – so much so that the books I now seek aren’t easily found in high street bookshops. Once I returned home and started looking for copies via Bookshop.org, I realised that I was interested in picking up unique editions of the books I wanted to read. Plus, I was doing plenty of research before choosing a book. Thanks to the Sunbeamsjess Book Club and bookstagram communities for your endless wise words and trustworthy reviews!
