Step, step, stop.
Scan.
Step, step, stop.
Scan.
Pick up.
First, consider the cover. No, don’t necessarily judge a book by the cover, but consider whether you like the way it makes you feel when you carry it. Does it make you proud to be its owner? Does it pitifully whimper, “Oh please take me with you! I’m so alone here” ? I have many books of both sorts. I tend to spend more time with those needy ones- they’re just so helpless. You must consider the physical attributes of your purchase, for you will be spending many precious hours, nights, days, weeks, and years with it.
Next, breathe deeply. A pleasant smelling book is critical. Can you smell the history? Was its home once a grand library or the simple shelf of a grandmother? Does it smell woody and worn, or are the pages fresh and clean? Both can be good things.
Flip through the pages to see if dreams are hiding in there. Dreams are pretty fluttery glittery things, so you may have to look hard. I find dreams are best preserved in books with yellowish pages…
Lastly, hold it close to your heart to make sure it fits. It doesn’t matter if it fits on your bookshelf- there is always room somewhere- but it has to call out to your heart to be worth anything at all.
Now, go and find a new friend!
