What did YOU buy today? April 2020 *Book-buying under special circumstances*

Just wanted to start a new thread, even though I didn't buy any books this April yet - I also don't like to buy online.
Oh, how I cannot wait for bookstores and libraries to open again... :( :(
The only thing that makes it - halfway - ok for me is that I still have unread books for about a year left, because I been going binge-buying at my local bookstore at least twice a week under normal circumstances...

ReneeMarie, I hope you're doing well! I'm thinking about you!

I also don't like to buy online.

Let's not forget, though, that buying books online may be what saves our independent bookstores.

Since we shut down here in Chicago, I've ordered books from local bookstores, specifically to help them survive. Most are providing free delivery.

So, this month:

La Mennulara, by Simonetta Agnello Hornby
Jewish poet and intellectual in seventeenth-century Venice : the works of Sarra Copia Sulam in verse and prose, along with writings of her contemporaries in her praise, condemnation, or defense

>2 lilithcat: Let's not forget, though, that buying books online may be what saves our independent bookstores.

I don't use my credit card or my debit card online. If I have no other option, there are things like Visa Gift Cards and bookstore gift cards that can be used online. I prefer supporting the people who work in brick & mortar stores.

The local bookstores all take requests over the phone. I don't do that right now because of the hour long bus ride (one way) to get to the only two bookstores on the transit route -- too much exposure, so I only take the bus to my grocery store these days.

And unless a store can ship (free or not) USPS, I can't be sure of getting my delivery. USPS has keys to access my apartment building. UPS doesn't.

>1 Yuki_Onna: Thanks for thinking of me. I'm fine monetarily through at least the end of May. I'm fine for reading material for the rest of my life, even if I never buy another book nor ever go to a library again.

Hope everyone else is surviving right now, too.

Anybody else in this group buying books right now, online or otherwise?

>3 ReneeMarie:

I prefer supporting the people who work in brick & mortar stores.

That's who I'm supporting when I buy online, since the brick & mortar parts of the businesses are closed.

I prefer supporting the people who work in brick & mortar stores.

The local bookstores all take requests over the phone.

Sorry, I should've said

The local bookstores all currently take requests over the phone.

And this is why I'm worried:
https://www.uschamber.com/co/good-company/launch-pad/changes-in-consumer-buying-...

>2 lilithcat: lilithcat: Let's not forget, though, that buying books online may be what saves our independent bookstores.

I second that, of course, and I've tried to order as much as possible from small local shops!

>5 ReneeMarie: ReneeMarie: Let's hope it will all soon get back to "normal" and people will continue to buy at smaller, local stores! I will certainly continue to do so, once the world is 'back to normal'...

Good news from Germany: since yesterday, small shops (those under 800 square metres) and bookstores (no matter what size) have been allowed to open again! There's only a certain amount of people allowed in, and there are strict hygiene rules, of course. I think this is pretty awesome!

Of course, in my lunch break, I went straight to my local bookstore. It was pretty "packed" - just up to the allowed maximum pf people, that goes without saying. AND there was a long queue waiting in front of the store waiting to be allowed in. A good sign, in my view. :)

I brought home today:

Hiro Arikawa: The Travelling Cat Chronicles
Chris Brookmyre: Fallen Angel
As well as: a beautiful edition of Japanese fairy tales and two cute notebooks.

Stay safe, everyone!!! I'm thinking about you!

How is everyone doing? ReneeMarie, are you okay?

I recently bought myself an e-book reader (an independent one, no Kindle - I don't support amazon under any circumstances), for ARCs mostly.

Today, I got myself my first e-books (from my local bookstore, of course :))

Caroline Graham: The envy of the stranger
Anthony Neil Smith: The cyclist
Mira Morton: Only for love, Flamingo

>7 Yuki_Onna: Still here. Still hanging on. Still getting disgusted by the protests against public health that have been going on, and their I-don't-give-a-sh*t-about-anyone-else vibe. Not to mention their campaign flags and hats.

Safer-at-home has been extended to May 26 (but one political party is trying to take it to the state supreme court & say the governor doesn't have the right to unilaterally try to save lives via executive order).

It doesn't sound like I'll be back at work until maybe some time in June, if we actually follow the experts' advice on public health. And who knows what business will look like even then.

They've called me twice to come back to work. Once when they were looking for only 1 person, but I passed since I've got a bit of financial cushion and don't have a working car (bus? rather not until I have to). I also haven't been able to find sanitizing spray, wipes, or a face mask yet. The second time they wanted about a dozen people to work 18 hours a week or less (over 20 hours and you get some benefits). I told them I would work if they couldn't find enough people to say yes, so I'm "plan B." I also got a letter from work saying they're cancelling 401(k) employer match of employee contributions through at least the end of the year. Um hmm.

I may not have bought any books for 5+ weeks, but since libraries may be able to do curbside pickup now I've been trying to read through as many non-renewable titles as possible. Out of 37 books due on May 1, I have 21 left to get through.

One I finished recently (for the second time, this time with notes) I plan to recommend to all my nieces and nephew:

How to Retire with Enough Money: And How to Know What Enough Is by Teresa Ghilarducci
https://infoforinvestors.com/academy/books/retirement-books/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2016/01/05/how-to-retire-with-enough-mon...

Right now I'm reading The Broken Ladder: How Inequality Affects the Way We Think, Live, and Die by Keith Payne. It's psychology plus "harder" science.

And, like everybody else, I'm doing spring cleaning & decluttering.

Enjoy your bookstore visits, Samantha -- carefully. Glad things are looking good where you are.

ReneeMarie: Oh Renee, that doesn't sound good. There are still no wipes and face masks in stock where you are?!!? How are you supposed to leave the house, then? I really understand you don't want to use public transport under those circumstances and rather not go to work. ... And what your employers did - oh well ... :(
Luckily, my job is quite safe. I don't know how I would get by if it weren't.

I'm sorry I haven't been in touch lately, the whole situation has been pretty hard on me, too. Especially since there have been groups of demonstrators forming lately, which also seem to give a sh***t about anybody else. There have been so many injured people, because all those groups don't shy away from using violence...
I mean, I also have some reservations about some of the measures employed by our government, but there's no need to act like that. And especially not to use violence.
And all the people who refuse to wear face masks on public transport although they are mandatory? They are free to gamble with their health, but please not with that of others!

Well... I'm sorry if all my book buying makes me seem incredibly shallow, but book buying and browsing bookstores are - and have always been - vital to me and keep me sane somehow... :)

So in late April I bought:
Pines, Wayward and The last town by Blake Crouch - the whole Wayward Pines Series, basically.
And All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater.

Hope you are feeling better, Renee. Thanks for your good wishes! All the best to you, too!!! And if you ever need to talk, feel free to contact me, ok?
(Oh, and spring cleaning? Sounds good! Guess who should really do that but couldn't bring herself to start, yet? :P)