A librarian's note on a sticky changed how I check used book finds

I bought a stack of old books at an estate sale 3 weeks ago and found this little yellow sticky inside one. It said "check for torn pages near the spine, not just the cover." I never thought to do that before. I looked and sure enough, page 87 was ripped halfway down. Now I flip through every book I buy, not just glance at the outside. Has anyone else found a note like this from a previous owner?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_holly28d ago

Oh man, that sticky note is such a smart find. Maybe it's just me but I always grab books off the shelf and do a quick flip through the pages before I even look at the price. Found a whole chunk missing from a mystery novel once and would've never known if I hadn't checked.

kim.zara28d ago

Gotta disagree on this one. Checking every single book like that takes all the fun out of the hunt. Half the charm of used books is the surprise - what if you find a note from someone or a hidden inscription? And honestly, torn pages are part of the deal. I've got a stack of beat up paperbacks and the ripped ones just feel more loved. Plus, some of my best reads came from books I grabbed at a glance and didn't inspect - the ones with coffee stains and bent corners that tell a story of their own. You miss that when you're too busy flipping through like a detective.

riley_miller2520d ago

Kim Zara's got me feeling called out, lol. @the_holly you're too smart for your own good, making me check books like I'm a pro.

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