Did you ever have a bookbuying experience that was particularly memorable?

WNHeineHB@aol.com
Once upon a time long long ago, I was in Seattle, in front of University Bookstore, in a no-parking zone. I had only a few hours to stock up on EVERYTHING before leaving to go back to India, where my husband was working. Since we had decided to have a baby there, I had to prepare everything. I knew there were no prenatal courses or any real way of avoiding listening to a rehash of old wives tales and horror stories from other women there. So I dashed into the store and said "Could you please give me the book 'How to handle pregnancy and prepare for birth' (or some title like that) and I am REALLY in a hurry." The astonished clerk handed over the book and gave me a rather queer look as I dashed out of the store. Well, it really helped me and even if my son is now almost 40. I still won't forget that day.

safynegaia@aol.com
My most memorable book buying moment actually belongs to my Mom. I'm a huge Madonna fan. For my 21st birthday my Mom surprised me by pre ordering Madonna's Sex book. She thought it would be a nice addition to my Madonna collection. When the book finally came in our bookstore sent her a postcard to notify her. The day the mailman delivered it he had a smile on his face. The postcard read:
"Dear Mrs. Friend,
Your Sex book has arrived & you can now pick it up."
I still tease her about it.

BigAlvis41@aol.com
The most memorable book buying experience I have ever had is really a case of super customer service and going the extra step for a customer.

I collect signed First Editions of many of my favorite authors. I usually wind up purchasing them from online suppliers since I suffer from extreme arthritis in the knees and cannot attend many book signings.

Nevada Barr appeared at the Lincoln Center branch of Barnes and Noble for a book signing this winter. I was unable to go because that store is not accessible to me by automobile due to the lack of public parking.

I called the store the afternoon of the signing and explained my dilemma. They graciously took my credit card information as well as my Barnes and Noble readers advantage. Within 4-5 days my autographed copy of Nevada Barr's HUNTING SEASON arrived safely and in perfect condition.

This was so thoughtful and considerate that it made this particular event the most memorable book buying experience.

MadTaz1@aol.com
Finding a first edition of a book written by a friend in a used book store while visiting my son at college!

M37cole@aol.com
I once picked up a new Dean Koontz book at Barnes and Noble in Deerfield, Illinois. They had several stacks on a table. When I got up to the checkout counter the clerk said, "I see you have the new Dean Koontz, lets check it." She opened the book and said, "You win." Then turned the book around so I could see it was autographed. The store had Koontz sign extras and just put them among the others to surprise lucky customers.

SharonEK@aol.com
A co-worker and I went into a bookstore on our lunch hour so she could get Spanish lessons on tape as a refresher. We found a book called "Mierda" not knowing what to expect, we started looking through it and laughing so hard at some of the phrases in both English and Spanish. Neither one of us could catch our breath and the tears were running down our face when the clerk told
us if we didn't keep it down we would have to leave the store.

Alanh2062@aol.com
Yes, I have though I didn't actually pay for the book. To set the context, I am a great admirer of Benjamin Disreali, the English Prime Minister during a great part of Queen Victoria's empire-building reign. Disreali had worked to support his dandy lifestyle as an author of popular romance type novels in his early days and also wrote later in his life.

Well, I was having dinner with my girlfriend at The Office, a chain restaurant in my area that had just opened at the time. The booth we were sitting in was surrounded by bookshelves on which were lots of old books and old office paraphernalia --- ledger books, adding machines, etc., --- used as decor. While perusing the titles over my girlfriend's head (she's pretty, but I was in love with books first), I noticed a novel by Lord Beaconsfield --- the honorary title Queen Victoria bestowed on Disreali in his later years for his service to the Crown. I asked her to take it down for me, and when our waiter came with our order, I inquired if I could buy the book. He was nonplused by the question, and brought the manager over. I explained to the manager that I wanted to buy the book and of my enthusiasm for Disreali, its author. I told him I would pay whatever he thought was a fair price. Whether he appreciated my enthusiasm or thought I was a loon, he let me have the book gratis. I thanked him, and gave our waiter a big tip in way of compensation. I don't frequent the restaurant much anymore, but the book remains one of my favorite finds.

ratliff_ron@hotmail.com
I've had two book buying experiences that were memorable. One was buying a first edition of Lonesome Dove for 50 cents at a book sale. The other was buying a later edition of The Russia House at a book sale with a hand written letter (and envelope) inside the book from John LeCarre to the former owner of the book. The book cost me $1.50. Not a bad return.

Kaelsea@aol.com
I was probably 15 or 16 years old, and my parent's were letting me go to "The City" (in this case, Salt Lake City) with my two best friends, Mary Kay and Mary, for a whole day. My friend Mary Kay's Mom was a school teacher and was going to SLC for the annual teacher's convention, so the whole state was out of school for 2 days, a mini-vacation in October. I had never shopped in downtown SLC before, (we were from a smaller town up north) and was almost overwhelmed by the big stores, and the variety of places. All three of us girls were avid readers (Mary Kay grew up to earn a masters degree in Library Science), so book stores were thrilling places for us. We wandered into one used bookstore, and I'll never forget the musty smell of old leather and old books. We browsed for quite a while. I was thrilled when I found an old book, a sequel to one of my favorite stories, "Eight Cousins," by Louisa May Alcott. This book was called "Rose in Bloom" and was printed in 1912! It was older than my parents!! And I didn't even know there was a sequel to Eight Cousins. I bought it for a pittance --- probably a dollar and a half. I have always counted this book to be a treasure. The story was beautifully written, the characters as alive in my mind as my own cousins. And I always remember the fun we three girls had on our big day in the city.

Shell725@aol.com
My most memorable book buying experience was last summer when I got to meet Mary Higgins Clark and her daughter, Carol, at a book signing. I was in line for nearly 2 hours before getting to speak to the women, but it was well worth it. Most of my time was spent speaking with Mary, a fellow member of Sisters in Crime. She took her time in signing my purchases as well as books I'd brought from home. The best part was she came up with original witty sayings for each! I'm also an aspiring mystery writer, so her words of advice meant a lot to me. And not only did they sign my books, they posed with me for pictures.

Skyward77@aol.com
My most memorable book buying experience was visiting the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver, Colorado. Four floors of the most awesome books you have ever seen. In addition several places tucked away in corners where you could enjoy digesting your book in comfortable high wing backed chairs with the smell of fresh brewed coffee filling the air. Just closing my eyes brings back the experience.

BLM221@aol.com
About 25 years ago I was living in Los Angles and went sightseeing near the UCLA campus. I found a women's bookstore, the first I had ever seen. The clerks were welcoming and helpful. I spent hours browsing and bought several volumes. It felt empowering to have a store dedicated to women's issues.

Conwarn@aol.com
All my book buying experiences are good. I enjoy looking as much as buying.

Szys1012@aol.com
I bought a book online and reviewed it on Amazon.com. The author appreciated my review so much that he sent me a present of a book! We now correspond and are working together on a project!

Kentsager@aol.com
I love to be able to find a best seller way before it becomes one or to find a new author before he or she make it big.

My most memorable is John Grisham. While I did not discover his book a Time to Kill, I did discover his book The Firm way before it hit it big. You want to know how? I judged a book by its cover. That's right! I liked the dust jacket cover. It captured my imagination just as did Jurassic Park. (I think this book really brought Crichton to the for front as a thought provoking writer.) Anyway I passed The Firm around to my Mom and a few friends before it hit big.

I remember I wanted to read A Time to Kill (I saw it inside the jacket that he had written a previous book and I wanted it), but I could get it. It was out of print. To bad this was before the Internet. Anyway it finally came out in reprint in a nice style paper back (I am sorry I cannot think of the term that is used for this type of book) after The Firm was a huge best seller.

OldAuntie56@aol.com
While traveling in another country I was introduced to a well known author from this country. He is the father my husband's friend. He was very gracious while I was at his home. He signed and gave me one of his books.

JELEEBS@aol.com
I purchased 1,500 Guiness Book of World Records 2002. It was memorable driving them in the van, as I couldn't see out the back window.

DDobrjansk@aol.com
Meeting Bernard Kerik the former NYPD Commissioner at Barnes and Noble in Bayside (Queens, NYC) when I purchased his book "The Lost Son" was my most memorable buying experience. It was on his watch that the NYPD and its ranks were tested by the tragedies of 9/11, and they came through as heroes (as did the FDNY, EMS, and PAPD). I was very happy to have this special person who was a part of history.

lkopp195@aol.com
Shortly after my 21 old daughter was killed in a car accident , I went to a book store to purchase a book. While there I saw a daily desk calendar with angels on each page. It was the only one left. I bought it and when I was about to through the box away I turned it over to the back and guess what, my Daughter's birthday page was the sample one on the box. I felt this was a sign from heaven that she was there safe and sound with he Lord. I ask you your opinion?

BiblioBabe2@aol.com
I had a memorable experience just this past week. I'd gone to Half-Price Books, one of my favorite places, with a few items to sell, which I'd carried in sturdy plastic bags. Of course, I found some books I couldn't live without. When I checked out, the clerk started to put my purchases in a store bag. I stopped him, telling him I didn't need one as I has "bags aplenty." He laughed, saying that sounded like somebody's nickname. I said "yeah, like some low rent gangster." He blushed and said "or like a dancer." It'll be fun to see if the clerk remembers me next time I go!

whpeters@citlink.net
When I was in college (a hundred years ago) I went to the local department store book counter to order a book of poetry. I was unsure about the editors' names. The clerk asked me if it was the "Little Brown" book? I replied that it was a large green book. She kindly told me that Little Brown referred to the publishers, and not a description of the book itself. Since then, I have been more careful about my responses.

kreckmd1@aol.com
I had a great experience at a UCLA bookfair when I was visiting my daughter and family in LA. I enjoyed seeing the various specialty books and picked up quite a few at good prices. Also, talking to the authors was enjoyable.

paulachambers@webtv.net
In 1996, being blues and William Faulkner aficionados, my son and I went on what we termed "our very own magical, mystery tour" --- up through the Mississippi delta. When we arrived in Oxford, we went to Square Books. We had read references to it in some regional magazines. It was all we'd hoped for --- a booklovers' paradise! We bought with abandon --- barely left ourselves enough money to get back to Texas.

Mystrytx@aol.com
I've had several!! The most recent was finding a SIGNED "Heart of a Woman" just sitting amongst the other books by Maya Angelo (this book was published several years ago). Another was finding a signed copy of a Stuart Wood's book in a remainder stack. My own personal favorite, as a collector, is going to the back of the stack of a certain book. There you can often find a first edition, as when the shelves are restocked, they just pile them on top. I also found a first edition of a best seller, one I was a little late catching onto, in a store's display case. All the books on the floor were 2nd and 3rd printings, this was a first; it is now valued at well over $100.

hawkkj75@aol.com
Yes. It was when Barnes and Noble held their grand opening of a bookstore in my city. I walked into the store. I saw rows upon rows upon rows of books. Jazz was playing on the overhead speakers. I thought, "This is heaven!" I could have died happy at that moment.

JohnPLaura@aol.com
The two that stick out in my mind, are Marshall Frank's "Dire Straits" and Ron Franscell's "Angel Fire." Marshall Frank was my first book signing, and being able to meet him and question him about the book was wonderful!
I had chatted with Ron Franscell before I read his book, and it was very neat to be able to chat about with him about his characters, storyline, etc. I guess, just talking with the authors, made it a book buying experience I will never forget. Ya'll keep up the good work!

shannon_scott@hotmail.com
Yes, prayer works. One time I stopped at my local bookstore (which is a very common occurrence for me) and remembered that I needed to get a copy of the book that my book club had agreed to read for that month. The problem: I could remember neither the name of the book nor the author! I stood in front of the section that I thought might possibly be the right one and prayed that God would show me the book (for some reason I thought I'd know it when I saw it). Sure enough, after the scanning the shelves, Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "100 Years of Solitude" positively leapt off the shelf and into my hands.

H.Kops@flarion.com
Yes, I did have a VERY memorable book buying experience. It happened a few years back at Barnes and Noble in New York. I had gone to a book signing for 'Debt Of Honor' by Tom Clancy. The signing was well advertised, so I had brought along my first edition of "The Hunt for Red October" in the hopes that he would sign it as well. The queue was very long, and when I reached the desk where Mr. Clancy was signing the books, I was informed that Mr. Clancy would only sign the latest book. As I walked by Mr. Clancy (picking up my signed copy of "Debt of Honor"), I pulled from out from my shopping bag my copy of "Hunt for Red October" and asked Mr. Clancy if he would sign it. The Barnes and Noble representative saw this and asked me to move along. Mr. Clancy saw this and yelled "wait a minute, that's a first edition of my first book, of course I will sign it!!" When he signed it, he asked me if I had any idea what the book was worth? Considering the condition and that it is signed, I have found out it is worth about $2000.