# Last book you bought? and why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 2, 2004, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225 "2004-01-02T04:24:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225/21 "2004-01-02T08:29:07Z")
[_Amphigorey Also_](http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=2WIRBHZGE5&isbn=0760734739&itm=1) by Edward Gorey. Because I found it in hardcover. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225/22 "2004-01-02T08:46:45Z")
I bought _Shutter Island_ by Dennis Lehane at a secondhand shop. I only got it because the movie _Mystic River_ ended so well and I had flicked through the book of _Mystic River_ to see that Lehane had ended the story like that. He seems to be a terrific writer. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225/23 "2004-01-02T13:13:13Z")
_Nightmare Alley_, a collection of short stories by Dashiell Hammett. Why? Because at long last I found a collection that includes the three Sam Spade short stories that were the only other stories that Hammett wrote that included the protaganist of _The Maltese Falcon_, one of the great literary works of all time. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Crimson\_Teardrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a5b964/32.png) [@Crimson\_Teardrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crimson_Teardrop)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225/24 "2004-01-02T13:24:22Z")
\*Blood Canticle \* by Anne Rice I’m a die hard fan of the Vampire chronicles…I think that explains everything:p ---
**Author:** ![Exet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8797f3/32.png) [@Exet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exet)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225/25 "2004-01-02T13:24:49Z")
The last books I bought were the first four books in Stephen Kings Dark Tower series. I bought them after reading reviews online and after my dad had recomended the series, he thought I would like them. He was right. I have finnished the Gunslinger and started reading the Drawing of the Three and I absolutly love them ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225/26 "2004-01-02T13:34:32Z")
Copied from my Amazon order confirmation: “More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun-Control Laws (Studies in Law and Economics (Chicago, Ill.).)” John R., Jr. Lott;Paperback; $11.20 “The Anatomy of Motive : The FBI’s Legendary Mindhunter Explores the Key to Understanding and Catching Violent Criminals” John E. Douglas;Mass Market Paperback; $7.99 “Basements : Your Guide to Planning and Remodeling” Paula Marshall;Paperback; $10.36 The first two were suggested by posters on SDMB and should be interesting in that they supposedly will change my mind on the pertinent issues. The Basement book is because I plan to furnish my basement. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225/27 "2004-01-02T14:10:17Z")
_The Forsyte Saga_ as a Christmas present for a friend. However, I’ve been following the repeats of the new series on _Masterpiece Theatre_ and may end up buying a copy for myself sometime soon. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225/28 "2004-01-02T15:09:19Z")
_The Way We Talk Now: Commentaries on Language and Culture_ by Geoffrey Nunberg, who does pieces for “Fresh Air.” I was doing a superfast run-through of the language section of a good used bookstore and it caught my eye – I like his stuff. ---
**Author:** ![greenphan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c37758/32.png) [@greenphan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenphan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225/29 "2004-01-02T15:32:26Z")
_Being and Nothingness_ by Sartre, because I’m currently working through Camus and would like to actually see existentialism proffered as a philosophy rather than as a by-product of someone’s fiction and politicial idealogy. And _Let’s Go Paris_ because I’m going back to Paris in March and find Rick Steve’s guidebooks (which I bought last time I went to Europe) very lacking. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225/30 "2004-01-02T15:49:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by greenphan \* > \*\*_Being and Nothingness_ by Sartre, because I’m currently working through Camus and would like to actually see existentialism proffered as a philosophy rather than as a by-product of someone’s fiction and politicial idealogy. > > And _Let’s Go Paris_ because I’m going back to Paris in March and find Rick Steve’s guidebooks (which I bought last time I went to Europe) very lacking. \*\* Have you checked out English author Colin Wilson. He is a very clear thinker about philosophy and psychology and well worth checking out. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225/31 "2004-01-02T16:09:29Z")
It wasn’t actually for reading - but for looking: Herb Ritts: Men/Women I was buying my wife a book on wine for Xmas and I bought this for both of us. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225/32 "2004-01-02T16:15:59Z")
This is going to be a geeky list… Johnny The Homicidal Maniac: The Directors Cut (Graphic Novel) by Jhonen Vasquez - I’ve loved JtHM since my ex-girlfriend introduced me to it. Violent, sick, funny as all hell, vulgar, bloody, funny as all hell…you get the point. Sadly, The Director’s Cut (a collection of the series) cuts the 'Meanwhile’s which have some of the best bits (including one that was referenced at least 4 times in what was left. \>\_\<). Still well worth having. The Complete Warrior - a D&D sourcebook for martial characters. I’m a player and a DM…pretty much a must have, yes? The complete Dune series (or rather all of Frank Herbert’s Dune books) - I’ve been meaning to read it for a loooong time - started in HS, then lost my copy. Finally getting around to trying again. A bunch of D&D novels. Uhm… ‘I’m a geek’ about covers that one. The Victorious Opposition, by Harry Turtledove - I’ve loved the series since book one. Murder Mysteries, by Neil Gaiman and P Craig Russell (Graphic Novel) - I love Gaiman and I love the short story it was expanded from. ---
**Author:** ![Greywolf73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@Greywolf73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greywolf73)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225/33 "2004-01-02T17:03:13Z")
**Pompeii** by Robert Harris–I am fascinated with Pompeii and this book sounds promising. I’ve just started on it so I don’t have too much more to say about it. So far, so good. I also just ordered a used copy of **Replay** by Ken Grimwood based on a recommendation in the “Five Favorite Novels” thread because I’m a sucker for time travel novels. ---
**Author:** ![moi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@moi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moi)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225/34 "2004-01-02T17:09:46Z")
Came back to add that I was also gifted the following books from a friend’s library:[ul] [li] **The life and loves of a she-devil** by Fay Weldon–Read it once and found it light and entertaining; will probably pack it on plane rides.[/li][li] **The Magic Toyshop** and **Nights at the Circus** , both by Angela Carter–I really like magical realism but have yet to read Carter; she had to buy the books for a class and is unlikely to reread.[/li][li] **Still Life** by A.S. Byatt–to go next to my unread copy of **Possession** , unfortunately. On my to-read list, but I just haven’t made it to them yet.[/li] **The Hundred Secret Senses** by Amy Tan–I started to read it once while I was staying at her place, now I have the opportunity to finish it.[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Breezy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b3f665/32.png) [@Breezy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Breezy)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225/35 "2004-01-02T17:34:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Courk \* > I don’t buy many books. Usually I’m content to wait for a new release to be available at the library. (Dear Lord, people need to read _The Da Vinci Code_ faster.) \*\* Amen to that. I’m about to BUY the book, because I’m sick of being on the waiting list for it! Same with Mystic River!! ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225/36 "2004-01-02T17:43:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tangent \* > \*\ ***Naked** by David Sedaris. I was heading toward the magazine rack at Target to get something to read while having my vehicle worked on and this caught my eye on the book rack. I’ve seen him on Conan and I’ve heard it’s a funny book, so I bought it. I’m not far into it, but it is indeed funny and interesting. \*\* Yeah, the guy is twisted. I love it. I got _Me Talk Pretty One Day_ for Christmas and suspect I’ll be getting more of his books. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225/37 "2004-01-02T17:59:45Z")
Last book I bought was The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Mythology by Arthur Cotterrell and Rachel Storm, in the bargain bin for $14.99. Very nice coffee table book, though I was pissed they totally left out Eastern European myth, including the Finnish Kalevala. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225/38 "2004-01-02T18:05:35Z")
**Exet** : I bought the same, the first four books of the Dark Tower series. I am entranced and am now in the middle of _Hearts in Atlantis_, which I got out of the library while I wait for _The Wolves of the Calla_ to come back in. That’ll be the next book I buy when it comes out in paperback. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225/39 "2004-01-02T18:14:35Z")
You need a _reason_ to buy books? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225/40 "2004-01-02T19:25:08Z")
For me it was _Blinded by the Right_ by David Brock, a former right-wing idealogue and self-described conservative hitman. He also wrote _The Real Anita Hill_ which he utterly repudiates in _Blinded by the Right_. Essentially, Brock, for various reasons and after being the far-right’s darling for years, felt the pangs of his conscience, and wrote the book to reveal his dishonesty and compicity as a right-wing operative. I read it because I wanted to gain insight into the conversative machine that was so ferociously intent on destroying Clinton, and to learn from an inside source why it was–when I was once very sympathetic to the Republican party–that since about 1990 I had felt betrayed by the GOP, as it seemed to be involved in a hostile takeover from extreme right-wingers. I wanted to understand better how this all happened; Brock’s book helped with that understanding. Anyway, a fascinating read. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-book-you-bought-and-why/222225.md?page=3)