Who ever thought spending money on books would be hard?

This is another question post.  I would LOVE some input... comments, advice, whatever...

I'm in a weird spot.  If you've been reading my blog, you probably know I am unemployed and flat broke.  This means, other than a standing order for JAK/JC/AQ books (which has since been cancelled), I have not purchased a new book (non-textbook) in at least 6 months, maybe closer to a year.  All books coming in have come through PBS, purchased used at low prices (under $1), checked out at the library...  Even the B&N gift card I got for my Birthday (back in Sept.) went toward spring semester's text books.  I simply haven't been able to justify purchasing a book new.  Which brings me to the following...

I helped my mother with some stuff around the house in exchange for some spending money ($10-15).  Today she offered to up the amount received if I took it in the form of a B&N gift card she had (along w/ helping out w/ a few additional chores).  So I went to B&N with a $25 GC and 10% coupon (received in my email)... and bought nothing.  That's right. NOTHING.

It was so overwhelming!  How do I choose one WL item over another?  I don't want to purchase my first new book in ages if it's not a keeper, but I don't want to waste this opportunity purchasing a re-read either.  And what about all the fascinating looking books I discovered just walking through the store? Choices, choices, choices! (Another option is to use the GC to renew my membership, but then I won't have any money to spend, so what good would the member discount be?)

So question(s): Have you ever found spending money on books difficult? (Please keep in mind, this was in the form of a GC for a bookstore so bills, food, clothes, gas, and other such necessities aren't reasons not to spend it.)  If you had so many choices and limited resources, how would you decide?  Oh, and I worked for this and am keeping it for myself. ;p

My ma also got a GC for Olive Garden (she got to choose from a list as a fift from the company she works at for Secretary's Day, if you were wondering), so she has said we'll go to B&N (again, for me) sometime this week (b4 my coupon expires) and go to Olive Garden afterwards.  I need to have some idea of what I'm getting by then...

To Read or To... [Fill in the Blank]

Sleep?
Study?
Write a paper?
Take an exam?
Clean?
Deal with finances?
...

The list goes on. I've been very busy this week. Which means I've been struggling to balance the reading that I need so much and the various obligations I have. So the question I have is simple (or not).

What are your priorities? How do you find balance between reading and life?

Books I Want to Read...Now NOT Later

I just (a couple days ago actually) read The Perfect Poison by Amanda Quick, and now I have to wait until AUGUST for her (well, Jayne Castle, but same diff) next book. =( I don't like waiting. ::sniffs::

Ah, well. In the meantime, I have plenty of other books to get to. Of course, those can be difficult to come across. I'm loving Simon R. Green's Nightside books. I just (in the same sense as the Amanda Quick book) read The Unnatural Inquirer, and I'm trying to figure out how I can get to Just Another Judgement Day soon. I can't afford to purchase it (it's hardback and I'm just not ready for that financial commitment), and the local library isn't really buying anything new these days. ::sigh:: I think I'm going to have to work out a free day and read it at the bookstore (sorry bookstores, for your loss of a purchase). I also need to get ahold of Killer Cuts by Elaine Viets from her Dead-End-Jobs mystery series. Don't know how I'm gonna manage that either, but I'm determined.

And man alive, you'd think I didn't have an enormous number of TBR books already at hand and waiting to be read...

Escape in Books

I've seen this discussed around quite a bit now, so it may be an *old* topic; however, I want to *say* my bit anyway...

There have been news articles and videos about the recession and the alleged impact on book sales — particularly the romance genre and Harlequin. It has been mentioned how this increase in sales may be due to the fantasy/happy ending/etc. aspect.

This is all extremely relevant to my blog because that is what my reading/blogging is all about... escaping the negatives of reality. Hence, Books to the Rescue. This negative reality includes money issues (namely — unemployed, broke, and school loans to repay). It also includes some personal issues I'm dealing with (depression and a serious case of self-hate). Books are my escape from that. Blogging, reading blogs and reviews (and commenting) about books and book related subjects — even book trading and games (Paperbackswap, anyone?) — are all extensions of that escape. And it's not just the happy ending (though I look for that, too). For me, it's just living (through reading) a life that's not mine...that never will be mine.

Anyway, if you missed the articles and videos I'm referring to here are some... some positive, some condescending, and some a mixture...

Recession Fuels Readers' Escapist Urges (New York Times)
The recession heats up romance novels (Los Angeles Times)
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/30133182#30133182 (The Today Show / MSNBC)
Love Story: Romance Novel Continues to Sell in Down Economy (Includes Video) (ABC / Nightline)
NPR: Finding An Escape In Romance? (NPR: National Public Radio)
Loving the economy: Romance novels, dating services see spike in sales (KARE)
etc.

On the topic of free books...

Since money seems to be such an issue with me lately, I thought I'd mention some free e-book opportunities I've come across. Now, I'm not a big e-book fan myself. In fact, I've never made it through a full length e-book before. But I'm going to start trying.

BAEN
A little over a year ago I discovered the Baen Free Library. Some authors published by Baen have chosen/agreed to make some of their books (again, published by Baen) available for free in e-format. They can change which books they offer, they can decide how long they remain available... their choice, but it means free books (outside of the physical library) for readers. And the books are offered in: HTML, Rich Text, Microsoft Reader, Palm, Psion, and Window CE Reader, and Rocket eBook. Being unfamiliar with e-books, all I really understand about this is that I can use my computer. =)
Baen Free Library can be found at: http://www.baen.com/library/

EHARLEQUIN
Beginning January 29th there is an opportunity to download up to 16 free e-books from Harlequin in celebration of Harlequin's 60th birthday.
Details can be found at: http://www.harlequincelebrates.com/

AUTHOR MELANIE LYNNE HAUSER
...is offering a free (ARC?) e-book called Jumble Pie. You provide your email addy, click on a quick confirmation email, and receive a PDF of this book. Simple. I certainly intend to take advantage of this offer, e-book or no.
Jumble Pie free e-book offer can be found at: http://melanielynnehauser.com/JumblePie.html

SUZE ORMAN ON OPRAH'S WEBSITE
I know pretty much nothing about Suze Orman, but until January 15th, 2009 (Thursday) her book Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan is available for free download, as a PDF file, in English or Spanish. Seemed appropriate to mention this one considering the topic.
Found at: http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20081119_tows_bookdownload

PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Of course, libraries are a great source of free reading material in most formats. I know some public libraries will also allow patrons to download audio books to their computers for free. You can burn them and all, you just have to agree to personal use restrictions...

THE FINE PRINT, ETC.
Speaking of... to be on the safe side, I'll 'say' the obvious. I'm not encouraging illegal distribution, etc., etc. Please read any guidelines/rules/restrictions before downloading these... Oh, and not that anyone is actually reading this (heeeeeellllooooooooo out there! ::echoes::), but if by chance, someone is, feel free to comment about any free book (or e-book or audio book) opportunities you're aware of.

Update, and the Cost of Reading

Finished False Profits and Cover Your Assets. Unfortunately, I do NOT have the third book in the series...yet. In the meantime, I've started Donna Andrews's Turing Hopper series. I have finished You've Got Murder. I was a bit taken aback to realize the main character is a computer (Artificial Intelligence Personality), but grew to like her anyway. I'm currently reading the second book in the series, Click Here for Murder.

Now, I have something else to "talk" about. Something that has been preying on my mind. Money... and so relevant to books!

There is a quote, "When I get a little money I buy books, and then if any is left I buy food and clothes." ~ Erasmus

Another says, "The great gift is the passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites. It gives knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is moral illumination." ~ Elizabeth Hardwick

... I have difficulty understanding how anybody can think a passion for reading is cheap! The only way for it to be cheap is if you exclusively use the library. And if you really have a passion for reading, are you going to limit yourself to library books? Not in my experience!

And if you're like me, and become curious and/or interested in what your reading about - to the extent of wanting to try it out? For instance, I've been reading Monica Ferris (Mary Monica Pulver)'s Needlecraft series. I've never done needlecraft, but now I'm interested in trying it. I found classes, $60. The books discuss how expensive supplies can be... that is just one example.

Now obviously, you can't do everything you read about. Especially when you really get into the more fantastical subjects. But a good author is likely to have you wanting to know more, whether it means continuing his/her books, further research, or in the case of my example actually trying it. And, sorry, but that isn't cheap.

Anyway, that's a wrap....