Budget Vogue: Thrift Shop Book Aficionado Swims And Reads

By SUSAN DROMEY HEETER, Budget Vogue, InDepthNH

As the heat rises, one of my go-to summer joys is to jump into the Lamprey River, throw my clothes on over my wet bathing suit and then head out on errands. As I’m not a fan of air conditioning, I leave the windows open and utilize the warm air to dry off.

Unfortunately, the other day I traveled to a bookstore to find a book on the Mediterranean Diet, as my wardrobe is feeling tight after a winter and spring of Mexican food and Milk Duds. As I walked amidst the books, however, my wet bathing suit soaked through the pages of my new book. I did purchase it, the clerk wondered if the building had a leak and I felt compelled to explain my situation.

And that, Budget Voguers, is the reason I rarely buy new books at retail stores.

Thrift shop books may not necessarily be on the New York Times Best Sellers’ List but there is such a selection, a plethora of bounty and infinite titles. I’m currently reading The Last Days of Dead Celebrities, a book whose title explains it all and a read that I never in a million years would have purchased new - in hard back especially. And, it’s been fascinating, covering the final days of an eclectic mix including John Denver, Tupac Shakur, Lucille Ball. I had no idea Ms. Ball was such a
cribbage fan, her final days involved quite a few games. In addition, Orson Welles’ final day was spent ON the Merv Griffin Show. What an exit. Mr. Welles also feigned loving the small French meals at Manhattan’s Le Veau d’Or but secretly went out for several hot dogs apres his meals. That’s probably what killed him.

And thrift shop books are generally far less expensive than new and, as I’m not a fan of owning books, I delight in simply reading and donating. There are moments I simply pass on reads to friends — and I never want them back. I know what I do to books on the beach, do not loan me a book you want back in pristine condition. I am not that person. But thrift shop books? I treat them as I do my shoes, I’ll walk in sand and sun, run and skip, and, of course, get me soles soaked.

Here is hoping you, too, are at the beginning of a summer of great reads, great thrift shop book finds, great soaks of pages, your mind, your body. It’s summer. Delight in the water and sand, delight in the books and the sun. I know I am and, apres my own Mediterranean meals, I, too will be jetting out for hot dogs a la Orson Welles.

Susan Dromey Heeter writes from Newmarket and often from the road where she celebrates thrift shops and delights in FREE signs on the side of the road. She writes of all things frugal and fun, second hand as opposed to Amazon deliveries. Follow Susan @BudgetVogue63 on Instagram. Dromey Heeter ADORES reader responses, stories and questions. She can also be reached at dromeyheeter@gmail.com.

This article first appeared on InDepthNH.org and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.