My book-buying "problem"

Doh! Don't get me started on Charity shops and how they've killed the secondhand book trade (that and t'internet).

Hoaxfam get their stock free, their staff are volunteers, they get relief on business rates and in 75 years STILL haven't solved famine in Africa !!!

 

The bigger crime is some charity shops only keeping 'new' books - hate to think what gets skipped...

An aunt of mine volunteers at one and she had to fight to hold on to a pile of mostly serious u-boat stuff, very little of which was checkable against their preferred comparison site, Ebay. I did a price check and she got a bit of leeway to use realistic 'bargain' prices and held them back for the local 1940s event. The eventual buyer was more than happy with the £150-ish he paid for most of them and they got a decent return.

If Oxfam want to price themselves out of the market, that's up to them. I'd rather not buy from them but sometimes you just have to!

 

Only human? So the rumours aren’t true?
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Looking again at the title of this thread I didn't realise buying books was a problem...in fact it's extremely easy with lots of ways out there to acquire lots of books.......and I've got lots of them as a result. The difficult bit is actually reading them........

 

You must have been going in as I was coming out to have overheard that.

 

My precioussssss...

 

Markets stalls
Comet tank
Put search on amazon for comet tank very disturbing

 

I think it's the REASON for buying a particular book that is also relevant. That's my excuse anyway.

In my case it helps a lot if the title contains the word 'Tank' or 'Panzer'....but it, the reason, can also be something else, such as:

'Enemy Coast Ahead' by Guy Gibson - reason? My mum knew him and used to walk his dog. Is she mentioned in the book? I doubt it very much albeit I haven't read it yet.

'The Everlasting Arms' by John Searby - reason? My Grandma was his Nanny/Governess. Is my grandma mentioned in the book? Very very much doubt it albeit I haven't read it yet.
Note: these two authors knew and worked with each other. Small World.

'The Sharp End' by Johnny Langdon - reason? It's all about tanks but, most importantly, he was my dad's 3RTR Troop Leader. Is dad mentioned in the book? YES....several times

'Warriors for the Working Day' by Peter Elstob - reason? It's all about tanks and he was my dad's Tank Commander in 3RTR. Is dad mentioned in the book? No - it's a novel - unless my dad's real name was Taffy!
Note: I've got several versions of this book - well, they all have different design covers. Sad isn't it?.....

'Hitler's Last Offensive' by Peter Elstob - reason? See above! It's also about the Battle of the Bulge....which was all about tanks and things. Is dad mentioned in the book? No, of course not, but his/Elstobs tank is. I think that counts as half a point in the overall score.

 

oooooo...Comet tank....red rag to bull type stuff. The first few listings are quite 'normal' - actually surprised that a few seem to have been missed off the list - it only gets 'disturbing' lower down the list where it would appear there are Comet tanks in the World that have nothing to do with that amazing Armoured Fighting Vehicle.

I think Adam would like some of those books - mentions Cromwell and Centaur thingys as well.

 

I had to go have a look. The "Armor Photogallery" book on the Comet is pretty good - I found Dick Taylor's comments about the photos in the museum walkaround informative. I'd still love to see more in their "Armor Photohistory" line which are chock full of great B&W photos.

 

Spot on mate very worrying further down the page

 

Amazon's search and product matching algorithm is great but plugs some strange things sometimes.

 

I've just bought three books tonight, finally going to take a crack at Mountbatten's biography. Better late.....and all that.

 

The autobiography would be even more difficult.

 

Are you speaking from experience here?

 

Is that because he was an egotist?
Or because (as far as I know) he didn't write an autobiography to read?

 

Amazon recommended buttplugs ?

....really must get some new glasses....

 

Looks like I have been done-up like a kipper there then.