Malia wrote: Frankly, that's the kind of thinking I normally have--but if I'm ever going to be able to afford living on my own while working part time and going full time to grad school (which I'll be doing in not so many months)--I'm going to have to curb my enthusiasm a little bit--whether I like it or not.
Ah, but books are the gift-to-self that keeps on giving! I'm with Despondence on this one.
As a matter of fact, I just had a conversation with a co-worker of mine today about book buying. She observed that I seem to have a different book every time she sees me (which is a gross exaggeration), and asked if I purchase most of the books that I read. In explaining my situation, I replied with the fact that 1) I never know at what point or how quickly I will get through any given book, so borrowing from libraries is just too much of a hassle, 2) I also like to write in margins and underline things, also a library no-no, and 3) I just like having books! Sure, I sometimes go to the used bookstore (particularly if what I'm looking for is hard to find or unusually expensive), and occassionally will sell back a book if I don't really feel the need to keep it in my collection or lend it out to others, but most of the time, I'm just continually adding to this imaginary library of two-story mahogany shelving and sliding ladders that I dream of having one day.

Of course I'm an impoverished recent college grad with only a temporary job at $11/hr., but that won't stop me! Of course, I might be singing a different tune once I'm living on my own and paying for my health insurance (if I'm lucky enough to be able to afford it), but how can you put a price tag on the endless joy of literature?