I’ve been waiting for three years for September 7th to fall on a Wednesday. (My blogging day.) At last, it is HEEEEERE! But why is this a big deal? Well . . . because I get to talk about Buy a Book Day. THIS IS TOTALLY A REAL THING, GUYS. It’s even on my agent’s agency blog, and that blog speaks only true bookish things. September 7th is officially National Buy a Book Day. (Tweet this!)
Is this “holiday” legit, you ask? Is that even a question? YES. Because BOOKWORMS MAKE IT LEGIT, OKAY?! Bookworming aside, I just love the heart behind it and, um, why wouldn’t we jump at the chance to buy a book? 😉 The best part is, this day has no rules other than buying a book. The goal is to venture into a new story, to promote the importance of books to our culture, to support the grand industry of booknerdiness, and–if possible–to support your local bookstore!
Here’s how I do National Buy a Book Day:
- I strive to buy a physical book.
- I strive to buy that book from a physical store.
That’s it. I do this mainly to break my habits of online book buying and to explore something new. Every year, I start counting down to September 7th because I know (and hubby knows) that on that day I get to buy a new book.
Last year I was traveling on National Buy a Book Day and bought Mistborn (Brandon Sanderson) from the airport bookstore. The year before that, I know for a fact I bought a book. But that was also two years ago and do you expect me to remember everything? 😛 This year was a bit more magical and memorable. I was browsing the dreamy bookstore coffee shop called Chapters in Newberg, Oregon. (You’re in love already, aren’t you? Rightly so! That NAAAAAAME!) I didn’t make it three steps into the store before I saw . . . it.
A giant paperback tome.
644 pages of beautiful beast.
A title in my favorite color.
THIS BOOK:
May I present to you . . . The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings. *swoon* You thought I’d buy fiction, didn’t you? Well, I’m a sucker for the right kind of non-fiction (and you should be, too!) and THIS IS THE RIGHT KIND. It’s beautiful and the writing is rich in more ways than one. I can’t wait to read more of it!
Sometimes I cheat and I buy my book a day early or a day later. I try to avoid this at all costs, but National Buy a Book Day isn’t about September 7th, it’s about books. And bookworms know when it’s okay to cheat. So if you are a bookworm who can’t make it to the bookstore today, that’s okay. You have my permission to celebrate a day late. 😉 (Or just every single day of the year. But you might have to get your bank account’s and bookshelves’ permission before doing so.)
That’s how I do NBaBD. But you can do it totally different! You could buy an e-book, you could shop online, you could preorder a book you’re excited about, etc. You could take it any way you want (as long as you end the day with a new book.) And that’s okay.
Ways you can participate in National Buy a Book Day:
- Tell a friend that it’s National Buy a Book Day. Because, um, THE WORLD NEEDS MORE READERS.
- Buy a book
- Buy someone else a book.
- Buy your pet a book.
- Stand on the sidewalk by your local bookstore with a sign telling people it’s National Buy a Book Day.
- Pretend that this is a legitimate holiday and take off school, work, life, to go read all day.
- Use the hashtag #BuyaBookDay and #NationalBuyaBookDay ALL OVER THE PLACE. Annoy your friends. It’s your bookwormish duty.
- Try a book in a new genre. (Such as a non-fiction tome about the great Inklings!)
So today, when you buy your new book, you should tell me what you bought. Even better, post a picture and tag me on social media. Let’s celebrate bibliophilia together! *dances*
YOUR TURN:
If you could buy any book today, which one would it be?
Have you ever celebrated National Buy a Book Day before?
What? I had no idea this was a thing! 😀 Totally a legit holiday though, hopefully I can run into town to buy a book… XD
Did you succeed? It almost qualifies as the best day ever. 😛
This is so cool! How am I just now learning this exists?! I have a gift card to a local bookstore. Time to use it. *cracks knuckles*
(Oh and your book is so gorgeous and sophisticated!)
YAY! What book did you get?!
And thank you! <3 When I saw it on the shelf I knew that it belonged in my hands FOREVER.
I used to live in Newberg! My family used to go to Chapters all the time.
WHAAAAAA? That’s so crazy! Too bad you didn’t still live there — then I could have said hi! 😀
EEP I’m so glad you posted about this! I TOLD myself that I would remember this time … and then I forgot about it until you said something XD. But I’m SO celebrating this year (mostly by posting about it and reading ALL the new books I bought two days ago). LOVE the book you bought!
I have an alarm in my brain. 😉 Actually, I put it to repeat on my calendar so I never forget. Ha!
AHHH I DID NOT KNOW THIS! Eep, I wish I could buy a book today! But alas, I have yet to find a good bookstore in this new area. *sigh* But I’ll just curl up with Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengl to make up for it. <3
AH, that book you bought! *huggles it* I'm really interested in reading about the Inklings. 🙂
THAT BOOKSTORE HAS A GLORIOUS NAME. Chapters. <3 Omg, get me there now. When my family passed through Oklahoma, we stopped at THE BEST little bookstore ever, with wood paneling and roaring fireplaces and rolling ladders, along with a little coffee shop. IT WAS THE BEST EVER. *is tickled just by the memory of it*
Okay, I'm rambling…
ANYWAY. Thanks for posting about this! (also, as a side note, I'm SO SO STOKED for A Time to Rise. My sister and I have been counting down the days until it releases. Literally every. single. day. <3)
I love finding those little lost bookstores that are hidden portals! It always makes me want to own a bookstore. 😛
And I love that you’re counting down the days! Awwwww!
That book looks great! And Brandon Sanderson is great too. I think I might have spent all my money buying your books the other day though… 🙂
I’m okay with this. 😉 😉
This is so cool, why do I only find about these things from Americans… and by that time it is always the next day over here in Australia! I am tempted to go to the book shop though… but I am saving up to buy Scrivener, hopefully…. and I still have not read the two Brandon Sanderson books I just bought the other day either.
Now just put it on your calendar for next year! And I still haven’t read the Brandon Sanderson book I bought LAST year. O.o I’m doing much better this year. 😛
Ah, man! I haven’t found a Puerto Rico bookstore with books in English!
Ack! That would be SO difficult!!! My heart goes out to you, Gabriela!
Just picked this book up last week (two days early, was traveling on NBBD), really enjoying it so far. If you’re liking it, you might also enjoy “J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century” by Thomas Shippey.