Is a books condition important?

[shantelren]

NOPE! As long as I can read each page that's totally fine. If a book is worn and tattered to me it's because the previous readers have enjoyed it as well. They're just love marks

[CJDSpencer]

I can handle "worn, and beat up" but I can't deal with a book that has been marked heavily. (It's a problem I used to face when buying used text books. I always sought out the ones that had obviously been owned by someone who didn't study)

[cjmayes118]

I prefer books that are in good condition. It helps me to not get distracted by pages that could be about to fall out of the book or constantly wondering if I turn the page too fast, will the whole book shatter? True, some treasures are to be found in well loved books, but I more often than not lean toward the books that are taken care of the most.

[britt1125]

I think that depends. If its just warn out by some one who loved it reading it over and over again that I would buy it. BUT if it's missing pages and looks like its be tossed around because it was just in someones way than i wont. i dont want to start a good book and miss out on like 3 chapters in the middle.

[Airam Velarde]

As long as pages are not missing, then yes I can enjoy reading a well worn book. I have bought many used books so I am used to them being a bit worn. However, I tend to really take good care of the books that I bought brand new. I try not to wear them out too much.

[Norma_Rudolph]

As has been said, as long as all the pages are there I'm usually okay with it. Unless, it has something crusty stuck to pages now and then, that tends to gross me out. Tissues please! Needs to smell reasonably new too.

[RebekaV]

I enjoy reading a beat up book and I don't mind if it smells a little musty either as long as no pages are missing and the story is worth it. I do like the smell of new books better though

[ALynnPowers]

I personally love used books, as long as the spine is still in tact. Once the spine breaks and pages start falling out, that's when I think it's time to put it away somewhere and never let it be touched again.
My boyfriend, on the other hand, prefers to buy new books only. I think he likes knowing that he is the first person to ever touch the pages of the book -- he is kind of a germophobe, I think.

[reginabally]

It depends on how bad the condition is for the book. If it has yellowish spots or the paper has become yellowish it's okay, what I couldn't tolerate are dog-ears and creases at spine. So most of the time I would go for brand new books.

[OnionPickle]

No. I prefer reading old worn out books because it feels... I don't know... calm and I love the smell. The only time I stopped reading an old book was when there were dead bugs squished in every page.

[Anna Meyer]

Everyone loves a clean book... I guess, but I do visit secondhand bookstores and have bought many secondhand books before... and have found most of my best interesting books there, for which I am very grateful I did! Once I bought a book that where literally falling apart in 3 parts...I bought it and read it and underlined it and wrote in it, enjoyed it thoroughly! I kept it in a A5 plastic chiffy while reading it, which helped keeping it together. I did try to bind it with cellotape, but wasn't really successful. I don't mind the condition at all, when it interest me and gets my attention, I buy it and read it... sometimes I find interesting "things" in it, as it is secondhand! I tend to clean secondhand books first...after buying it, before reading it. At least the front and back covers...with something antiseptic or alcholic based. Some of the books are really very old and have been published many many years back, but if the topic catches my heart and mind, I want it and will stick to it! Be grateful I found it!

[mui-scrimp]

If I can read the words, I'll take it. I guess I've gotten used to yellow, old, brittle, books because I like to read my Grandfather's books, and some of those are at least 50 years old. I like the old, musty book smell, though new books have a certain charm too...

[MaryMathis]

Yes it is very important to keep the book in a good condition. The dust jacket is very important for factors affecting the value. For reading book also it is very necessary to keep book in good condition.

[Michelle-lit]

Getting a new book, for me, is like buying a new car. Any scratch or bend in the pages infuriates me, but reading an old book doesn't bother me. It's what's inside that counts.

[rssllue]

New books I like to be pristine, while older books can be in not so great condition.