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I checked this book out from the library expecting one thing, and found something quite different. Used and Rare is the story of a couple's journey from book reader to book collector. The writing is clear, and the sense of humor excellent. Soon we, too, are drawn into this world, which answers one of the questions I have always wondered - who would pay a couple thousand dollars for a book?

One of the most interesting things about this book is that it is written not by one author but by two - and we are never quite sure by who. At first, I found all the we's distracting, and it was certainly confusing to hear questions asked by 'one of us'; rarely did we find out which one, exactly, it is. I suppose this was a result of the commitment of the two to point the finger at just who was asking the most ridiculous or most intelligent questions, as judged by the book dealers they encountered. It is an interesting writing style, not one I'm overly partial to, but I will give them credit - they made it work in this book. After the first few chapters, I was able to drift right into the flow of their story.

And their story takes them from rural Berkshire to urban New York, Boston, and Chicago in search of great books. In the beginning, they turn up their noses of purchasing something - even a book - that is not 'new'. Soon, however, they are traveling around in search of used books. They develop their own taste and style, and I enjoyed learning about why they preferred various authors and versions. They detail their enjoyment, too, of examining books that are out of their price range - such as one of the original serials for a Dickens novel. And we drop our jaws in disbelief along with them as they learn just how much a first edition Tarzan novel sold for, even as we wonder, why does Tarzan take precedence over the classics? (And what, we wonder, does that say about our culture? Along with the fact that, since publication of this book, a Harry Potter first edition exceeds even that?)

Used and Rare is a well written and enjoyable book that every booklover should read at least once, whether or not they intended to invest in collectibles. Lighthearted, fun, and rather humorous, it provides an excellent look at the world of books both used and rare.)