I have a confession: I hoard books. I know the problem is bad because my cat keeps knocking over the teetering “to read” pile on my nightstand. Over the years, I’ve gotten some books I think are pretty cool, and I became curious about how much my collection was actually worth. Through a chat with the friendly folks in the Rare Book Room at Powell’s, I got a better idea of what collectors look for and what gives used books value. When I got home, I grabbed my copy of CHOKE by Chuck Palahniuk and put my lessons to the test.
Powell’s Books
Fearless Bookman
By Kristen Ludwigsen
I had the privilege of sitting down with John Henley, a well-known appraiser of rare books in the Pacific Northwest. He has also been an adjunct of the PSU Book Publishing Program since its inception, teaching the survey course titled The Popular Book in the United States. We talked about his job as appraiser, his Oolie aspirations, and how his love of books—inspired early on by his mother—led him to a career of buying and selling them for Powell’s and The Great Northwest Bookstore.
No-Nonsense War Stuff: Author Sean Davis Reads at Powell’s Books
By Brooke Horn
I had the pleasure of listening to author, veteran, and artist Sean Davis read to a standing-room only crowd at Powell’s Books last night. Bibliophiles, friends, veterans, and fans trickled into the bookstore and settled into the Pearl room for the event. I arrived a little early so I could enjoy perusing the seemingly infinite […]
From Jackie O. to Flower Child
By Kate Marshall
On Friday, I had the pleasure of attending a reading for Ruth Tenzer Feldman’s just-released title The Ninth Day at Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing in Beaverton. The Ninth Day is Ooligan’s most recent publication and is a companion novel to the Oregon Book Award-winning novel Blue Thread. As the current project manager for […]