Don McKay, in "Rich Man, Poor Man"

I'm delighted to say I no longer have to feel guilty for having recently bought Don McKay's book of poetry Strike/Slip from a used bookstore, thus denying him the royalties due him. For this very book, McKay this book won $50,000 with the Griffin Poetry Prize. And wonderful lines, I have to say -- really remarkable stuff.

Now, if I can only do the same for the authors of all those other used books I've bought....
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Zootenany Hoodlum said…
I had never before thought of buying second hand books as denying authors the royalties which they so very much deserve. How have I made it for thirty-three years as a complete bibliophile and never thought of this? I have no idea (well, actually, yes I do. I am really not that thoughtful of a person.)

Worth thinking about, and also helpfully allows me further justification for the massive amounts of money I spend on new books.

Thanks, Richard!
June 10, 2007 at 4:30:00 PM PDT
richard said…
There's no way I could afford anything like the book expansion I need to do in my collection, if I bought it all new. This summer I'll start increasing the new quotient, but I just can't spend two grand or more a year. Maybe I'll get bigger sellers second-hand, since they don't need my help, and small runs new? Who am I kidding - I've bought a half-dozen big sellers all year!
June 10, 2007 at 10:10:00 PM PDT
Kate S. said…
I don't think that there are many writers who would begrudge you the second-hand purchase of their books. Certainly they want those who can afford to buy the books new to do so. But if it comes down to buying them second-hand or not reading them at all, they'd likely vote for the second-hand purchase. Particularly if you then go on to talk up the work that you like to others who just might buy their books new. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it!
June 14, 2007 at 6:10:00 AM PDT
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