Second-hand books are wild books, homeless books; they have come together in vast flocks of variegated feather, and have a charm which the domesticated volumes of the library lack. Besides, in this random miscellaneous company we may rub against some complete stranger who will, with luck, turn into the best friend we have in the world. —Virginia Woolf, Street Haunting

Have we mentioned our dream of owning a cozy little used bookshop someday? Soft chairs, roaring fire, hot cocoa and a whole lotta book love. No set hours, just open when the mood strikes us. We think that last part adds to the quaintness of it—business-minded folks beg to differ. Of course by then we'll be rollin in it so we won't give a fig what the suits think.

So when our intern sent this list of books that fly off the shelves at used bookstores, we naturally took notice. We found the list fascinating (and in some instances, surprising) and thought you might too, even if there isn't a make-believe bookshop in your future. If nothing else it may inspire you to dust off your own copy of one of these elusive reads and donate it to your local store. Look at you being a bookshop hero.

*The list also has me thinking, "How have I still not read MIddlemarch?" and "Who are all these people reading Jonathan Livingston Seagull"?

Posted by Rachel