Written By Sofia Heins, Unionville Press
Beware: Book References!
Books, books, and more books! The Unionville Used Book Sale was a double-header and extremely well-done event that occurred on February 22nd and 23rd. The book sale spanned from the Unionville cafeteria into the auxiliary gym, complete of course with a bake sale sandwiched between the two areas (keep up the good work Anand). I loved seeing the abundance of readers of all ages—a family outing for sure. Little kids extended their arms in hopes of reaching that one children’s book their teacher read in school while their parents flip through a James Patterson (most likely the thriller kind as opposed to the middle school classics). In the quiet and stillness of the event—which is appreciative as each shopper dug their nose into the back-printed summaries—there is an eruption of knowledge and text. Spectators would not go home empty-handed, especially after witnessing the all-day bag sale on Sunday ($15 a bag to stuff to perfection with literature). The event highlighted the multiplex readings of kind donors and a resourceful way to acquire new readings.
The book sale was divided into numerous categories. I made sure to make my way to several subjects: “Classics and Acquired Reading”, “Coffee Table”, “World History and Politics”, and everything placed in between. The range of donated books was truly entertaining to dive into. I found the works of Joseph Conrad, Shakespeare, and so many Tom Clancy novels—the reflective and vibrant spines were hard to miss. My eyes caught Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence, a title I recognize to be still on my reading list, but were also tricked by Looking for Alaska by Peter Jenkins, easily fooling a John Green fan such as myself. Interested in a cat catalog or the niche research of equine massage? No worries, you could be directed to the “Animals” table and be delighted in exactly that. Looking to find guidance ‘for a friend’? There was most definitely a “Relationships & Self Help” table. It seemed as if any curiosity could be solved. I made note of a few other titles that truly express the wide reading (and collecting perhaps) of the Unionville Chadds Ford Community: I am Malala, a fantastic book as I recall from elementary school; National Lampoon Road Trip USA, to explore the world haves, should haves, and might haves of the Griswolds; and New York Times’s Best Seller Betty Crocker’s Cookbook, in its delicate, primitive condition. While I mention cooking, there was, indeed, a $40 set of 23 Woman’s Day Encyclopedia Cookery books if that was someone’s groove—complete with large enough pages to excite a group of third graders in the library anxiously waiting for you to turn it around to display the pictures. Perhaps stick with a Robert Munsch classic for library time. Another category was “Hardcover Romance”, yet, ironically enough, it was not receiving much love from the shoppers swerving around its table. I’m sure passersby simply already have their Nora Roberts novels at home.
In all, the UHS Used Book Sale was incredibly well done. The sale was clearly organized and well thought out. The sale provided volunteer opportunities for high school students to assist the sale by sorting through the abundance of donated boxes weeks prior and also to aid the actual two-day event. The sale is a gathering of our community, finding new collections that pique your interest while also passing on loved stories and tales to new homes and minds. To put it short, a “must read” sticker would definitively capture the recommendation of stopping by the UHS Used Book Sale.
