OH GOD SOMEBODY SAVE ME

[tenlittlebullets]

Amazon.fr has no shipping cost for books. It is absolutely 100% free within metropolitain France.

SAVE ME FROM MY OWN BIBLIOPHILIA



Already bought: George Sand, Lelia; Eugene Sue, Les Mysteres de Paris; Alfred de Musset, La Confession d'un enfant du siecle. Seriously considering: Mme de Stael, Corinne; Anon (attrib. Musset), Gamiani ou deux nuits d'exces.)

Comments

[dame_grise]

Just think of how much money it'll cost you fly all those books home. And then only get the ones you want the most.

[10littlebullets.livejournal.com]

But--I'm sure I can cram them into my suitcases, or bring home the ones I've already read at Christmas, or get my parents to bring some back home when they visit--and--and--

Aw, shit, I'm rationalizing. Somehow whenever I go to Paris I end up leaking money all over the place--and on the things that are heaviest and most difficult to pack, viz. books and shoes.

I want them ALL the most.

[dame_grise]

There are weight limits. I tend to agree with you on buying books, but you were looking for reasons not to buy them.

[10littlebullets.livejournal.com]

This is true. *squirm* I do so heartily wish French postal service had something akin to Surface Mail, because the "pay $1 a pound, we'll stick it on the next transatlantic cargo boat, and it'll get there when it gets there" approach would be perfect for this.

[mmebahorel.livejournal.com]

It won't. That's how I lost a year's worth of playbills/programmes from London, including ones signed by Judi Dench and Alan Rickman. And the ones that pissed me off the most were actually my unsigned Donmar Take Me Out because the glossary of baseball terms was hilarious, and my Coast of Utopia because it had a research list.

The Royal Mail got me all my bootlegs and all my books and all my notes, but NOT my programmes. Seven years later, I'm still bitter. (at least it broke me of my need to collect autographs - I have my pictures with the awesome people.)

If I come in June, I'll probably just be there for the weekend (three days or so) and thus only have a carryon, so I'll be theoretically able to shuttle some things back with a second bag (I don't care if they delay my luggage on the trip back since I'll be at home, after all).

[mmejavert.livejournal.com]

Incidentally I intend to do the same. XD I'm bringing a carryon-sized suitcase and a foldable duffle bag to stuff somewhere, and a backpack probably. Because knowing me I'll buy stuff and have to squeeze the clothes and shoes and books in somewhere...

[cosmicautumn.livejournal.com]

Go walking through Oberkampf and Belleville and you'll find books just sitting out on the streets. I guess people like to abandon them there.

[mmejavert.livejournal.com]

THE MORE YOU BUY THE MORE YOU HAVE TO SHIP HOME. That gets expensive, especially since if you buy too much the US will start charging duty on 'em. (Of course you could ship some to friends *cough* and save the duty, too)

Besides, if you spend all your money on books, how will you afford to see Les Mis in London (or on Barricade Day), or see any opera?

[10littlebullets.livejournal.com]

As far as I understand it, you don't have to pay duty on personal effects--the definition I found was "stuff you've owned for at least six months." And I know shipping is bloody expensive--I'm considering shipping lightweight bulky stuff home at the end of the year so I have suitcase room for books.

And--I'll manage. >____>

[coloneldespard.livejournal.com]

Sorry - can't think of reasons not to buy them! I had cartons and cartons of books when I moved back from the UK...managed with bulk shipping rates by sea.

I'd be interested in your verdict on the Eugene Sue book - saw a reference to it in one of the social history books the other day, and was curious.

[10littlebullets.livejournal.com]

As mentioned above, neither the French nor the American postal service offers bulk sea shipping. :((( The American post used to, but they abolished it sometime in 2007 "to cut costs." (Can't imagine how that cuts costs, mind you--a couple pallets of personal packages on a giant container ship aren't going to cost much.) I'll look at private companies but I probably won't be able to ship them on the cheap.

I've been looking for a copy of Les Mystères de Paris for at least two years--finally found one yesterday in a bookstore, but it was €27 or thereabouts, so I finally threw up my hands and got it used on Amazon.fr.