Because it was a nicer copy of a book I already loved
Because it had a painting I liked on the cover
Because of the lovely musty smell
Because my friend was so enthusiastic (even though I knew I wouldn’t keep it)
Because I was in an independent bookshop and hadn’t found anything I wanted
Because Persephone had once mentioned thinking about publishing it
Because it was a shade of blue I loved
Because of the book’s unusual height
Because I’d read in P.G. Wodehouse’s collected letters that he liked it
Because I wanted a souvenir (and there weren’t many books in English)
Because it was mentioned by the Provincial Lady
Because it had the word ‘spinster’ in the title
Because I needed change for the bus
Because I don’t often see books set in Worcestershire
Because I liked the sound it made when it closed (I later discovered I already owned this book)
Because I’d read something else by that author, and hadn’t really liked it, but wished I had
Because it felt wrong for an English Literature student not to have the book
Because I wanted to talk to the author at a signing
Because the author is my friend
Because the author is my friend’s sister
Because of the font on the spine
Because Q.D. Leavis wrote about it
Because it matched other books I had by that author (which I hadn’t read)
Because I liked the wordplay in the title
Because the author is related to an author I like
Because the author had the same surname as an author I like (though I knew they weren’t related)
Oh, and because I wanted to read it.
