Buying books

I do most of my book shopping at Half Priced Books. It's a great book store that sells not only cheap books, but CDs, movies, games etc... Recently, there's been an odd occerrence happening. I've managed to purchace books with dedications in them to other people. All of which I don't notice untill getting home. At the book store, I usually just thumb through the pages. If a poem or two catches my attention, I buy the book. Why would someone sell or give away a personalized book? Death? A fight? Money problems? I'm sure the possibilites are endless. Below are the books, as well as the dedications.

BOOK NO. 1 Satan Says by Sharon Olds:

Dear Shona,

Sharon Olds is one of my favorite
poets + I really want to share
her with you. She writes of being
a daughter a woman a mother
a wife and you will soon be all
of these. Maybe you'll find some
of yourself in these poems?

I'm so happy for you + Jason!
I hope you know that even
though I'm no longer @ the Phoenix,
and (more importantly?) we haven't
been "ladies who lunch" lately,
I am always here for you - I'm
lucky to count you as a friend.
Shona + Jason are getting married!!

Love,
Molly

I'm so excited that I mad the
wedding list "cut!" (it was close
for a few weeks, remember?)


BOOK NO. 2 Laughing Down Lonely Canyons by James Kavanaugh

Dearest Mark.

I hope you
enjoy all of these
writings, I think they
are beautiful, just like you.
Deep and soleful. I can't wait
to sit together in low light, glass
of wine and have you read these to me.
You have such a passion for
beautiful things.
Happy sweetest day.

Always
Patti
1991


BOOK NO. 3 Smolder by Mark Cox

For Frankie,

Warmest wishes for
you and your work.

Mark
12/31/87
VC


BOOK NO. 4 How to Draw Blook from a Stone by Priscila Uppal

To Richard,

Thank you for giving
me the craft and the confidence to make this
book happpen.
Much love and gratitude,

Priscila Uppal


Has this happened to anyone else?