{Smitten} Readers Digest Books

Over the years, I’ve read posts by all the lucky souls who’ve “stumbled upon” a small stack of the lovely Readers Digest books. But anytime I spotted them out, they were just plain, dark covers. Until a recent stop at Half-Price Books…when I became one of the lucky ducks! I am {Smitten} by these pretty, inexpensive books, and the layer they add to our Living Room.

Hi Sugarplum | Readers Digest Books

We stopped by the bookstore one night, and as always, I asked if they had any Readers Digest books. I tried to play it cool when he brought out an entire box from the back…but I’m sure my attempt just looked like constipation. At only $1 each, it was hard to not bring home the entire box.

 Hi Sugarplum | Readers Digest Books

I did get a funny look from Mr. Sugarplum when I met him at the register with my pile of books.

Mr. SP: Are you getting all those books?
Me: (beaming) Yes! Aren’t they pretty?! Only $1!
Mr. SP: What stories are they?
Me: You don’t actually read them, duh!
Mr. SP: (blank stare)
Me: The covers are cool and they’ll look good in our bookcases and secretary!
Mr. Sp: (blank stare, with flashes of fear for my sanity)
Me: Whatever. Do you have your credit card?

Hi Sugarplum | Readers Digest Books

Hi Sugarplum | Readers Digest Books

Hi Sugarplum | Readers Digest Books

Hi Sugarplum | Readers Digest Books

I love the little pop of color and pattern they add to stacks of books in our shelves, and on tabletops.

Hi Sugarplum | Readers Digest Books

What are you {Smitten} by these days? Have you lucked out finding bookstore gems? Have you ever actually read a Readers Digest book?!

Posts to some of the projects seen in this room:

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34 Comments

  1. Lovely! I have some but mine are muted tones, not the bright colors like yours. I'll have to keep looking. Great find!

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  2. Cindy F. wrote:

    hilarious! we have those same conversations. you'd think they'd learn by now not to be surprised. duh!!! those are gorg.

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  3. Super find! I scoop up RD books for around $1 each too at thrift stores often. I even found one with a chevron cover! They're one of my favorite accessories, and no, I've never cracked open the cover! 🙂

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  4. I'm so glad I'm not alone! I do the same exact thing! lol They're just so pretty! I graduated with my Bachelor's degree in English so I feel like a lot of people assume that I read them… but I haven't! haha 🙂

    -Bonnie @ Revolutionaries
    http://www.revolutionariesblog.com

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  5. Dara wrote:

    they are so pretty!

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  6. Great find, they are so pretty and add so much fun color!! I also love collecting old book and need to find some RD ones!! 🙂

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  7. To make your hubby appreciate them more, you could always turn them into an altered book. I've been working on one for my daughter from an old encyclopedia. I bought one because the title was "The Wonderful World" and was a super old book with cool typography.

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  8. Ange wrote:

    Love those covers, I have a few of those but not the cool yellow one or the swirly red one either. I scored some this summer at an old person's garage sale, they had them marked .25 each so I quickly scooped up as many as I could. The old ppl thought I would enjoy the stories in them and I didn't have the heart to tell them I was buying them for the covers. Glad you finally scored some, they look amazing in your bookcase!

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  9. They are my favorite ones to nab too. Whenever I see them, I have to get them. You found some good ones!!

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  10. Morgan S. wrote:

    Those are great! You Lucky Duck! I didn't even know Reader's Digest made those. http://www.styleoyster.blogspot.com

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  11. Add in a head-shake and that is exactly how Chris responds to me…HA!

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  12. Colleen wrote:

    I never knew. Now I'm going to be stalking Readers digest books. They look so good on the shelves, I have to find some!

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  13. Simply LKJ wrote:

    I had no idea the covers were so pretty. I think my mom has a bunch in a box at her house…hmmm…

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  14. I have a handful that I love! A man a the thrift store said, "Wow you're going to do a lot of reading." I just smiled and acted intellectual! 🙂

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  15. I'm sorry, but really have to say. That is so shallow. There is no depth to American culture any more. We are cardboard cutouts. We are whitewashed tombs. We are all the same, and therefore nothing!

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  16. I'm sad to admit I didn't even know these existed. They're so pretty. I have an old set of encyclopedia's on display because I love the leather binding on them. 🙂

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  17. I never knew about these- so pretty!

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  18. lindley wrote:

    Um, Jordan, why in the world is the author of a blog called Coalition Against Gravity even reading Hi Sugarplum? And, good grief, overreact much?

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  19. I think your conversation with Mr. SP points to the #1 reason why women love decorating blogs…..no one else understands us! I also love and collect Readers Digest books.

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  20. What a score!!!

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  21. Megan C wrote:

    Those are awesome! I want to find some right now!!!

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  22. What a great find! You are a lucky duck. I think Mr. Sugarplum and Mr. Home Everyday would get along. I've gotten the blank stare in the past. He also knows well enough to know that a happy wife makes for a happy life 🙂

    Posted 2.21.13 Reply
  23. Andrea wrote:

    I love them too! I just was telling my girlfriend the other day why they are so cool. I have my hubby get them for me when he;s out and about. I decorate with them all the time. I would love to find some like yours 🙂

    Posted 2.22.13 Reply
  24. Liz wrote:

    I never knew about these! I went to Goodwill last night after reading your post and actually found one! I'm going thrifting at lunch to see if I can get more. Thanks for the great post!

    ~ Liz (www.widgapae.blogspot.com)

    Posted 2.22.13 Reply
  25. The only hardcover books that get saved in our house are ones that have some sort of decor value! Reading? That's what Kindles are for, right!?

    Posted 2.22.13 Reply
  26. SWEET FIND!

    Posted 2.23.13 Reply
  27. Jessica wrote:

    I have an entire cupboard full of Reader's Digest books, but I don't remember any pretty covers. I don't know why I keep them; I started reading one once and the story was abridged so I quit. Great find!

    Posted 2.24.13 Reply
  28. Audrey wrote:

    I am going to search for some at my local thrift shops! Love the idea!

    Posted 2.25.13 Reply
  29. Vel Criste wrote:

    Your not the only one Cassie! i've been smitten with these for a while – luckily got mine way cheap at the thrift store, 50 cents each for these beauties! love the colors on yours though, mine are all in pastels!

    Posted 2.25.13 Reply
  30. My husband would have had the same response to me buying books for how they look 😉

    They are super cute by the way! 🙂

    Posted 2.26.13 Reply
  31. Julie wrote:

    Super cute books!

    I love your convo with your hubby! I could totally see myself having the same one!

    Posted 2.27.13 Reply
  32. I'm quite sure I've had the same conversation. Not about books, but anything. He is so not into design or my blogging life, so he doesn't appreciate all the tweaking I do. Or that my simple powder room paint makeover has now turned into a $300 project. Oops. But he does see that this stuff makes me happy, and he realizes that until I do it, I'll just keep bringing it up until it drives him absolutely nuts. You'd think he'd learn to just nod and smile from the get-go, right?!

    Posted 3.3.13 Reply
  33. pcloud wrote:

    Well, I was blessed by my mom who actually had a Readers Digest membership so she was shipped these lovely gems on a monthly basis for a period of time. I've inherited maybe 20 to 25 of them and have loved them for years and years. And, yes, I've actually READ some of them!!!

    Love, love your style. So happy to find such inspiration!

    Posted 3.28.13 Reply
  34. I read them when I was in middle school, I think – they're all abridged versions of novels for the most part. They were good for a child's introduction to them, but after that phase it was better to read the real thing. My grandfather carefully preserved the dust jackets, so I never knew the covers looked like that lol.

    Posted 4.27.13 Reply