The Log: I discovered a literary gem for $1!

Used bookstores freak me out. If you haven’t been inundated with the latest press cycle of book influencers and trusted reviewers, or if it doesn’t exist on a syllabus somewhere, how do you know if it’s worth your time??

This leaves a gap between the canon and the contemporary that’s vast and intimidating, but it also means you can stumble across a surprise and devour something in a vacuum, without peers or professionals putting their opinion forward before you crack the spine.

Picking up a book...