Jesus, people are paying that much for books? Even buying them new, I often pick up a paperback from a high street shop in the UK for about £8? Maybe £12 sometimes? And that's not including the used bookshop I go to sometimes that will have books for £2-3. Sure, they're not hardbacks, or large reference textbooks, but to get a story to read is pretty affordable
I still fondly remember that time I found a hardback 50% off at £11. The only hardback I've ever bought brand new. At second hand shops, the difference is much less.