Retail Therapy Day 2- So many books, so little time

As you all know I could wax poetic about books for hours on end so I'll try to reign in my bibliophine-ness and focus on the task at hand: book stores. Oh, and yes I know I have an ongoing love affair with book stores and you can see them if you click here!

But today I want to focus on 2 specific bookstores that hold the keys to my literary heart: Half Price Books and Barnes and Noble.

Half Price Books
HPB is a used bookstore but like none I've ever been in. For those of you who frequent such haunts, you'll probably agree that the TYPICAL used book store is dirty, dusty, grimy and filled with old books. New books are a rare find. They are usually chaotically organized, smell like mustiness and old books. Not so with Half Price Books. This is a classy used bookstore, which is as fun as the usual kind- which, don't get me wrong, I also adore!

But walking into a Half Price Book store is just like going to any other bookstore- it's clean, well lit, very well organized, lots of helpful and knowledgeable staff members available, but all the books are used. And in great condition. And lots of new books by popular authors.

They sell used books at half their cover prices, or even less. Not only do they have a huge selection of hardback, paperback and soft cover books about EVERYTHING, they also have a nice section of audio books, DVDs, board games, computer games, VHS tapes, CDs, and record albums- you know, vinyl? Add a few comfy chairs and tables and some free coffee- yes FREE coffee, and you have the wonderful shopping experience known as Half Price Books.

But wait, that's not all! For those of you who might want some cash or need to clean those book cases, they buy your books for cash. That's right, cash. NOT store credit, but actual green money bucks. It's awesome. I survived for a month and paid my cell phone bill on money I made from selling books there.

There's also a section of brand new stuff- it's books marks and stationary and journal type books. These are overstock from other places and are carried at Half Price Books, which I think is fun since I do love stationary, bookmarks and journals. I can't help it- I'm an addict.

It's rare that I've gone to HPB and not found what I wanted. But being a book lover, I usually have a long list of things I'm looking for so I can always find something. And something I can afford- I just got a Christopher Moore book I've been wanting to read.

Barnes and Noble
This is a great bookstore, with comfy chairs, books everywhere, well organized, clean, and a cafe that sells Cheesecake Factory goodies and Starbucks Coffee. I mean, how good can it get?

There's something about Barnes and Noble that I just enjoy. I like how most of the time it's quiet, like a library, except when I'm there, of course. I like all the fun gift ideas with everything from bookends to journals to cards to desk sets... a little bit of everything fun.

They have a great bargain section usually filled with not only novels, but wonderful coffee table books of all kinds.

Of course they have for sale the same things as Half Price books, just everything at B and N is new, nothing used. And I think the feature of being able to scan a CD, put some headphones on and being able to listen to some tracks is very, very cool.

One time I met my cousin and her friend at a B and N and we got stacks and stacks of books- the coffee table kind or cookbooks- not anything that took great amounts of attention to read, but books we always wanted to just look at. Then we got coffee and snacks and sat for hours pouring over the books and buying a few. It was wonderful.

So I can get my Venti Peppermint Mocha and wander aimlessly through the stacks and then plop down and just enjoy myself.

I love books and bookstores. And I can't wait to visit again! I need to pull out my list and get ready for a visit!

Always reading,
Maggie