The cheapest (i.e. FREE) way to get your hands on good reads is to head to the library. We all know this. However, have you ever walked into the library with full intentions of checking out enough materials to keep you happy and entertained for weeks… only to realize you have NO FREAKING CLUE what you want to read?
I hate it when that happends. I call it Library Amnesia, and I’m afflicted with it all the time. To help you, my blog-reading friends, with their own cases of LA, here are a few rando books I heartily recommend. And please, add your recommendations in the Comments below. ‘Tis the season to read freely!
1. The Thief of Always, by Clive Barker. This is part YA book, part adult literature, and all sorts of awesome to read. I recommend checking out this and Coraline by Neil Gaiman, then doing a bit of compare and contrast.
Speaking of Neil Gaiman…
2. While you’re in the YA section, pick up The Graveyard Book, if you haven’t already read this instant classic. You’ll LOVE it. Or, you’ll be dead to me…
3. Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Graham. I promise, not all my recs will be YA books. But this children’s stalwart is so cozy and sweet to read during the holidays, you’ll feel more Christmassy because of it.
4. Garden Spells, by Sarah Addison Allen. I’ve read this and The Sugar Queen, and I’m dying to pick up The Girl Who Chased The Moon. Ms. Allen is the cure for the common chick lit.
5. Watchers, by Dean Koontz. This is the best book he ever wrote – which isn’t saying much because everything else he’s written is utter crap. But wow. This book is so fun to read (scary, funny, sweet, romantic, filled with awesome doggies), you’ll be fooled into reading approximately 25 more of his books until you realize how crappy his writing is. Okay, fine. The Face is pretty good, too. But that’s IT.
If you’d like to acquire any of the above listed books, or CDs, or DVDs, and you want to spend as little money as possible, then today’s Morning Buzz segment is for you. You can watch it here (if you missed it). And below are the websites I mentioned. Try them out, and get cheap books/CDs/DVDs for frugally good holiday gifts!
Paperback Swap.com, Swap A CD.com and Swap A DVD.com
2 Quick Tips for swapping for holiday gifts:
1. Start NOW. You want to make sure you have time to complete your registry, find the items you’re looking for, swap for them, have them shipped, and have them arrive in time for Christmas.
2. Swap near you. Look for swapper in the states nearest you. If you want the item to arrive in time for the holidays, don’t swap with someone in Australia.
6 Comments
I just finished reading The Passage by Justin Cronin, and I really enjoyed it. It’s an ‘end of the world’ scenario, with some mild sci-fi and creepy goverment action thrown in. It has been compared to The Road by Cormac McCarthy, which is also good, but I think The Passage is a more entertaining read.
I don’t often go to the library without an action plan and preferably a few books in the Express Reserve area. God bless the interwebs. I plan on adding your list to my request list, but I’m afraid that I will once again end up with five books waiting for me at once.
Neglected to add my favorite reading…
A-number-1 on my list will always be Still Life with Woodpecker by Tom Robbins. Just about anything else by Mr. Robbins is close second.
I also just finished listening to Don’t Look Down by Jennifer Cruisie and Bob Mayer. Slowish start, but I ended up wishing I could stay in my truck to keep listening to it. Just got the rest of their books today.
I recently joined PaperBackSwap.com. I listed a bunch of books, and put a handful of titles on my “wish list”. I’ve already got one book on the way to me, and I requested it less than a week ago. One of my listed books has already been requested, so I’ll be sending that out very soon.
The cost as a member seems minimal (you pay for shipping the books). But the cost of each book is FREE. The site does have an option for you to buy a book, straight-up, with the addition of membership “credits” (see the site for details). I’m not sure of the savings on that deal, but I’d imagine it’s cheaper than the usual stores or more expensive web sites. If you mentioned some of this info in your segment today, CC, my apologies, as I haven’t seen it yet.
P.S. I can’t wait to read Vince Flynn’s newest thriller, “American Assassin” (part of the Mitch Rapp series). I have all of his other books, and love ‘em. My favorite book by him is “Memorial Day”. Mr. Flynn is easy on the eyes, too, may I say.
Since we all know my library fines are HUGE, I don’t frequently go to the library. And I am more likely to bring my books to Half-Price than do a swap, although it is an interesting idea.
As for books I just finished Eat Pray Love which I have mixed feelings about, but am enjoying various mystery series, to include one by Rhys Bowen about a poor extended member of the Royal Family in the 30′s.