great used book finds
My favorite used book seller closed down last year. I remember going there as a child with my mom. We didn't have a lot of money growing up, but that wasn't an issue at Miz B's. They happily accepted gently used books and offered credit in exchange. I would walk in with grocery bags full of books to trade...and I would walk out with even more new-to-me books to read.
There was a method to their madness at Miz B's. The ladies who had run the store for as long as I could remember knew exactly where to find anything you wanted. The store itself was full of little hidey-hole reading rooms. The smell was like none other, too. Whiffs of coffee, scented candles, and, most of all, old books. It was the smell of library, only heavily concentrated. I miss it terribly.
With the invention of the ebook, local used bookstores have started to dwindle. It's almost like watching "You've Got Mail" in real life ("F-O-X."). Don't get me wrong; I absolutely love my Kindle. It's extremely convenient for traveling, but there's just something about a real book.
These are a few of my surprise finds that just really got under my skin when I read them. Even though Miz B's isn't around anymore, this is my little tribute to them and all of the small bookstore owners out there, trying to survive and thrive in the electronic age.
wives and mistresses suzanne morris
I initially picked up this book at the local library during my sophomore year of high school. Unfortunately, I had to return it before I was able to finish. I couldn't believe my good fortune when I found it at a used bookstore...and for less than I'd have paid in library late fees. The story takes place over the period of 70 years and follows two families in the Houston and Galveston area. The writer weaves in facts about Texas history, including the tragic hurricane of 1900. I've read it over and over since I bought it. Lucky for you, it's now available in Kindle format, too!
the mermaids singing lisa carey
This book was a surprised find at Miz B's. It was buried underneath several other paperbacks...apparently I have a bloodhound's nose for a good book. The author artfully weaves the character's back histories into present day, and focuses on them sorting out the choices they've made. It's heavy in Irish lore, the bonds of family, and accurately describes the feeling of restless we all get from time to time.
blood sisters deborah sherwood
While this isn't a literary work of art, I remember picking this book up for less than $2, and I was completely engaged from the beginning. The story is about six high school friends going to their 30th (I think?) high school reunion. They're haunted by the death of one of their members during their senior year...or did she? The book easily moves between past and present, with lots of creepy happenings along the way. It's an easy, spooky read.
she's come undone wally lamb
Oprah choose this novel as one of her book club selections in 1996. Many moons later, when I was a broke college student, I finally picked it up in the bargain bin. It's heartbreaking, devastating, and empowering all at the same time. Reading this book is like watching a train wreck in slow motion. You're as equally disgusted with and compassionate towards the main character from the very beginning. It's one of those that I kicked myself for waiting so long to get it.
the cabinet of curiosities douglas preston and lincoln child
To get from one side of Miz B's to the other, you had to stroll through a double-closet sized walkway. The works of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Bentley Little, Anne Rice, and other horror authors lined the shelves. The creepy covers always drew me in as a kid (though my mom refused to let me purchase any until I was older). The duo Preston and Child are a powerhouse team that combines the supernatural and the scientific. "Cabinet" is the first of their novels that I picked up, but it hasn't been the last. Both the Man Friend and I are deeply entrenched in the world of Agent Pendergast. In fact, their latest novel is scheduled to come out this fall.
summer sisters judy blume
Judy ain't just a kids writer. This book surprised the hell out of me. Judy talks about drugs, sex, crazy families, and the fallout of loving a toxic person. It's a complete step away from her children's books. The characters of Vix and Caitlin still get under my skin. We all have that one friend from our childhood who seems perfect on the outside but, in reality, is just very beautifully damaged. To me, it's still the perfect book.
