Bookwise

Aviation books among our new arrivals — all of these essentially as new

These just in! Uncommonly good collection on stage magic, card tricks, and sleight of hand by some of the best names in the field: Dai Vernon, Jean Hugard, Harry Lorayne, Martin Gardner, Karl Fulves, Stephen Minch, Roberto Giobbi. Ranges from inexpensive reprints of classic titles (from under $5) to scarce limited editions ($100+). Something for everyone, every budget.

Several large collections have come to us recently with bookcases. This three-cabinet, fifteen-shelf unit is nicer than most: 60” tall x 98” wide x 12” deep, with 4” end verticals. A single top-piece connects the sections: it’s sturdy. Shelves (adjustable) not shown; we removed them for transport. A few surface dings and scratches (no extra charge) add instant character, like it’s been in *your* castle since the last revolution. Holds your next 450 purchases from us, more or less. $150.

In our New Arrivals section: We see film books all the time, of course, but this batch covers an unusual breadth of subjects, including lots of off-screen talent: Hal Ashby, Saul Bass, Bruce Dern, Victor Fleming, Thomas Ince, Rex Ingram, David Lean, Peter Lorre, Bella Lugosi, Pola Negri, Warren Oates, Arthur Penn, Claude Rains, Josef von Sternberg, Hal Wallis, Raoul Walsh, Charles Walters, Billy Wilder and William Wyler among others. A little less mainstream, a bit more depth, not the celebrity bios we see every day

Here for you Monday-Saturday 10-6..

Among the many books that people bring to us — but which we’ve never been able to sell — are travel guides a few years out of date. Are there any teachers out there who have found (or could find) a way to use these in the classroom? We’d love to give them away for free.

These books usually arrive in very good condition, having been used for only a few weeks or days. Many focus on countries, cities, or regions that are popular tourist destinations — in the U.S. and internationally. Others focus on particular museums or other attractions: castles, cathedrals, and other historic buildings; festivals, parks, islands, mountains, and so on. Many include maps.

Naturally, the information on hotel prices, train schedules, and particular events will be out of date. But the history and natural history, cultural notes, and maps will still be solid in most cases. If you’d like to experiment with a free resource to teach about art, travel, geography, or anything else, we’d love to supply you with some non-traditional materials. Message me!

(This is post #2 of 2 about stuff we’d like to give away free. #1 was an appeal to non-profits able to put free books to work.)

We’re looking for more local non-profits that can use free books.

If you’ve been in our store recently — or perhaps, ever — you know we take in more books than we can sell. Folks leave books with us that duplicate existing inventory, or just aren’t as good as what we already have on hand. And when we buy household or estate collections, the sellers (because they’re moving, trying to get their house on the market, etc.) often tell us, “Don’t cherry pick the good stuff. We need you to remove it all.” So we haul away books that will never go on our shelves.

Of course, we offer some of these to local libraries, but they can’t absorb all of it. We’ve worked with non-profits that ship books overseas — God bless ‘em — but again, no one organization can handle everything we have to offer.

If you work with a group that has a real use (something more useful than pulping the paper), please message me and tell me about your mission and needs. I’ll give you more details on what we can offer. Maybe we can do some good together.

(This is #1 of at least 2 posts about stuff we’d like to give away. Post #2 should be up in a few minutes and will be addressed to teachers.)

Things people use as bookmarks.

Tom Stoppard’s passing yesterday is headlined everywhere, which is OK, he’s worthy, but we also lost Daniel Woodrell, before his readership got near as large as his talent. Carve out a few hours to learn why so many other writers admired his work.

Saturday new arrivals: Eastern philosophy, new age, psychotherapy, among much else.

New arrivals: David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest, first printing in first state jacket with “Vollman” error to back panel. A fine copy, $350. Cormac McCarthy’s National Book Award- and National Book Critics Circle Award-winning All the Pretty Horses, an attractive copy of the first printing despite library stamps to the interior (none to exterior) with dust jacket barbarously glued down. With all faults, $75. Kallen & Hook’s American Philosophy: Today & Tomorrow, 1935, with obliterated library stamps to page ends but its ninety-year-old dust jacket still intact, with only minor chipping. Less attractive jacketless copies offered elsewhere for $300+; our price $95.

If these aren’t exactly to your taste, fear not: as every week, we’re awash in the great $5-10-15 new arrivals on hundreds of subjects that are our stock in trade.

And on Saturday, we’ll be treating — no tricks — our customers who were too grown-up to go door-to-door for Friday night’s annual costumed sugar shakedown. Nothing crazy, just a sweet “thanks” for your support. (While supplies last.)

New arrivals: A bonanza for Kurt Vonnegut readers and collectors, including a couple scarce items: the hardcover edition of “Canary in a Cat House” issued by Buccaneer Books ($75) and a hardcover copy of his first book, “Player Piano,” from Scribners — this copy, alas, is a book club edition (damn!) lacking a jacket (double damn!) but it’s $50, not $1000 (so alright).

New arrivals: Henry Miller.