Oh, book sales. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
My sister and I stumbled across Half Price Books’ annual clearance sale two years ago while we were driving around the Twin Cities. Even though I was going to be in town for it this year, we had planned to skip it since we just got back from buying all the books in London… but like true book nerds, we couldn’t stay away.
All seven of Half Price Books’ shops in the Twin Cities area contribute to the sale, housed in the Grandstand at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. It’s sort of incredible to walk in and just see tables and tables and tables covered with books. You just have to pick and table and start browsing (while avoiding the people pushing carts down every row).
Initially, I felt like the selection wasn’t a strong as two years ago — the fiction seemed really picked over and I wasn’t seeing much that caught my attention. But as we made our way to the inner rows, it definitely improved. Of course I ended up walking out with my Penguin tote bag filled to the brim with new books.
Here’s what made it’s way into my house from the sale:
- In the Pond by Ha Jin (fiction)
- Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri (short stories)
- The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris (fiction)
- Paula by Isabel Allende (memoir)
- Vanity Fair’s Tales of Hollywood, edited by Graydon Carter (nonfiction — the stories behind 13 iconic movies)
- Pilgrims by Elizabeth Gilbert (short stories)
- Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan (fiction)
- The Men Who Would Be King by Josephine Ross (nonfiction — the courtships of Queen Elizabeth I)
- Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama (memoir)
- Wild Swans by Jung Chang (memoir/history)
- The Junior Officers Reading Club by Patrick Hennessey (memoir)
- Hope Diamond by Richard Kurin (nonfiction — history of the Hope Diamond)
- Last Man in Tower by Aravind Adiga (fiction)
- Booknotes: Stories from American History, edited by Brian Lamb (nonfiction)
- Late for Tea at the Deer Palace by Tam Chalabi (memoir)
So there you have it, 15 more books to add to my overflowing bookshelves. Being a book addict is awesome!
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Ah, book sales — I’m the same way: cannot stay away, like a moth drawn to a flame. Looks like you came home with a great haul! Our local library has a used bookstore in its basement where they sell books at a heavy discount, and next weekend is their annual blow-out where you can fill a bag/box up for $5. Definitely getting over there!
That sounds amazing! Our university library has a big sale coming up in a couple of weeks. It’s hard for me to stay away 🙂
I was just thinking of how I should really shop my own shelves before acquiring new books, but this post reminded me of why that would never work well for me. I can’t resist new (and cheap) books!
Ooh, there are several in there I would have grabbed too!
I am already entertaining fantasies about my university’s enormous spring book sale. I invariably come home with at least twenty books, usually more like forty or fifty. It’s just SO MANY BOOKS, and it’s a multi-day sale, and on the Saturday afternoon (which is the last day), everything goes half price. It’s magical.
It’s all magical. I love getting to dig into whole piles of books looking for treasures. Now I just need to actually read all my books!
Book sales are dangerous, but great! I have read the Lahiri book which of course is excellent. You’ll like it. I’d like to read Aravind Adiga’s fiction sometime. Enjoy.
My sister found that one for me, I’m definitely intrigued.
You did find some great stuff!!! Just love Half-Price.
I have that Jhumpa Lahiri book! And would to read Maine one of these days. Great haul.
Oh that would be so much fun! And with that price it seems you could really take some chances on new genres and authors!