Where Are All The Good Books?
By: Kelly F. Crosby
Tags: Reading, Reading Books, Book Recommendations, Books

Where Are All The Good Books?

Recycle Bookstore, downtown Campbell CA

I love the smell of a new book, particularly a thick new paperback, brimming with possibilities. I buy a lot of books, I support local bookstores and I try to purchase new hardbacks at full price of authors I truly value. I find myself stuck lately, though. I look through the “new releases!” and “bestseller!” shelves at Target (one of the only places we are allowed to go these days) and find myself … empty.

It finally came to a head a few days ago when I stood staring blankly off into space, scanning through old and new bestsellers looking for anything that would excite me — and ten of the top 40 bestsellers that Target had available were written by James Patterson + another author. Don’t get me wrong; just like the rest of the world I used to love James Patterson. His original Alex Cross series was some of the first detective fiction that drew me into the genre. But y’all … how many color-by-numbers books can this dear sweet man co-write?? All the credit to him, because he’s making bank. (In fact I just saw his commercial on TV!) But wow… it’s boring, reading the same formulaic thing over and over again.

Maybe you’re like me, and you’re always looking for new (or at least, new to you) authors, stories, and series to lose yourself in. Because of this, I’m always scouring book blogs, searching for “the best books this year,” or looking at lists on Goodreads (I’m terrible at keeping up my own lists, but I love reading others.) So what is the best, and cheapest, way to actually get your hands on quality literature today?

Used Bookstores : My personal favorite (and closest to me) is a local used bookstore called Recycle Bookstore in San Jose and Campbell CA. If you aren’t in the Bay Area, there are a ton of other used bookstores all over the country that are hurting right now and dying for your business. Many have pivoted to sell their wares online, and offer steep discounts for hard-to-find or out-of-print used books which make it easy to complete a series. (For example, earlier this year I was intent on reading every bit of Ian Rankin’s John Rebus series in order. I filled in the gaps for fairly cheap from Recycle Bookstore.)

: My personal favorite (and closest to me) is a local used bookstore called Recycle Bookstore in San Jose and Campbell CA. If you aren’t in the Bay Area, there are a ton of other used bookstores all over the country that are hurting right now and dying for your business. Many have pivoted to sell their wares online, and offer steep discounts for hard-to-find or out-of-print used books which make it easy to complete a series. (For example, earlier this year I was intent on reading every bit of Ian Rankin’s John Rebus series in order. I filled in the gaps for fairly cheap from Recycle Bookstore.) Library : Obviously. However, this has become much harder for those of us in mandatory shelter-in-place areas. Our library, Santa Clara County, only had the lobby area open during the summer, and now is once again closed to the public. You can request holds and pick them up socially-distanced, but I’ll be honest: it’s laborious and a pain. I only do this as a last resort, because longer check-out times mean that many books I want aren’t available. They do have online e-books available, but you have to request them and wait for a copy just like any other book; during the pandemic some of these have been virtually impossible to find! However, if you’re looking for older books or books outside of the popular titles, their services like Libby are hugely helpful, and you can even transfer the e-books to your Kindle or Nook device quite easily.

: Obviously. However, this has become much harder for those of us in mandatory shelter-in-place areas. Our library, Santa Clara County, only had the lobby area open during the summer, and now is once again closed to the public. You can request holds and pick them up socially-distanced, but I’ll be honest: it’s laborious and a pain. I only do this as a last resort, because longer check-out times mean that many books I want aren’t available. They do have online e-books available, but you have to request them and wait for a copy just like any other book; during the pandemic some of these have been virtually impossible to find! However, if you’re looking for older books or books outside of the popular titles, their services like Libby are hugely helpful, and you can even transfer the e-books to your Kindle or Nook device quite easily. Thriftbooks : This is my favorite website. You can often find steep discounts on older titles — beware though, many are library-bound copies that have been discarded and they all come with a Thriftbooks sticker. This doesn’t bother me, but it might bother you! However, I order a lot of books for $2-$3 each and I am often able to complete series I otherwise wouldn’t be able to. Other similar websites include: BookOutlet, Powell’s.

: This is my favorite website. You can often find steep discounts on older titles — beware though, many are library-bound copies that have been discarded and they all come with a Thriftbooks sticker. This doesn’t bother me, but it might bother you! However, I order a lot of books for $2-$3 each and I am often able to complete series I otherwise wouldn’t be able to. Other similar websites include: BookOutlet, Powell’s. Electronic Reading : I have a Nook (it was my first e-reader and I’ve stayed loyal to the Barnes & Noble brand.) While I do buy some new releases at full price, I often download the free books of the day even if they look awful (however, sometimes they are great: it’s how I found this gem, and this one.) I’ve found some gems this way, and others, such as Amazon and Apple books give away freebies all the time too. Check them out, there’s some great literature out there for no money at all.

: I have a Nook (it was my first e-reader and I’ve stayed loyal to the Barnes & Noble brand.) While I do buy some new releases at full price, I often download the free books of the day even if they look awful (however, sometimes they are great: it’s how I found this gem, and this one.) I’ve found some gems this way, and others, such as Amazon and Apple books give away freebies all the time too. Check them out, there’s some great literature out there for no money at all. Goodwill or your local thrift store: My local store has a wonderful shelf stacked haphazardly with paperbacks of all sizes, hardbacks scuffed and out-of-print, and other rare finds all for a dollar or two. Sometimes I find nothing; other times I come out with a whole bag full of treasures. Give it a shot!

or your local thrift store: My local store has a wonderful shelf stacked haphazardly with paperbacks of all sizes, hardbacks scuffed and out-of-print, and other rare finds all for a dollar or two. Sometimes I find nothing; other times I come out with a whole bag full of treasures. Give it a shot! BookMooch / Paperback Swap (and similar): Do you have a big library you want to get rid of, or exchange for other books? A service like this or like this is perfect for you. Sign up for free, upload books you’d be willing to send to someone else, and earn “points” in their system for doing so. Spend those points on books that others will send to you.

I read fast, and I blow through a few books a week or more. Reading gets expensive! Everyone has their own formula for keeping track of their books, for finding new ones, and for scouring their local stores for cheap finds.

What have I missed? Can you share a method I haven’t yet found? I’d love to hear what you’re discovering. And hey, shoot me some reading suggestions, too. We’re all in this (quarantine) together; what is there to do but read a few thousand books, right?