Half Price Books

Watch out for strange men on the prowl here.

Other than that, it’s a great place, one of my absolute favorite ways to relax after work or on a weekend morning.

I spend so much time here, I’m surprised they haven’t bronzed me and used me as a doorstop, but I always find great values. For example, having read and loved Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, I was ready for more by Louis de Bernieres. Since I was heading to London, I thought, “What better place to look for him than Charing Cross Road?” Which I did, but was outta luck. Fast forward to Half Price Books in Houston on my return and what do I find waiting for me on the shelves? The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman! And in the UK edition at that! That’s one example of some of the great treasures you can dig up here. And at — tada! — Half Price or better. I have concluded the reason people think London has such great bookstores is they have never been to Half Price Books.

So if you wander into this place and see a little metallic gnome holding open a door….