So, recently I've been far too buried under books I would rather not be reading as I prepare for my GRE September 18th...

That's where I've been for 5 weeks or more.

I have recently discovered the wonderful world of RSS feeds (yes, I know...they have been around forever) since I was

getting most of my blog updates via email at a whopping 100+emails a day, not including all the other junk that goes into

email!  It was a bit overwhelming when my email hit over 3000 unread emails in 2 1/2 months.

So the question is, what RSS feeds do you find that are the most informative about upcoming books, specifically HF, but

if you know of any fantasy/science fictions that's good too...

And, what websites have you purchased books from at a discount?  I'm running out of books to read in Japan and I'll be

stateside in November so I am hoping that I'll be ordering books to ship to my mother.  Incidentily I am now having to

share my books with both my parents so the stash is reduced!  Now I have to buy even more books!

Thanks for any input!

Jacqueline

My favorite online bookshop is awesomebooks.com. It's UK-based but they provide free shipping on orders of 2+ books. They have heaps of books for around $4 and if you subscribe they send you discount codes almost weekly. The shipments arrive quickly and I've rarely had a problem (and when I have had an issue, the customer service is fantastic). (Plus, becuase it's UK-based, you get all the UK titles and covers, which are always better than the US ones (imo).)

I also shop quite a bit from alibris.com. It's similar to amazon, with marketplace sellers, and you kinna have to learn which sellers are good and which are not. Thrift Books (one of the sellers) is generally awful, and they operate under about 50 different names, which you only discover through trial and error. For the most part, though, my experience with alibris has been great.

And if you aren't overly concerned about book condition, there's Better World Books. Their books are usually in obviously used condition (almost qualifying as unpostable here on PBS) and they sell a lot of ex-library editions. But they're cheap and offer free shipping.....and they're a very green company that donates to literacy programs. 

Happy shopping! How wonderful to actually have a reason to buy books.....instead of just wanting to add to the teetering piles around the house. 

Thank you for those sites hro!  Awesomebooks is, well awesome!  So glad to find a site which sells UK books and they also ship to Japan, which is really great!

I have used alibris for textbooks, I did not realize they had fiction too...will check that out.

And I have also not heard of Better World Books, also another good site I will need to delve into.

Now let's just hope my book-lusting doesn't get out of hand...!

Thanks again!

J

The Book Depository ships free world wide. http://www.bookdepository.com/

Jacqueline, if your stateside visit includes a stop in the Seattle area, I'd recommend a stop at Once Sold Tales. They have a shopfront UBS, but they are also an online seller (Amazon, etc.). I can't speak for their service via shipping direct to you, but they do let you walk in and request anything in their online catalog. So if there's a book they list online for $3.75 S&H included, I can walk in and purchase it direct for about $1.85 with tax. They're only a block or so out of my way from the gym, so very handy for me. The Kent location is about 10-15 mins from SeaTac airport. There is also the beyond awesom Tacome Book Center (they sell online as well). Prices aren't exactly dirt cheap, but anyone tell me of a bookstore they've been to that has multiple copies of the Angelique books and Gellis's Roselynde series just sitting on the shelves waiting for you? Check out the video here.

I just discovered Finally Found Books yesterday and they have an awesome walk in store and they're working on building up an online seller site as well. I also use Thrift Books a lot, but they are online only.

Jerelyn, have you used Book Depository?  Are they new books?  Seems like they must be?  International shipping is such a tricky thing when it comes through customs...

I do wish I was going to be in Seattle (or Texas, or California or BOSTON!, anywhere there are used book stores with a good selection), but I'll be in Louisiana and there aren't any good used books stores until Houston or Atlanta (because they have all been flooded out!).  So I will resort to ordering online, and be thankful I have the option of paying for shipping!  Book prices still look reasonable on some of the books on Once Sold Tales.  Thanks Cathy!  And I already added your blog to my list :)

I've used Book Depository a  number of times, particularly for Elizabeth Chadwick's books.  Great, I've never had any problems. And they are new.

Many of us have used Book Depository, mainly so we don't have to wait 6 months to a year for UK releases.  I have never had a problem, and yes they are new books.