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Best Books--Used
Bookman's
READERS' POLL RUNNER-UP: The Book Stop Used Books, 2504 N. Campbell Ave. In the face of the superstores and 24-hour online purchasing direct from publishing houses, more than ever we need the restorative powers of the musty, erudite, old-fashioned bookstores of our youth. Since 1968, The Book Stop has been a favorite, conjuring feelings of nostalgia the bigger sellers can't even touch. Stacked floor to ceiling with everything from cookbooks to classics, this noteworthy establishment allows for a kind of book buying experience sadly overlooked in today's mad rush for the latest bestseller. A REAL SCREAM: Many readers with limited backgrounds in science have been introduced to the concept of entropy (here defined as increasing disorder in a closed system) through the novels of Thomas Pynchon. Those bibliophiles wishing to observe this process in a real-world setting should head straight to Mad Hatter Books and Records, 2729 N. Campbell Ave. This store is definitely not recommended for the faint of heart. Even Mason and Dixon would have difficulty maneuvering safely through the unstable piles of books, records, magazines and fast-food detritus that fill every square inch of the store, threatening collapse at the slightest provocation. For the most part, items are shelved according to an incomprehensible system known only to the owner, which makes browsing an adventure of serendipity. If you're able to locate a book you wish to purchase, you still have one obstacle to overcome: the savage and unrelenting abuse of the proprietor himself, a man who's pioneered new paradigms in customer relations by screaming at people who attempt to buy things. On a recent trip, we were startled to observe this gentleman unleash a spittle-laced torrent of profanity at two young men who were presumptuous enough to ask if a particular record was available. "Don't screw with me!" he bellowed. After the two men left, we waited about five minutes before finally daring to approach the cash register with a Roald Dahl book clutched in our hands. "They're lucky I didn't kick their asses," he growled as he rang up the purchase. "Those lousy punks really piss me off."
"Yes, sir, thank you, sir," we said, in our quietest
and most placating voice. The transaction completed, we slowly
headed towards the door and...freedom.
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READERS' PICK: To some purists, Bookman's represents
much, if not most, of what's wrong with used bookstores these
days: Bookman's is well-lit, sells video games, used magazines,
CDs, records, and computer software in addition to books; and
the staff--while eccentric--is not likely to go thermonuclear
when you ask them where to find a book (although you will likely
be guided gently toward any one of the posted store maps). However,
to the rest of us, Bookman's is a godsend: a big store for people
who like to read everything and have a more or less healthy
relationship to their temptation to buy books by the bag. Even
if you're not buying, Bookman's is an excellent place to waste
time: safer than half the parks in town and, unlike the mall,
loitering is encouraged. With Bookman's recently relaxed trade
policy, what was always the best thing about used bookstores now
applies to Bookman's as well: You might not like everything you
take home during an evening's plunder of Bookman's well-stocked
shelves. But come morning, if you don't think it's going to work
out, you can always take it back.