Half Price Books Blog

Memorial Day . . . Extra 20% Off Storewide Sale!

HPB — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:26:00 +0000

It's Memorial Day Weekend, booklovers! Half Price Books is having a Storewide 20% Off Sale. Shop your neighborhood HPB from Thursday, May 23 through Monday, May 27 and stock up on great new and used books, music, movies and games for the whole family.

See what treasures people find in stores, and tell us about your own. Use #HPBhaul in your tweets and on Instagram, and visit hpb.com/hpbhaul to see the action!

-- The HPB Blog Team

*No coupon needed. Discount valid in stores only. Not valid online nor on any gift card purchase.

Books Authors Read with John Corey Whaley

Kristen D. — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:37:22 +0000

We continue our "Books Authors Read" series with Printz and Morris award-winning author John Corey Whaley, who wrote Where Things Come Back, one of the best books I read last year (you should read it too. It's wonderful and excellent and you will thank me for recommending it). JCW himself is also wonderful and excellent, especially for putting together this list for us. Thanks, Corey! -- Kristen D.

1.) WINGER by Andrew Smith

Holy moly this book is awesome. Rugby, comic book drawings, hilarious characters, and a surprisingly emotional turn. I couldn't stop reading it. In fact, I may go start it back up right now. It's THAT good.

2.) DR. BIRD'S ADVICE FOR SAD POETS by Evan Roskos

A funny, smart book about a kid with a lot of problems--namely an anxiety disorder. He talks to an imaginary pigeon, who serves as his therapist. I mean, come on. It's gold.

3.) THE AGE OF MIRACLES by Karen Thompson Walker

This quiet, apocalyptic coming-of-age novel still haunts me months and months after reading it. A beautiful, lyrical story.

4.) ASK THE PASSENGERS by A.S. KING

A beautiful, funny, and intensely moving look at teenage love and sexuality and, well, how ridiculous words like "sexuality" are anyway. The magical realism in this one will give you goosebumps.

5.) RAPTURE PRACTICE by Aaron Hartzler

This is a young adult memoir about the author's experience growing up in conservative Christian household in Kansas City. It's funny, smart, and heartwarming. The best part is that that Hartzler never treats his subjects--his own family-with anything but respect and curiosity.

John Corey Whaley is the Printz and Morris award-winning author of Where Things Come Back.

You may follow him on Twitter at @corey_whaley.

In the mood for a marathon? Best TV shows for binges

Kate — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:13:58 +0000

Missing the first run of a TV show has never been so rewarding. Thanks to streaming services from companies like Netflix, along with ever better deals on DVD box sets, consumers can now binge on complete seasons (or the entire series) of all those shows that they never got around to watching, or the ones that they loved and want to watch over and over…and over. Gone are the days of waiting and wishing for networks to play reruns of old episodes; now you decide when to start and stop (or not stop) your personal marathon. Let’s take a look at some of the best options for your next TV bender.

1. Firefly (2002)

This Sci-Fi show only lasted one season, but spawned thousands of devoted fans (Browncoats), multiple comics, and the 2005 film Serenity. Each episode is filled with witty dialogue and thrilling action, and you’ll definitely want to watch more than one to find out what happens to Captain Reynolds and his crew.

Planning your binge:

· Watch an episode: 42 minutes
· Watch a season (14 episodes): 10 hours
· Watch the whole series: 10 hours

2. House of Cards (2013-)

The first season of this 2013 political thriller was released in its entirety on Netflix in February, leading many people with TV-addictive personalities to stream all 13 episodes without much of a break between segments. Major suspense & top-notch acting by actors like Kevin Spacey make for a most satisfying binge.

Planning your binge:

· Watch an episode: 50 minutes
· Watch a season (13 episodes): 11 hours
· Watch the whole series: 11 hours

3. Sherlock (2010-)

With only three episodes per season, this BBC series won’t take too long to marathon, but you might need to watch it more than once to catch all the subtle clues and solve the cases like Sherlock.

Planning your binge:

· Watch an episode: 90 minutes
· Watch a season (3 episodes): 4.5 hours
· Watch the whole series: 9 hours

4. 24 (2001-2010)

Spanning eight seasons, this show feels extremely fast-paced despite covering only 60 minutes of “real time” action per episode. After watching what Jack Bauer deals with on an hourly basis, you’ll be glad that you’re watching from the comfort of your own home (and on your own time).

Planning your binge:

· Watch an episode: 43 minutes
· Watch a season (24 episodes): 17 hours
· Watch the whole series: 138 hours (139.5 hours if you include the TV movie Redemption)

5. Girls (2012-)

This racy HBO series isn’t for the faint-of-heart, but if you’ve lived through the uncertainty and awkwardness of your early twenties, this is a great series to binge on a season at a time. The episodes are bite-sized at only 30 minutes each, you won’t want to wait to find out what kind of crazy (and yet somehow totally believable) situations Hannah and her friends will find themselves facing next.

Planning your binge:

· Watch an episode: 30 minutes
· Watch a season (10 episodes): 5 hours
· Watch the whole series: 10 hours

6. Downton Abbey (2011-)

This one takes a little more initial patience than the others, but once you get sucked into this early 20^th century BBC drama (and you will get sucked in), you’ll have a tough time not pressing “next” when the current episode ends. Packed with romance, tragedy, and the occasional laugh, this series revolving around the upstairs & downstairs inhabitants of an English estate has something for everyone.

Planning your binge:

· Watch an episode: 50 minutes
· Watch a season (7 episodes, not including Christmas Specials): 6 hours
· Watch the whole series: 20.5 hours (including two 90-minute Christmas Specials)

7. Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)

Another great show that lasted only one season, this ultra-relatable high school series set in 1980 will make you cringe with familiarity at the universally embarrassing problems that plague freaks & geeks, nerds, jocks, and all other teenage cliques. And despite the awkwardness, you won’t be able to stop watching.

Planning your binge:

· Watch an episode: 44 minutes
· Watch a season (18 episodes): 13 hours
· Watch the whole series: 13 hours

I know I’ve only scratched the surface here; when it comes to TV indulgences, there are so many great binge options. Which are your favorite series to marathon? -- Kate

Kate is Promotions & Direct Mail Coordinator at Half Price Books Corporate.

Must-Read Memoirs

Steve — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:17:05 +0000

This list is not meant to be a “best of all time” memoir list. It’s just a list of memoirs from the past twenty years that I’ve enjoyed, laughing at the authors’ misfortunes (with the authors’ encouragement), agonizing as they struggle, cheering as they triumph.

The Liar’s Club by Mary Karr—When it was published in 1995, this one really got the memoir back into the mainstream as a book category. It is poet Karr’s completely absorbing page-turner about growing up in Texas. As a Texan son of pretty normal folks, I felt a bit guilty as I read of Karr’s trials and tribulations growing up the daughter of an alcoholic dad and a distracted mom. (Her second memoir, Cherry, is great, too. I haven’t yet made it to the third, Lit.)

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls—This horrifying-but-true (and funny) tale has been on the bestseller lists since it came out in 2006, but I just got around to reading it. Like The Liar’s Club, It’s about life with an alcoholic dad and a distracted mom. As I read it, I kept saying to my wife, “See— we’re not such awful parents!”

Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt—Dysfunctional families, Irish-style. I kept rooting for young Francis, knowing his deadbeat dad was, once again, going to blow all the money on pints in the pub and let Francis’s desperate mother down. We kind of have a theme going here…

All Over But the Shoutin’ by Rick Bragg—And yet another story of a no-good, drinkin’ dad, but this one has a heroic mom to save the son from poverty and pave his way to Pulitzer-Prizewinning journalism. Why all these tales of dissolute dads and miserable moms? Well, they make for fascinating reading, and it doesn’t hurt that all of these writers are exceptional storytellers. Some might argue that it was the adversity that led them to careers in writing.

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio by Terry Ryan—Ryan, like Karr, is a poet, but her memoir is an homage to her determined and inspiring mom, who kept the author and her nine siblings—and, of course, the alcoholic husband/father—out of the poorhouse. Another mother as heroine.

Big Russ & Me by Tim Russert—Newscaster Russert pays tribute to his dad, “Big Russ,” who was not an alcoholic; on the contrary, Big Russ supported his family and throughout his life gave good advice and support to his son. Not much in the way of embarrassing parental behavior here—just a nice gesture from a grateful son.

Bossypants by Tina Fey—Tina Fey had pretty normal, loving parents, who only occasionally embarrassed her in public. And despite normal parents, she has done pretty well for herself. This is one of the funniest books I’ve read in a while.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed—This is another interesting recent book, the account of the author’s harebrained decision to walk the Pacific Rim Trail solo, with few skills and no experience. She’s exorcising demons manifested following her mother’s death, and mostly blames herself for her troubles. A nice adventure tale.

Any favorite memoirs you’d like to recommend? -- Steve

Steve is Staffing & Development Manager (aka the "Buy Guy") at Half Price Books Corporate.

12 Books on Parenting for New Moms and Dads

Stephanie — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:57:33 +0000

Being a mom, I constantly wonder about the development of my child and how I can continually foster learning, growth, love and creativity in our home. As my child gets bigger, so does my parenting book library. Below is a small list of books that have enlarged my understanding as a parent and offers a variety of perspectives and values. Each book gives new inspiration and appreciation for this wonderful journey called parenthood.

ROW 1: Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman, Between Parent and Child by Haim Ginott, Parenting with Love & Logic by Clive Foster and Jim Fay, Parenting from the Inside Out by Daniel Siegel ROW 2: Einstein Never Used Flash Cards by Kathryn Kirsh-Pasek, The Confident Child by Terri Apter, Playful Parenting by Lawrence Cohen, The Idle Parent by Tom Hodgkinson ROW 3: Grace Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel, Simplicity Parenting by Kim Payne and Lisa Ross, Beyond the Sling by Mayim Bialik, The Complete Buddhism for Mothers by Sarah Napthali

If you would like more children's book recommendations and ideas, please see our 40 Books Every Child Should Read and 21 Books to Start a Baby's Library blog post.

What is the best parenting advice you have ever received?

---

Stephanie is Art Director at Half Price Books Corporate
You can follow her on Twitter at @saltpepperpress

Great American Novels of the 21st Century

Kristen D. — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:37:05 +0000

This month we're reading The Great Gatsby (Baz Luhrmann's adaptation comes out tomorrow!), widely heralded as one of the Great American Novels, defined as "a novel that is distinguished in both craft and theme as being the most accurate representative of the zeitgeist in the United States at the time of its writing or in the time it is set." There are lots and lots of lists out there that attempt to catalogue ALL of the Great American Novels, so we thought we'd start small(ish) and recent(ish). Here's a gathering of some of the best novels from American authors from 2000-now.

Row 1: Swamplandia by Karen Russell; Netherland by Joseph O’Neill; Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson; These Dreams of You by Steve Erickson; Row 2: Bee Season by Myla Goldberg; A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan; Bel Canto by Ann Pachett; Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann; Row 3: Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple; The Road by Cormac McCarthy; The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz; The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon; Row 4: The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen; Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer; Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides; Empire Falls by Richard Russo

Which ones did we miss? Any on here you would argue should not be considered a Great American Novel? -- Kristen

Kristen is Public Relations Specialist at Half Price Books Corporate.
You can follow her on Twitter at @kristendickson.

Local Store Events Round Up: May

Emily — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:14:27 +0000

Looking for something to do in May? Check out some fun happenings at your neighborhood Half Price Books this month!

All Stores

Comic Book Giveaway Day

Don't miss the pulse-pounding fun of Free Comic Book Giveaway Day on Saturday, May 4 at all HPB locations. Get a free comic book* with any in-store purchase, while supplies last. Hope to see you there for the action-packed fun. See your neighborhood store for other special events.

*From a pre-selected collection while supplies last. See store for restrictions and details. Not available at Half Price Books Outlet.

Dallas – Northwest Highway

Book Signing with Andrew Wyly

It ain't bragging if it's true! Local author, Andrew Wyly will sign and sell his book, Texas Got It Right! at our Flagship HPB on Thursday, May 2 from 6-8 p.m. This book is full of inspiring stories and big characters–from Sam Houston and Ann Richards to Tom Landry and Beyoncé. There’s even a feature on HPB and our president and CEO Sharon Anderson Wright! So come on down and get the data to back up the boasting.

Animal Adoptions

Cute kitties and canine companions will visit our Flagship HPB on the third Saturday of each month from noon to 4 p.m. The League of Animal Protectors, a nonprofit animal rescue and adoption organization, will have a select group of adoptable pets looking for good, forever homes. See you May 18!

Lexington, KY – Sir Barton Place

Comic Book Contests & More

Come to your Sir Barton Place HPB on Saturday, May 4, for an action-packed day of comic book fun. Bam! Wear your favorite Superhero costume or dress up your pet for our costume contest. Ka-Pow! Join in a children’s drawing and coloring contest then create your own Superhero mask. Bonk!! Win coupons in an hourly trivia contest and participate in a silent auction to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense League. Wham-o!!! 20% off all comics, graphic novels, and manga. Contest winners will receive HPB Gift Cards. See store for details.

Cedar Park, TX

Star Wars Day

May the Fourth be with you! Saturday, May 4 is Star Wars Day and your Cedar Park HPB is celebrating. Wear your favorite Star Wars or Superhero costume and join in our 2^nd Annual Comic Book Trivia Contest. Contest categories are for ages 9 yrs and under, 10 to 17 yrs, and 18 yrs and up. Winners will receive an HPB Gift Card.

Indianapolis – Northbrook/Greenbriar

Star Wars Day

Your Greenbriar HPB is celebrating with trivia and prizes all day. Wear your favorite Star Wars or Superhero costume and enter to win a $25 HPB Gift Card. Watch out for an invasion by the 501st Imperial Legion, Vader's Fist, at 6 pm. See you there!

Houston – North Oaks

Star Wars Day and Costume Contest

The crew at HPB North Oaks will celebrate Star Wars Day, too! Wear your favorite Star Wars or Comic character costume for a chance to win 2 tickets to Comicpalooza. Shop the sidewalk comic book sale for 25¢ comics. Plus, get a free pre-selected comic book with any in-store purchase while supplies last. Special Bonus: Dallas artist Aoristos will do free caricatures. See store for details.

Knitting and Crochet Club

Are you a knit-wit? Hooked on crochet? Ambistitcherous? Join us on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, from 4 to 6 p.m., at your North Oaks HPB for our Knitting and Crochet Club. Bring your own yarn and don't worry about frogging or darn overs. Come for the camaraderie and stay for the fun. See you May 21!

Louisville, KY – Springhurst/Freys Hill

Monthly Coloring Contest

Grab a crayon and unleash your inner artist! Stop inside the Springhurst Half Price Books and get involved with our Monthly Coloring Contest. Each month, a new coloring sheet is available for our pint-sized customers. Throughout the month, children ages 13 and under may submit their coloring sheet for entry. At the end of the month, 4 winners are selected (one from each age group). Winners receive a Half Price Books Gift Card and the honor of having their artwork displayed in store.

Cincinnati - Kenwood Galleria

Dog Days at Half Price Books

Join us at our Kenwood Galleria HPB to take a bite out of reading. Load up the kids and bring them to Half Price Books where they can read a book to Rudi, the Shih Tzu, from 11 a.m. to noon each first and third Saturday of the month. Presented in partnership with the Therapy Pets of Greater Cincinnati. See you May 4 and 18!

Humble, TX

Journaling at Half Price Books

Have you always wanted to keep a journal but couldn't seem to get started? Your HPB in Humble will share the art of journaling. Andi Klemm will show you how to create your own pages, write your story and use your words as art. Join the conversation on the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. See you May 9!

Reynoldsburg, OH – Brice Park

Crafternoon at HPB

Do you like a good DIY craft? Want to be good to Mother Earth and your Mom? Then come to your Brice Park HPB on Saturday, May 11 from 2-4 p.m. for an afternoon of crafts using recycled materials. We'll be making fashionable presents for Mom just in time for Mother's Day.

Houston - Westheimer/Montrose

Book Signing with Gerald T. Dolphus

Pastor and author, Gerald T. Dolphus will sell and sign his book, Translated at your Montrose HPB on Thursday, May 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. Translated is a spiritual self-help book that aims to augment every aspect of one's life.

Seattle – University District

HPB at the University District Street Fair

Look for BW, the HPB Bookworm, at the 44th Annual U District Street Fair on Saturday and Sunday, May 18 -19, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. BW will have nifty giveaways plus HPB coupons. Be sure to check out your U District HPB just a few blocks north of the Street Fair.

Edmond, OK

Mad Science Spectacular

Have you ever wondered why you can see your breath on a cold day? Or how quicksand works? If so, come to your Edmond HPB on Saturday, May 18 at 3 p.m. for Mad Science Spectacular. Children of all ages can learn about science versus magic in a fun and interactive way.

Avon, IN

The Great Gatsby HPB Book Club Discussion

Whether you're a swanky swell or a flapper with great gams, throw on your glad rags and join the HPB Book Club as we read F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Come to your Avon HPB on Thursday, May 23 from 7 to 8:30 p.m., for an in-depth discussion of this literary classic. It will be the cat's meow. Light refreshments available.

Arlington, TX – Lincoln Square

Pirate Poetry Slam

Avast ye landlubbers! Your Lincoln Square HPB will host an evening of pirate poetry on Friday, May 24 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. with local pirate poetry group The Seadog Slam. And if ye be a pirate too, perhaps ye will be persuaded to read your poems as well.

Storytime – Multiple Locations

Many of our stores have weekly or monthly storytimes. Check out this month’s listings:

Huebner Road, San Antonio – Join us the first Sunday of every month for Storytime Sunday at 2 p.m. The staff will read one of their favorite books, geared toward booklovers ages 2-8. See you May 5!

Northwest Highway – Dallas – Join us every Sunday from 1-2 p.m. for a story and special craft activity. Recommended for kids ages 10 and under.

Lincoln Square – Arlington, TX – Stop by the Lincoln Square Half Price Books every Sunday at 2 p.m. for a fun tale. Recommended for kids ranging from infants to 6 years of age. Refreshments will be provided.

Plano, TX – Our new Plano store will share a fun story with the kiddos each Sunday at 2 p.m.

Mesquite, TX – Pack up your kiddos and visit our store in Mesquite every Sunday for Storytime and Crafts. Sit down and enjoy a good tale and free activity with us from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Readers and arts-and-crafts lovers of all ages are welcome.

Rockwall, TX – Visit us in Rockwall each Sunday at 3 p.m. for a fun story. Stick around and get crafty with us with a new activity for kids each week. Storytime recommended for kids ranging from pre-schoolers to 5th graders.

South Arlington, TX – Pack up your little readers and come to South Arlington HPB for a fun storytime. Sit down and enjoy a good tale with us at 3 p.m. every Sunday afternoon. Recommended for kids ranging from 2 to 8 years of age.

Lynnwood, WA – Bring the kiddos to the Lynnwood HPB for storytime from 3 to 4 p.m. every Sunday.

Corpus Christi, TX – Load up your half-pint readers and visit us at Moore Plaza for Storytime Sundays. We’ll share a tale from 2 to 3 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month. Recommended for kids ranging from pre-school to 4th grade. See you May 12!

Mason, Ohio – Sit down for a good tale each Tuesday from 11 a.m. to noon at our Mason Half Price Books.

Humble, TX – Bring the kids for a children’s storytime every Wednesday from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Snacks will be provided. Recommended for kids ages 1 to 6.

Edmond, OK – Enjoy a fun story with the folks at the Edmond HPB at 3 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month. See you May 11!

Paradise Valley – Phoenix – Bring your half-pint readers in for a good tale with us from 2:30 to 3:30 pm on the second Saturday of each month. See you May 11!

Hurstbourne – Louisville, KY – Bring the kids the third Saturday of every month from 2 to 4 p.m. for storytime. Join us for sing-alongs, coloring contests, story-telling and more. See you May 18!

Springhurst/Freys Hill – Louisville, KY - Stop by the Springhurst store on the last Saturday of the month from 2 to 4 p.m., where we’ll have stories, games, activities and snacks. See you May 25!

Sir Barton Place, Lexington, KY - Pack up your half-pint readers and come to your Sir Barton Place HPB for Storytime Saturday. Sit down and enjoy a good tale with us from 2 to 3 p.m. on the last Saturday of each month. See you May 25!

Special Sales – Multiple Locations

Louisville, KY

Media Sale at the Expo Five Expo Dome

Listen up, audiophiles and movie buffs! Have we got a sale for you! Join HPB at the

Expo Five Expo Dome in Louisville for a fantastic media sale on Saturday & Sunday, May 18 & 19 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Everything will be $3 or less. Stock up on DVDs, CDs, LPs and more.

Accepted Tender: Cash, Check, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover. We are sorry, but we are unable to accept coupons, other discounts or gift cards at the clearance sale. All sales are final.

Phoenix, AZ

HPB at Phoenix Comicon 2013

Ready to geek out in Phoenix? Come to the Phoenix Comicon to meet Frank Beddor, author of The Looking Glass Wars, and actor John Barrowman, from Doctor Who and Torchwood, and look for the HPB booth, #553, from Thursday, May 23 through Sunday, May 26. HPB will sell comics, manga, graphic novels, science fiction and fantasy novels, DVDs and more.

Burleson, Texas

Tuesday Night Specials
Stop by our Burleson location each Tuesday night from 7 to 9 p.m. for discount specials. Great savings may include 20% off DVDs or 30% off fiction hardcovers. You won't know what's on sale until you visit. Tuesday Night Specials valid at this location only. Ask in store for details.

Northwest Highway – Dallas

Comic Book Wednesdays

Pow! Comics just got cheaper! Half Price Books on Northwest Highway in Dallas, Texas will be reducing all regularly-priced comic books to the sale price of 50¢ each on Wednesdays only. Recurring each week on Wednesdays until further notice. Collectibles and bargain bundles excluded.

$1 VHS Fridays

Feed that VCR! Shop our VHS collection every Friday and save even more on video tapes of all genres. All VHS in stock priced at $4.98 or less will be sold for just $1.00 on Fridays only, until further notice. Offer valid at Northwest Highway location only.

Greenwood, Indiana

Comic Book Wednesdays

Every Wednesday, stop by our Greenwood store to get 20% off all single-issue comics, including clearance and collectible issues. Offer good at this location only.

Clearwater Village – Indianapolis

Comics Sale Wednesdays

Comic fans and collectors, don't miss our weekly Comics Sale Wednesdays. Save 20% off comic books at our Clearwater Village HPB in Indianapolis, Indiana. Come back each week as we restock with new adventures in store! Sale excludes graphic novels and manga. Continues each Wednesday at this location until further notice. No superhero powers required.

Vinyl Fridays

Join us for a LP shopping spree! Get 20% off all vinyl on Fridays at our Clearwater Village HPB. Come back each week for new discoveries and savings! No exclusions. All LPs discounted each Friday at this location until further notice.

Avon, Indiana

Retro Thursdays

Think it's still cool to be old school? Stop by the Half Price Books in Avon every Thursday from 5-9 p.m. and get 20% off all vinyl, cassettes, comics, graphic novels and manga. Offer good at this location only.

Half Price Books Outlet – Bloomington, Indiana

Vinyl Thursdays

Your Bloomington Half Price Books Outlet is having Buy One LP, Get One Free each Thursday. Thumb through our vast, cool selection of LPs, all priced at 50¢ or less. See store for details.

Northbrook/Greenbriar - Indianapolis

Retro Tuesdays

Listen up media aficionados! Join us each Tuesday and get 20% off all vinyl, cassettes, VHS, comics, manga, graphic novels and video games at our Northbrook/Greenbriar HPB in Indianapolis. Discount at this location only. No other discounts apply.

Music Fridays

Looking for some soothing grooves or pounding beats to start your weekend? Stop by the Greenwood HPB every Friday to get 20% off all CDs, LPs, cassettes and 8-track tapes. Offer good at this location only.

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Comic Books Sale

Whamo! That's right! Stop by the Fort Wayne location every Thursday and save an additional 20% off all comic books in store. Sale at the Fort Wayne HPB location only.

LP Day - Fridays

Join us each Friday for LP Day. All LPs will be 20% off, with some of your favorite songs being played on the turn-table.

South Arlington – Arlington, Texas

Retro Media Fridays

Get ready for a throwback! Join us at the Four Corners HPB in South Arlington every Friday night from 7-10 p.m. All retro media is 20% off – including LPs, cassette tapes, 8 tracks, VHS tapes and LaserDiscs.

Appleton, WI

Vinyl Fridays

Get 20% off all vinyl on Fridays from 7 to 10 p.m. at our Appleton HPB. Like what you hear? Records playing in the store are 50% off. Come back each week for new discoveries and savings! Discount at this location only.

Lexington, KY

Vinyl Fridays

Move to the groove while you shop! Join us on the last Friday of each month. Listen to classic tunes on vinyl and get 20% off all vinyl LPs all day at both the Sir Barton Place and Fayette Place HPBs in Lexington. Discount at this location only. See you May 31!

Phoenix – Paradise Valley

Vinyl Final Friday

Join us on the last Friday of each month to listen to classic tunes on vinyl and get 15% off all vinyl LPs from 7-10 p.m. at your Paradise Valley HPB. Offer good at this location only. See you May 31!

****

As always, be sure to check your local store’s webpage to see if anything has been added throughout the month.

-Emily

Famous Movie Directors and Their Signature Trademarks

JD — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:42:00 +0000

Baz Luhrmann's version of The Great Gatsby hits theaters May 10, which got me thinking about directors and how they add their own signature styles to the movies they helm. They are directors whose movies you can walk into the middle of and already know who is in charge.

Aside from Luhrmann, a few of my favorite directors' unique stamps come to mind. Below, I've also included the trademarks and works of Michel Gondry, Tim Burton, and Wes Anderson. Hopefully in the future, I can get to some of my other favorite directors (like Paul Thomas Anderson, David Fincher, etc.).

Also included below is the work of a very talented 19 year old film student from Amsterdam, Kees van Dijkhuizen, who has edited down each of these directors' works to short montages that give the essence and feel for their work.

Who's your favorite director? Any trademarks I missed on the directors above?

Darek is a Web Designer/Developer at Half Price Books Corporate.
You may follow him on Twitter at @jdtatum.

Best Baby Shower Book Gift Ideas

Stephanie — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:21:00 +0000

The most popular gifts at baby showers are undoubtably clothes, and as adorable as those cute little outfits are, the new baby will outgrow them before the mom has fastened the snaps. We have been thrilled to see books make their way as a hot baby shower theme and gift option. At Half Price Books, we believe that books are a gift that grows with the baby and most importantly, grows their imaginations. Here are a few of our favorite books to give to the next generation of adorable munchkins.

1: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak 2: Cowboy Small by Lois Lenski

3: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton

4: Thomas the Tank Engine by Rev. W. Awdry

5: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See? by Eric Carle

6: The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone

1: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. 2: Olivia by Ian Falconer

3: Little Miss Curious by Roger Hargreaves 4: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

5: The Princess and the Pea by Hans Christian Andersens

6: Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

If you would like more children's book recommendations and ideas, please see our 40 Books Every Child Should Read and 21 Books to Start a Baby's Library blog post.

What is your favorite childhood literary treasure and do you still have it on your bookshelf?

Stephanie is Art Director at Half Price Books Corporate
You can follow her on Twitter at @saltpepperpress

Half Price Books Does Earth Day Every day

Emily — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:11:00 +0000

Happy Earth Day, everyone! Here at HPB, we make preserving and recycling part of our business. In 2012, we donated more than 2.3 million books to non profit organizations and schools, helping to keep them out of landfills, and we continue to donate books all the time as part of our Million Book Donation Project.

And we don’t limit being green just to books. Each of our new stores is constructed with 100% recyclable flooring, handmade wood shelves and eco-paints. We also offer post-consumer waste shopping bags and recycled gift cards.

We’re always looking for ways to b(eco)me greener and view the protection of the environment as a journey, not a destination. I hope you’re doing something fun (and more importantly, green) today to celebrate. Let us know how you’ll celebrate in the comments! -- Emily

Emily is PR Manager at Half Price Books Corporate.

You can follow her on Twitter at emilytbruce.