As a practiced bargain hunter, I’ve spent countless weekends delving through the mess at thrift stores, rummage sales and even family attics searching for the perfect find.

Anyone who has experienced a successful bargain hunt knows the distinct rush you get when scoring the perfectly worn-in easy chair, brand name jacket — or, in this case — awesome bargain books, for a fraction of the original value.

Once again, while there was a lot of junk to fumble through, with a little patience the Friends of the Golda Meir Library Used Book Sale proved to be an excellent venue for picking up items for every budget.

“I Remember Distinctly: A Family Album of the American People in the Years of Peace”

Assembled by Agnes Rogers

Price: $1

Because of its severely torn cover, I almost passed right by this remarkable book. “I Remember Distinctly” is exactly what its title claims: an amazing album-like look at American life from 1918 to Pearl Harbor.

Inside are countless photographs depicting everything from politics and fashion, to Hollywood glamour and the economy. Detailed passages give the reader an excellent look into the everyday lives of the American people during this time period.

“Like Water for Chocolate” (audio version)

By Laura Esquirel

Price: 25 cents

“Like Water for Chocolate” was one of the first novels that I fell in love with in high school. This sensual love story celebrates food, family and love in a deliciously magical style. Read by actress Yareli Arizmendi, this four-cassette audio version is perfect for long, mundane road trips.

“American Folk Songs for Children” (LP)

Price: $1

A few weeks ago, I caught a program on National Public Radio about a man who stumbled upon some old reel-to-reel tapes of folk music and made it his mission to learn more about their origins. It was a wonderful program that featured folk music from Graham Parsons to Woodie Guthrie.

Therefore, when walking past the shelves of vinyl records displayed at the sale, the boxed set titled “American Folk Songs for Children” jumped out at me. The box includes 94 songs played on a wide variety of instruments, including autoharp, banjo, dulcimer, fiddle and mandolin. When comparing prices, I found the CD version of this album online for over 100 times the cost!

“Ghosts and Witches Aplenty: More Tales Our Settlers Told”

By Joseph Raskin, Edith Raskin and William Sauts Bock

Price: 25 cents

Just in time for Halloween, this paperback is the perfect way to tune up my storytelling skills for any lingering trick-or-treaters. A nice change from traditional scary stories, “Ghosts and Witches Aplenty” takes a historical look at the ideas of witchcraft and other supernatural forces from the perspective of those living in the American colonial times. A fun gift for young adults!

> Comments