So about the title…I guess local is relative to your location– let’s call this segment cheap and local(ish).  Moving on…

Coincidentally, on the first day of the Fall 2016 semester (aka the reality of my graduation officially being cemented) I found myself in New Paltz visiting a friend. While roaming around, I wandered into Barner Books, located right on Church Street.  I generally love bookstores, and this one was no exception. Strangely, though I had spent four years going to school in New Paltz, I had never been to Barner. The store is longer than it is wide- each of the shelves are topped with typewriters (use gently!); the walls peppered with posters.

Besides the healthy array of genres and books both old and new, what I found most notable with the prices.  As a recent college grad, I’m focused primarily on making money to ensure that I have a savings I can use when I ultimately have to start commuting into New York City.  However, I don’t want to not be able to indulge in the things I love–books being one of them.

In the store there are signs everywhere explaining where the price is listed for the book.  “We never sell according to the buyer price”, the notes tell the reader.

Today I purchased three books:

If You Want To Write — Brenda Ueland: A “classic” detailing honest writing that encourages truthful story-telling.  Listed: $11.95, Paid: $6.00

The Virginia Woolf Writers’ Workshop: Seven Lessons to Inspire Great Writing — Danell Jones: A third party writing dissects Woolf’s writing in order to craft lessons of creative writing.  Listed: $14.00, Paid: $7.00

The Barbie Chronicles: A Living Doll Turns Forty — (ed) Yona Zeldis McDonough: Twenty-three writers scruntinize the triumphs and pitfalls of the legacy of Barbie as the iconic figure turns 40.  Listed: $13.00, Paid: $7.00

Stay tuned for all that I take away from these pickings and let me know about your favorite page-turners!

bridget

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