Xander ,'Beneath You'
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
I'm pretty sure you can use your gift card online
You can.
it might be (I'll have to check for this) tax-free
No, since B&N has brick-and-mortar stores in whatever state Sox is in, presumably.
with a possibility of free shipping
Not just free, but FAST. Three days.
Does BookMooch have a packaging deal like Lala has where they send you postage-paid envelopes? I would love to give books away, but I know packaging and postage are a barrier for me.
Hecubook xpost: [link]
I'd take a look at bn.com
doing that now!
What is the book with "winter" in the title that is written by the same guy who does conservative political strategy?
Winter's Tale Mark Helprin.
I love that book.
One of my favorite novels EVER. SO beautiful and rich and imginative.
oh man. ok. didn't stick to my 'no new things' strategy. and the gift card was $25 but by the time I got to checkout I was committed - new Gardiner Dozios series and all that, plus Devil in the White City and Winter's Tale, and Hugo Cabret - so eh - looks like my behavior is the same whether I'm in the store or not. but not completely bad. I took care of two baby shower gifts and a movie for Iris too.
t /poor impulse control
$25 gift card to a bookstore is like half a blast. Good enough to keep the snake away, not enough to get your head up. I generally have to go in my pocket, too. With shipping and all. Especially since life is not HBO and it's ill-mannered to open the card and say "Are you fuckin' kidding me with this?"
I'm ok, given who it was from. Plus same person gave me Randall Jarell's The Animal Family and also? she rocks.
but yeah, going in pocket sucks.
I'm worse at The World's Best Independent Bookstore Ever, but that's because I've known the owners since I was five and they have amazing taste and I would give them all of my possessions if that would keep them in business.
Last night I wrote a blog post exploring why lately I've been reading (and writing) books that are targeted (or perhaps stereotyped) more toward men than women: [link]
The post is an attempt to explain why current historical fiction targeted toward women leaves me cold, hopefully without insulting writers who produce it or readers who enjoy it. Later this week I'm going to explore what it is about swashbucklers with male protagonists that appeals to me so much, and also make a stab at why the woman-focused stories that fail to intrigue me do speak to others.
So...stop by if you're interested, and if you love "women's" historical fiction, please tell me why!