Bargain Books -- Edward R. Hamilton Bookseller Company

Bargain Books
Edward R. Hamilton Bookseller Company
P.O. Box 15
Falls Village, CT 06031-0015

Edward R. Hamilton is a great source for publishers' closeouts, overstocks, imports, remainders, and current titles at special prices--some titles are as much as 80% off. They do not accept credit cards (if you want to order Hamilton Books with a credit card you will need to go to http://www.hamiltonbook.com but be aware that there will be extra shipping costs).

When ordering by mail (and paying by check) there is only one low $3.50 fee for shipping and handling (a real bargain). CT residents must add 6% tax on the total, including the shipping and handling fee.

Hamilton carries a wide variety of books in a multiplicity of subject areas---from "American History" to "Your Health" (subjects are listed, in alphabetical order, on the inside of the front page of the catalogue, which is, in total, 147 pages in length). Most readers, I believe, will find some title or other that will be of interest to them. They also carry a smaller selection of DVDs and CDs, also well worth perusing.

Here are some of the titles (catalogue dated: 7/23/2010) that caught my eye:



Zaida Ben-Yusuf: New York Portrait Photographer (240 pp.) $9.95

Twilight at Monticello: The Final Years of Thomas Jefferson (322 pp.) $4.95

The Essential Writings of Machiavelli (516 pp.) $12.95

The Dodgers: 120 Years of Dodgers Baseball (445 pp.) $9.95

Cannibalism, Headhunting, and Human Sacrifice in North America (249 pp.) $7.95

Augustine: A New Biography (396 pp.) $5.95

Henry VIII: The King and His Court (642 pp.) $4.95

Hell's Islands: The Untold Story of Guadalcanal (514 pp.) $11.95

Thomas Paine's Rights of Man (Hitchens) ( 158 pp.) $4.95

The Irish-Americans: A History (Dolan) (352 pp.) $7.95

Original Sin: A Cultural History (286 pp.) $5.95

J.C. Leyendecker: American Imagist (256 pp.) $34.95

Headless Body in Topless Bar: The Best Headlines from America's Favorite Newspaper (Staff, New York Post) (191 pp.) $4.95

The Good Rat: A True Story (Breslin) (270 pp.) $5.95

LBJ's Hired Gun: A Marine Corps Helicopter Gunner's War in Vietnam (260 pp.) $7.95

Willie & Joe: The WWII Years (Mauldin) (650 pp.) $24.95

Uneasy Money (Wodehouse) (247 pp.) $11.95

Nordstrom

Nordstrom

August 2010 catalogue

1-800-933-3365


The thing that strikes me most about Nordstrom's August 2010 catalogue is the mixture of Seventies (yes, Seventies) style with that of the late Nineteen-eighties. Here we have wedge sandals, platform heels, flared leg (sequin, no less) trousers, and slouchy hobo bags--but--we also have weirdly hybrid legging-pants, denim mini-skirts and quilted leather handbags. The less said about the animal-print handbags the better, I think (hello Mrs. Robinson.....). There are two perfume inserts in this one--Donna Karan's "Cashmere Mist" and Dior's "Miss Dior Cherie." The Donna Karan scent is the less noxious of the two (see how faithful I am to you, my dear Chanel No. 5?).

As in (almost) every catalogue there is One Perfect Item that speaks to me. In this catalogue it is the dress on page 76--a sleeveless black and navy dress for $158.00, which, amazingly, is available in sizes 2 to 14.

The prize for Silliest Item of clothing has to go to Steve Madden's "Trouser" laceless Oxfords. $69.95 and you don't get laces? I think not, Mr. Madden. I recall, all too well, losing a shoe on the stairwell up from the 14th Street Union Square Subway station and the resulting traffic jam as I hopped about on one foot looking for my lost shoe. No my shoes, especially at that price, must have laces!

So, off I go now, to shop in my closet, and see what vintage looks I can recreate (wait....they're all vintage looks, LOL....).

National Wholesale Liquidators

National Wholesale Liquidators

Locations in: The Bronx, Brookly, Queens, Long Island City, Yonkers, Dorchester, MA, Jersey City, and Lodi, NJ

http://www.nationalwholesaleliquidators.com/

I love the Liquidators. It is true, though, that there are certain things I would never consider purchasing there--electronics, for one, clothing, or furniture (bad bad experience with a computer "work station"). This being said, I have been more than happy with some of our purchases there, particularly in the area of foodstuffs (excepting milk--you may not want to buy Liquidators milk....). A nice selection of teas, jams, preserves, candies, cookies, spices, and ethnic foods (Mexican/Middle Eastern/Italian) as well as mainstream American brands such as Lipton, Heinz, and Tropicana. Cleaning products, small housewares, and paper products (bath tissue and paper towels) are good values. Personal care products (shampoo, soap, shaving cream) seem to be priced comparably with those in any CVS, Duane Reade, or large supermarket (so you may as well wait for a special and use a coupon). Liquidators does not accept coupons, nor do they do rain checks. What you see is what they have....and their merchandise is ever-changing....so....if you see something you want/need and it's the right price....grab a couple, because it might not be there next week. Or tomorrow.

A good source for inexpensive greeting cards ( .99 cents ). Much of their stock--if one checks labels--seems to originate in Canada (yes, I am thinking of you, Nescafe). I am not sure why this is, exactly, though it has been cause--on more than one occasion-- for my husband to opine that there was no way he was going to drink "Canadian" coffee or use "Canadian" toothpaste, though, frankly, I can't tell the difference.

I particularly enjoy the Liquidators prior to Christmastime. They are the only store, in my experience, that play non-secularized Christmas carols (yes, the religious ones) instead of sanitized Santa-songs (which is, I must admit, refreshing). I have heard though, that some have ventured the opinion that they are afraid they are supporting the Jihad whenever they shop there. Of this, I cannot venture an opinion, not having any sure knowledge or certainty considering the political affiliations of the owners. All I know is that they stock the most delicious chocolate biscuits and Walker's shortbread cookies before Christmas and that is sufficient for me!! So...herewith some of their current specials (good through 8/17/2010). Keep in mind, too, that the Liquidators gets very crowded on the weekends. The best time to go is a Tuesday morning at around 11:00 a.m. or so. That is when I would go.....

Black and white composition notebooks .50 cents each

12 pack Papermate pens .88 cents

Brita Slim Pitcher $8.88

20 pack Wood Hangers 9.99

Mr. Clean 40 ounce refill 2.49

Heinz Ketchup 36 ounces 1.49

20 lb. imported Basmati Rice 15.99

McFarland Military History Books

McFarland Military History Books
McFarland & Company Inc.
Box 611 Jefferson, NC 28640-0611

Orders: 1-800-253-2187

http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/

McFarland is continuously making more titles available in an e-book format. Check their website for the latest availability information. In their attractive, four-color catalogue, they list new books for Fall 2010 (several noted below) as well as an extensive backlist. Detailed histories of most every military conflict and war are represented here (though there does seem to be a preponderance of titles dealing with the Civil War), many from a first-person perspective--memoirs, diaries, letters, accounts of particular battles.

Some of their titles:


The Egyptian Expeditionary Force in World War I: A History of the British-Led Campaigns in Egypt, Palestine, and Syria, Mortlock, PB, $38.00

Abner Doubleday: A Civil War Biography, Barthel, PB, $35.00

Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Beyond, Rogal, PB, $29.95

Women Military Pilots of World War II, Merry, PB, $35.00

Mollie's War: Letters of a World War II WAC in Europe, Schaffer & Schaffer, PB, $35.00

New York's Fighting Sixty-Ninth, Mahon, PB, $35.00

The Jewish Revolts Against Rome, Bloom, PB, $45.00

Guerrilla Warfare in the Irish War for Independence, 1919-1921, McKenna, PB, $65.00

Gulf War Nurses: Personal Accounts of 14 Americans, Rushton, ed., PB, $35.00

Battle History of the United States Marine Corps. 1775-1945, Clark, HC, $75.00

Lullabies for Lieutenants: Memoir of a Marine Forward Observer in Vietnam, 1965-1966, Cox, PB, $29.95

The War of 1812 in Person: Fifteen Accounts by United States Army Regulars, Volunteers, and Militiamen, Fredriksen, ed., PB, $45.00

Out of the Mouth of Hell: Civil War Prisons and Escapes, Casstevens, PB, $39.95

Lens of an Infantryman, Leff, PB, $45.00 (backlist, published in 2007)