Thrifty Thursday is a meme started by my friend Sal over at Motion Sick Lit, which is a phenomenal book blog (that is sort of on hiatus, unfortunately).
The idea of Thrifty Thursday: each week you link up a used book you get for (preferably) under $5. Grabbing a book you've never heard of is encouraged. It's a cool way to support local shops and maybe find a new favorite book. Since I love judging books by their covers, this is just the activity for me.
THE BOOKSTORE: Uncle Hugo's
If you like science fiction and/or fantasy, aren't intimidated by enormous piles of books, and live anywhere near Minneapolis, get yourself over to Uncle Hugo's IMMEDIATELY. They have the most amazing selection of new and used science fiction and fantasy that you could ever dream of. It's actually insane. AND the back half of the bookstore is called Uncle Edgar's, where they have a similarly impressive collection of mystery books, if that's what does it for you.
I came here for an N.K. Jemisin book (which I got), but I totally didn't expect to leave here with anything else. I just saw the author's name and knew I needed to make an additional purchase.
THE BOOK:
Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress
In this future, some people need no sleep at all. Leisha Camden was genetically modified at birth to require no sleep, and her normal twin Alice is the control. Problems and envy between the sisters mirror those in the larger world, as society struggles to adjust to a growing pool of people who not only have 30 percent more time to work and study than normal humans, but are also highly intelligent and in perfect health.
The Sleepless gradually outgrow their welcome on Earth, and their children escape to an orbiting space station to set up their own society. But Leisha and a few others remain behind, preaching acceptance for all humans, Sleepless and Sleeper alike. With the conspiracy and revenge that unwinds, the world needs a little preaching on tolerance.
What physically looks like an inconspicuous and pretty typical science fiction novel is actually written by brilliant powerhouse, Nancy Kress. I've only read her short story, Out of All Them Bright Stars, but it was SO SO GOOD and I want to read everything else by her immediately. She's amazing at using minimal, interesting prose and using aliens to highlight issues of prejudice here on Earth. This book is the first in the Sleepless series, so if I like it, there will be more!
TOTAL PRICE: $2.50
All of the used mass market paperbacks are half off the listed price! You get some incredible deals at Uncle Hugo's.
Thanks for hosting this, Sal!
What cheap books have you picked up recently? Tell me about your favorite used bookstore!