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Jerichos Books in Tyler Texas

March 11th, 2010

Jericho’s Books

Southeast Crossing Center Suite 135
Troup Hwy
Tyler 75701
903 533 1900

Jericho’s is a used book store with plenty of character. It is quite a find for book lovers and collectors.

The shop goes back and back with bookshelves from floor to ceiling packed with books clearly labeled in sections. All are sold at half of the price on the cover, many are significantly less. There are mysteries, household, travel books, Christian books, poetry, a vintage section and a huge section on American history to name just a few. I was a little disappointed with the kids selection but you can’t have everything.

Jerihos doesn’t just sell books. They have videos (at $1 each) DVDs, board games, vinyl records, audio books, comics CDs and posters all at bargain prices. They also promise to try and find any item that you are looking for through online searches. They will review almost anything for purchase – not just books and music or movies, they love anything collectible, but they will take a few days to look at anything you want to sell. Oh and if it’s not a book – it has to be ‘cool’ for them to trade with you!

On opening the door to the shop, my son said instantly – ‘Ooh it smells nice in here’ – he’s a book lover as you can see. I glanced at the 25 cent books as I walked in – mainly romances this week which wasn’t of much interest to me, but who knows what will be on sale next week – they always have specially discounted items of various genres which change frequently.

To the left of the shop door are 2 armchairs in front of a little fire (the only fake thing in the shop!) and you can help yourself to some free coffee and sit and look through a book or a recent magazine at your leisure. I hope you are getting the picture of this shop – it is a business that is LOVINGLY run by people who clearly love books and their readers! They even run special events like Scavenger hunts, murder mysteries, writing contests, music and parties for their patrons.

I imagine Jericho’s has quite a cult following, if you like books, check it out!

Tyler Barnes and Noble

January 13th, 2010

Tyler Barnes and Noble is a place where you can go and find the book you are looking for. They have all kinds of books on all kinds of topics. I go to Barnes and Nobles sometimes with my friends and I love to hang out and look around at the books they have. They don’t mind if you pick a seat and read a book or so. They make it so that you can feel right at home if you decide to read there.

They also have a place where they have magazines anywhere from those on fashion, people, cars, your home, food and other types of topics. They also have a selection for your children and they have it set up to where if you want to sit down and read to your child you can.

Inside the Tyler Barnes and Noble they also have a Starbucks and you know that everyone likes a good cup of coffee while you are reading a good book. If you don’t like looking around for a book or don’t feel like reading you can choose to hang out with your friends and have a cup of coffee and catch up on old times.

Barnes and Noble book store often has sales so you can find books there for a reasonable price especially if using your Barnes and Nobles customer card. If you don’t have the money to buy the book then you can just go and read while you are there. I am sure they won’t care if you hang out, have a cup of coffee and read a book without purchasing it. I have done this on numerous occasions although they know you will take one or two home eventually and this is why this type of setup works.

Times Have Changed, But Timeless Hasn’t… At Least Not Much

January 12th, 2010

In the nineteen nineties a group of friends and I established “Timeless Books and Music” as our second residence. We passed hours on the store’s floor and in its couches sifting through everything from classics to nineteen forties and fifties science fiction. The owner at the time became familiar with our tastes and would set aside books he knew would be of interest to us. As a result, my library contains some obscure but semi-valuable editions I would otherwise never have found. In those days the primary but not exclusive, literature to be found in the store was fiction from the first few decades of the turn of the century. There was a smattering of religion and history, and as I said classics, but the old dime back fiction was the order of the day. We’d find old Lewis and Lovecraft, Fritz Lieber and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

There was music for sale in those days as well. In fact if I were to walk through the music section today, I would probably find items we dropped off in trade for some form of reading material.

Today, Timeless has a new owner, but the same location on Broadway next to Hastings. And while the genre of books has changed, the store still keeps a steady flow of customers. The literature offered has broadened in terms of appeal. There are all kinds of mostly newer fiction. Timeless carries many of the same titles one might find in a bigger chain, but at used bookstore prices. The music section has grown considerably since I last visited too. If you’re looking for old vinyl or cassette tapes, Timeless is probably your best bet in Tyler.

Truth be told, things have changed a lot since I used to visit all those years ago. I no longer spend my entire afternoon haunting the shelves of the bookstore, nor do I tend to skip meals in order to buy books, (although that wouldn’t kill me either), but if you’re looking for some good beach reading this summer, you can still find it at Timeless Books and Music. Located at 4129 S Broadway in Tyler Texas.

The Scroll Christian Book Store

January 12th, 2010

Of all the bookstores in Tyler, there is one unique example which operates not only as a ministry to individuals in the local community but also to the other ministries in the area. The Scroll Christian Bookstore is now located at 2752 East Fifth in Tyler, and is a non profit Christian Bookstore. Not only is merchandise sold at a discount, but any profits go to Christian organizations like Living Alternatives and KVNE Christian radio.

In terms of inventory the store carries all manner of literature, music and video. They offer both contemporary products as well as old standbys, particularly in respect to literature. Not only will customers find works currently in vogue but the Scroll also carries the classics. The home school and curriculum section is the best in town. Their Tyler Texas staff has extensive experience in education and has an excellent working knowledge of all the products they sell.

The store’s Bible, commentary and theology departments are much broader and more complete than some or the other Christian book stores in town. Even customers of a more traditional orthodox persuasion like Catholics or Episcopalians have a pretty good shot at finding material of interest.

The staff at the Scroll is very friendly and more than willing to help. The store makes for a great afternoon out, so stop by have a free cup of coffee and browse for a while. Odds are you’ll find something you didn’t know you needed. For more information, go to their website at www.thescroll.org

The Doctors Wives Book Sale

January 12th, 2010

When I was in fifth and sixth grade my teachers would read aloud to the class, often times from books they had purchased at the Smith County Medical Society Alliance Book Fair. (Back then we called it simply the Doctors Wives’ Book Sale). They would attend once in the fall and once in the spring. I recall one teacher in particular who would come to class late on those days with a box or paper bag full of old books. Those days were exciting for us as students for a couple of reasons. First of all the teacher’s tardiness would allow us a few more precious moments of conversation, and secondly, when the teacher did arrive he would often dig through his stacks of purchases with us. In elementary school any departure from the routine is something to be savored.

Every so often our teacher would find a volume that captivated us. After a busy lunch spent on the playground or throwing a football, he would read aloud to us from one of these new finds. We began to day dream about our own trips to the book fair. We fantasized about digging up old copies of books he had read to us. “If only I could find my own copy of this or that author! I would be the envy of the class!”

Well, today I am a teacher myself; I still shop at the Tyler book fair and yes I still find myself on the lookout for some of the same books and authors recommended to me by my fifth and sixth grade teacher, Mr. Evans. My tastes have expanded over the years of course, but whatever the subject matter the “Doctors Wives’ Book Sale” has furnished my needs with some really wonderful reading at very little cost. On more than one occasion I have walked out with books of real value. Sometimes their value lay in the books obscurity, sometimes in its popularity.

As a young man on a trip to the book fair, I would buy in bulk. Anything remotely interesting would wind up coming home with me. Today however, lack of space and a touch of frugality have made me more selective. Unfortunately even my time is a constraint.
I still enjoy my visits to the book fair though. I still peruse the aisles hoping to find that stray copy of Booth Tarkington or Howard Pyle. I don’t often find much of the former that I don’t already have by the way. Over the course of my own teaching career I have introduced my students to some of these very same writers that my teachers introduce to me. In fact I’ve ended up passing out and replacing some of the books which became my favorites.

Today my personal library contains quite a number of titles that I picked up at the Doctors Wives Book Sale. This bi-annual event has become a local institution over the years. Having started in 1968 and 69 the Smith County Medical Society Alliance Book Fair (as it is now known) is celebrating its fortieth year. There have been fat years and there have been lean ones, but the show goes on like clockwork. Collectors show up every time to crowd into the little building or browse under the outdoor awning for bags of books.
The fair sells literature of all kinds, new, rare, and used books. Modern and classic fiction, history and biography religion and philosophy are all here. They even have a wide variety of textbooks, though they do tend to be older editions.

The Society Alliance Book Fair is a not for profit organization whose proceeds benefit health related scholarships and community projects.

Mr. Evans would not have been able to guess at the influence his choices of literature would have on us. Twenty plus years later we’re still enjoying the books he exposed us to, and we’re still attending the Doctors Wives’ Book Sale.

The fall session of the book fair will be held on November fifth, sixth and seventh. It is located on the loop behind Goodyear Tires and Bosworth and Associates insurance agency.

Whether you’re a teacher, a student, a parent, or anything in between, consider making this local Tyler event a tradition in your family. I can guarantee a lifetime of enriching reading and experiences.