One for the Books

Please allow plenty of time to shop this reappearance of The Book Market’s offerings of drastically reduced publishers’ remainders. There’s something here for just about everyone, but you need to spend at least an hour to derive the benefits of the terrific prices.

Just to give you an idea of the deals, in the fiction section there’s Tom Clancy’s “Red Storm Rising,” which originally sold for $25.95. Here it’s $7. And Robert James Walker’s “Puerto Vallarta Squeeze” goes for $4, down from the original $18.95.

The history tables have books that cover the Civil War, World War II, Korean, Vietnam and Cold wars with some terrific buys, such as $5 for the $35 “Fighting with Allies” by Robin Renwick. Robert Mann’s book on the struggle for civil rights, “Walls of Jericho,” at $5 is a $27 reduction from the original price.

All books on the business and professional tables should be checked for publication dates, unless you want a book on American jobs and salaries with information from four years ago, or 1985 coverage of American managers: “The New Competition.” I found “The Rain on Macy’s Parade” of value, even though it came out in 1996.

Reference books on needlepoint, quilting, business resources covering many subjects, from abrasives to zinc, and some foreign language dictionaries were excellent buys, as were a slew of computer books and children’s books at 60% off.

You’ll find excellent prices on some rather outrageous cookbooks (“Chefs Cook with Beer”) and such coffee-table books as “Islands In Space & Time” (from $35 down to $5), which were pretty well depleted on the Thursday I visited; but the tables are replenished every week.

The Book Market is a temporary setup and will be with us for only another two months or so. I suggest you make your foray on a Friday or Saturday since the new supply generally arrives toward the end of the week. You don’t have to be a book lover to go bargain nuts here.

The Book Market, 12050 Ventura Blvd. (where The Good Guys were, at the southeast corner of Laurel Canyon and Ventura boulevards), Studio City (818) 760-1813. In West Hills, at the Fallbrook Mall (818) 884-6922, and in Santa Clarita at 25832 McBean Parkway (805) 255-6195. Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday noon to 6 p.m. Major credit cards.

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WEEKEND SUPER SALES: Ladies, it’s a great time to augment your wardrobe whether via resale or retail. Robert Ellis has slashed retail prices to cost or below on his European and New York fashions through this month; 12429 Ventura Blvd., Studio City (818) 769-9666.

At Past Perfect’s Designer Resale you can deduct another 15% off everything, even those items already reduced by 75%, also through this month; 12616 Ventura Blvd., Studio City (818) 760-3402.