Save Big At Thriftbooks
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If you like to read, did you know that you can save big at Thriftbooks? I recently found their website and ordered my first order of books from them about a week ago.
See the books in the below graphic? I purchased every one of those books (17) for less than $100.
I don’t know quite how I stumbled upon the Thriftbooks website. Maybe I was looking for a book and I Googled it and it came up.
At any rate, I got on their site and began to peruse the books. What wonderful frugal deals they have! I could have stayed in my chair looking at books all day long.
So I wanted to share these deals with you. I know many of you read on a Kindle or go to the library. It’s wonderful to support your local library.
But I read books and give them to youngest daughter Kasi. And Kasi buys books and reads them and then gives them to me. I also share them around the neighborhood. For me they are a tax deduction to purchase because I write about books.
If I allowed myself to read very long I was quickly devouring the books I ordered from Amazon and Walmart!
My Savings With Thriftbooks:
Because I bought so many books at one time, I got a discount of $5.34. I received free shipping. And I received one book free.
My total came to $86.69, and the tax was $7.40. The grand total of my 17 books was $94.29. Now that’s a lot of books for a decent price!
Below are the books I purchased.
- Open House: Elizabeth Berg – (Very Good Condition Hardcover) $5.49
Open House – Elizabeth Berg
A woman re-creates her life after divorce by opening up her house and her heart. After a spree of overcharging at Tiffany’s, she settles down to reconstruct a life for herself and her eleven-year-old son. To meet her mortgage payments, Sam decides to take in boarders.
2. Breathing Lessons: Anne Tyler – (Very Good Condition Hardcover) $4.16
Breathing Lessons – Anne Tyler
Maggie is quirky, lovable and mischievous, Ira is practical, methodical and mired in reason. What begins as a day trip becomes a revelatory and unexpected journey. Ira and Maggie rediscover the strength of their bond and the joy of having somebody to share the ride, bumps and all.
3. Talk Before Sleep: Elizabeth Berg – (Very Good Condition Hardcover) $4.79
Talk Before Sleep – Elizabeth Berg
What do you say when you know you don’t have forever? Ruth has been Ann’s closest friend for years—her confidante, her solace, her comic relief, her tutor in life’s mysterious ways. So when Ruth becomes ill, Ann is there for her without question.
4. The Most Wanted: Jacquelyn Mitchard – (Like New Hardcover) $4.79
The Most Wanted – Jacquelyn Mitchard
Arley Mowbray, only fourteen years old, is dreaming her life away in South Texas. Public-aid lawyer Annie Singer is the closest thing to a loving mother Arley will ever have. What happens to Arley and her husband, Dillon LeGrande, is the stuff of legend. He will break out of prison on a terrifying errand.
5. Durable Goods: Elizabeth Berg – (Very Good Condition Paperback) $4.50
Durable Goods – Elizabeth Berg
On the hot Texas army base she calls home, Katie spends the lazy days of her summer waiting. Waiting to grow up; waiting for Dickie Mack to fall in love with her; waiting for her breasts to blossom; and waiting for the beatings to stop. Since their mother died, Katie and her older sister, Diane, have struggled to understand their increasingly distant, often violent father.
6. In The Woods: Tana French – (Very Good Condition Hardcover) $6.09
In The Woods – Tana French
As dusk approaches a small Dublin suburb in the summer of 1984, mothers begin to call their children home. But on this warm evening, three children do not return from the dark and silent woods. When the police arrive, they find only one of the children gripping a tree trunk in terror, wearing blood-filled sneakers, and unable to recall a single detail of the previous hours.
7. Every Last One: Anna Quindlen (Very Good Condition Hardcover) $4.69
Every Last One – Anna Quindlen
Mary Beth Latham has built her life around her family, around caring for her three teenage children and preserving the rituals of their daily life. When one of her sons becomes depressed, Mary Beth focuses on him, only to be blindsided by a shocking act of violence.
8. The Firm – John Grisham (Very Good Condition Paperback) $4.99
The Firm – John Grisham
It was an offer Mitch McDeere couldn’t refuse: a position at a law firm where the bucks, billable hours, and benefits are over the top. It’s a dream job if he can overlook the uneasy feeling he gets at the office. Then an FBI investigation into the firm’s connections to the Mafia plunges the straight and narrow attorney into a nightmare of terror and intrigue.
9. The Exchange: After The Firm (Like New Hardcover) $7.19
The Exchange: After The Firm
What became of Mitch and Abby McDeere after they exposed the crimes of Memphis law firm Bendini, Lambert & Locke and fled the country?
The answer is in The Exchange, the riveting sequel to The Firm, the blockbuster thriller that launched the career of America’s favorite storyteller. It is now fifteen years later, and Mitch and Abby are living in Manhattan, where Mitch is a partner at the largest law firm in the world.
10. One True Thing – Anna Quindlen (Like New Paperback) $4.99
One True Thing – Anna Quindlen
Ellen Gulden is a successful magazine writer in New York City when she learns that her mother, Kate, is dying of cancer. Ellen’s father insists that she quit her job and return home to become a caregiver.
When Ellen is accused of the mercy killing of her mother, she has to either take responsibility for something she didn’t do, or name the person she believes committed a painful act of love.
11. The Last Time I Saw You – Elizabeth Berg (Very Good Condition Hardcover) $5.49
The Last Time I Saw You – Elizabeth Berg
As onetime classmates meet up over one weekend, they discover things that will irrevocably affect the rest of their lives.
For newly divorced Dorothy Shauman, the reunion brings with it the possibility of finally attracting the attention of Pete Decker. For the self-reliant Mary Alice Mayhew, it’s a chance to re-examine a painful past. And for Lester Heseenpfeffer, a veterinarian and widower, it is the hope of talking shop with a fellow vet. For Candy Armstrong, the class beauty, it’s the hope of finding friendship before it is too late.
12. The Year Of Pleasures – Elizabeth Berg (Like New Hardcover) $5.09
The Year Of Pleasures – Elizabeth Berg
Betta Nolan moves to a small town after the death of her husband to try to begin anew. Pursuing a dream of a different kind of life, she is determined to find pleasure in her simply daily routines.
Among those who help her in both expected and unexpected ways are the ten-year-old boy next door, three wild women friends from her college days, a twenty-year-old who is struggling to find his place in the world, and a handsome man who is ready for love.
13. A Theory Of Relativity – Jacquelyn Mitchard (Very Good Condition Hardcover) $5.49
A Theory Of Relativity – Jacquelyn Mitchard
A powerful tale that explores the emotional dynamics and dramas of two families fighting for custody of a young girl following the sudden death of her parents.
14. Black And Blue – Anna Quindlen (Very Good Condition Hardcover) $4.79
Black And Blue – Anna Quindlen
For eighteen years Fran Benedetto hid her bruises. She stayed with Bobby because she wanted her son to have a father, and because, in spite of everything, she loved him. Then one night Fran finally made a choice—and ran for both their lives.
Every day she waits for Bobby to catch up to her. Bobby always said he would never let her go, and Fran Benedetto is certain of one thing: It is only a matter of time.
15. Promise – Minrose Gwin (Very Good Condition Paperback) $5.09
Promise – Minrose Gwin
In the aftermath of a devastating tornado that rips through the town of Tupelo, Mississippi, at the height of the Great Depression, two women worlds apart—one black, one white; one a great-grandmother, the other a teenager—fight for their families’ survival in this lyrical and powerful novel.
16. Night Of Miracles – Elizabeth Berg (Very Good Condition Hardcover) $4.89
Night Of Miracles – Elizabeth Berg
Lucille Howard is getting on in years, but she stays busy. Thanks to the inspiration of her dearly departed friend Arthur Truluv, she has begun to teach baking classes. Her classes have become so popular that she’s hired Iris, a new resident of Mason, Missouri, as an assistant.
When a new family moves in next door and tragedy strikes, Lucille begins to look out for Lincoln, their son.
17. The Story of Arthur Truluv – Elizabeth Berg (Very Good Hardcover) $5.19
The Story Of Arthur Truluv – Elizabeth Berg
For the past six months, Arthur Moses’s days have looked the same: He tends to his rose garden and to Gordon, his cat, then rides the bus to the cemetery to visit his beloved late wife for lunch.
Eighteen-year-old Maddy Harris is an introspective girl who visits the cemetery to escape the other kids at school. One afternoon she joins Arthur—a gesture that begins a surprising friendship between two lonely souls. Moved by Arthur’s kindness and devotion, Maddy gives him the nickname “Truluv.”
I’m sure you noticed that I ordered quite a few books from various authors. For instance, one such author is Elizabeth Berg. When I came upon one of her books on Thriftbooks, I remembered reading her books years ago. I’d forgotten how much I love her women’s fiction books.
About Elizabeth Berg:
Elizabeth Berg was a registered nurse for 10 years. When she was 9, she submitted her first poem to American Girl magazine. It was rejected, and it took twenty-five years before she submitted anything again. Berg wrote for magazines for ten years, then moved into novels.
Berg has two daughters and four grandchildren. She lives outside Chicago with her dogs Gabigail Starletta Buttons, Austin “Ponyboy” Bumper, and her cat, Lily La Clawster. She is now 75.
My memory just can’t keep track of how many of her books I’ve actually read. But if I read them twice, then I will enjoy them again.
About Anne Tyler:
Anne Tyler is one of my favorite authors. She writes women’s fiction and has published twenty-four novels, including Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, The Accidental Tourist, and Breathing Lessons. All three were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and Breathing Lessons won the prize in 1989. She is now 82 years old.
The Premise: A couple takes a trip together to attend a funeral. The book is about just one day of their lives as they reflect on the state of their marriage, their quarrels, their routines, and their ability to tolerate each other’s faults and affection.
I don’t know how often I’ve read this book and lost it somewhere. So, to read it again, I ordered it for $4.19. It was well worth the price.
About Jacquelyn Mitchard:
Then there’s Jacquelyn Mitchard. She is actually my age, so she’s been around a while. Her novel The Deep End Of The Ocean came to her in a dream in 1993. She is now a professor of Creative Writing at the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
About Anna Quindlen:
Anna Quindlen’s New York Times column, “Public and Private,” won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1992. Her semi-autobiographical novel “One True Thing” (1994) was the basis for the 1998 film starring Meryl Streep and Renée Zellweger.
Anna Quindlen left journalism in 1995 to become a full-time novelist. She is known as a critic of what she perceives to be the fast-paced and increasingly materialistic nature of modern American life. Much of her writing centers on her mother, who died from ovarian cancer when Quindlen was 19 years old.
Quindlen has written nine novels, several of which have been adapted into motion pictures. “One True Thing” was made into a feature film in 1998. It starred Meryl Streep, who received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. “Black and Blue” and “Blessings” were made into television movies in 1999 and 2003, respectively.
If you like women’s fiction, choose an author I’ve mentioned here to read. I’d love to know what you think.
John Grisham, Gwin Minrose, & Tana French:
I read John Grisham’s “The Firm” years ago—I think I’ve read it twice, actually. The book about the couple in that book is also in his book “The Exchange.” I thought I’d read “The Firm” again before I read “The Exchange,” which was written in 2023.
Gwin Minrose wrote “Promise.” I read it not long ago, perhaps a few years ago, but it was terrific, and I wanted to reread it. I may have even written a book review about it at some point.
“In The Woods” by Tana French is the only crime mystery in the lot. You know that I read a lot of those types of books, as well as psychological thrillers.
The other authors write books that I think most of you would enjoy reading because they’re about ordinary women like you and me. Most were written years ago, but great writing does not have an expiration date.
I love elizabeth berg/ she is one of my favorites/ I think I have read all of her books. I like Anne Tyler also
Good morning Brenda!
I love Thrift Books and have been purchasing books from them for years. They are a great source for used/out of print books and vintage finds.
Thank you for sharing and for your always great book reviews.
Have a wonderful day!
Brenda, have you read of Jeanine Cummins’ books? I have just ordered American Dirt, and have A Rip in Heaven on hold.
Love the book reviews Brenda. I’ve read most of Elizabeth Berg’s books and really like writing. I’m always looking for more. Plus her book covers are always inviting. Read a lot of John Grisham too. I love to read!
Wow, that’s a lot of good reading hours you have ahead of you. I was thinking, as I was reading the descriptions, that they weren’t your usual books that you review. Then I came across the In The Woods, and thought, now this one sounds like Brenda, lol! Enjoy! You’ll have to write your thoughts and opinions on them after you finish them. Maybe let us know which one was your favorite and why. I tend to like cozy mysteries and romance novels.
I’ve read all these books except for John Grisham ones, simply because I don’t care for that genre. I sure wish you could get out and go to library book sales. (Check out booksalefinder.com) I see these titles all the time at the sales I go to. That’s where I get a lot of my books ($1 each!), or else the library. I have bought some non-fiction books that I know I want to keep (woment’s health issues, grief, yoga, Reiki, etc) on Thrift Books. Abe Books is another great site for used books.
I’ve read most of these as well. I love Tana French’s books. I’ve read them all ( reading her latest right now). Like Melanie said, these books can be found at book sales for $1 or less. I know you get a tax write off but $90 for 17 used books seems like a lot.
Do you neighbors use the library? Maybe you can check out the book sales sometime. Food for thought.
Oh my…that is like finding a lovely chocolate candy store when you love chocolate most of all!! I do not NEED more books, but I simply must buy them some of the time…thanks for the link…saving some money is always good!!
I buy my favorite mysteries and thrillers for Kindle and IBooks through Bookbub and Amazon Prime, but I love cookbooks, gardening and genealogy from Thriftbook so physical notations are always physically available for reference.
When I take my laptop into the kitchen to follow a recipe, I’m always scared I’ll spill something. I can’t follow a recipe with the small words on the cell phone.
I print out all my recipes. printers are so inexpensive now it’s worth it.
Wow, wow and wow!!! I love the assortment of books you purchased. I’m excited that they are women’s fiction – definitely my favorite genre. Thank you so much for sharing the list of your bounty. I’m excited for you. Enjoy!
They were very reasonable. Plus I got about 20% off for buying all those books, plus a free book. These authors are some of my very top favorites.
I also love to read. and I love books. What do you do with all your books after reading them? I have a really hard time giving them away.