Recommended for Fairy Tale Folk

Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales (Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Edition)

I adore Grimm's Fairy Tales. I guess it's because I'm such a sucker for fun fantasy. These are all the original tales - where the princes don't always kiss the beautiful maidens to wake them up, where witches die in horrible ways, and you learn everything that wasn't in the Disney movies. Hee. It's actually very interesting to see all the differences. I like this book not only for the stories, but also for the ideas. As a writer of fantasy, I've begun to look for some of my favorite tales and discover how to work them into new ways. Yay! Even better, for every Grimm's Fairy Tale in one really good-looking book, it's a great price. I own a bunch of these leatherbound editions. I'm happy I have the one I do (the cover is different and to be honest, I like mine better). But if you love fairy tales and want all the originals in one awesome book, this is the way to go!

Notes from the playlist: "Crescendolls" by Daft Punk

Recommended for Mythical Creature Hunters

The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures by John and Caitlin Matthews

Yes indeed. As a writer, I like to have good, solid reference materials right on hand. I got tired of surfing the web and sifting through all the junk to find reliable information - yes, even on mythical creatures. So I turned to the one source I knew wouldn't let me down. Books. After checking out several, I decided that this book would be the best. After all, it's subtitle is: The Ultimate A-Z of Fantastic Beings from Myth and Magic. Jackpot. I wish it had some images, but hey, I can deal without them. This book gives descriptions of the creatures, their origin, and where they're often found in literature or various fables. It's a handy volume for all sorts of things, whether you just want to see what other culture believe in or you're looking for your next magical beast for your novel.

Notes from the playlist: "The Face" by RyanDan

Recommended for Collectors and Shakespearians

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

Yes. I'm one of those people who decided to buy the entire works of William Shakespeare, sonnets, plays, and all. But why not? I love some of his plays - Julius Caesar is a personal favorite. And there are several I never had the chance to read and some English classes I took buchered them (I'd looked forward to reading MacBeth for the longest time, only to have it ruined). So I wanted the chance to read them and enjoy them on my own. Barnes & Noble offers this sweet leatherbound version for only $20 that I snatched up during a shopping spree one year. It's not abridged or otherwise messed with, but if you want footnotes and translations, you'll have to turn elsewhere. After all, this is all of Shakespeare's work - there's no room for anything extra.

It's also a heck of a lot cheaper than buying a bunch of single books - especially if you're in college (the only snag is those professors with their "preferred" books).


Notes from the playlist: "Like the Sun" by RyanDan

Recommended for A Merry Christmas!

The Chronicles of Narnia (Leatherbound Edition) by C.S. Lewis

Can it really be Christmas without a little Narnia magic? Perhaps, but it probably won't be the same!

Have I read all of the books yet? I admit that, no, I haven't. I'm taking my sweet time (and of course, reading them out of order). I read the first one back in college, a few weeks before the movie came out. Yeah, I'm one of those geeks that likes to compare the movies to the books. But it only takes one book before you realize that they're going to be great fun. I love Lewis's writing style - it's like a fun sort of omniscient. Aslan is always impressive, and you never know what's going to happen next or where you might go - since on occasion you do venture outside of Narnia. It's not all witches and wardrobes you know!

And yes, I totally own the leatherbound edition made by B&N. And why not? It's gorgeous, affordable, and will last a lot longer than paperbacks. Of course, if you have kids, they might be better off with something you don't expect to last for very long. Whatever the format, kids and adults all want to visit Narnia!

Notes from the playlist: "From Western Woods to Beaversdam" by Harry Gregson-Williams

Recommended for Bakers of Cookies, Cakes, and More

Nestle Classic Recipes by Nestlé

Mmm. Who doesn't love Nestle goodness? From their classic chocolate chip cookie recipe to a few surprising ideas (key lime pie, anyone?), this book is choc-a-bloc full of delicious goodies ready for baking. And guess where I found this? In the bargain section of the store! Haha! Always great stuff in the bargain section. This book is a total joy to have around and I'm always eager to make something mouth-watering. The best part is that most of the recipes are simple, so for when I want something sweet and awesome and don't have the time or money for a recipe from Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey, this is the way to go. Yummy!


Notes from the playlist: "Vianne Sets Up Shop" by Rachel Portman

Recommended for Scary Storytelling

The Complete Tales of Edgar Allen Poe by Edgar Allen Poe

You can't have a good Halloween without some good scary stories to go with it. Might I suggest the "Masque of Red Death?" Or perhaps the old classic, "The Pit and the Pendulum." There's always "The Raven." Or you could read one that you've never heard of before. This is everything you ever wanted from Poe in a gorgeous leatherbound edition. I'd like to add that these leatherbound editions are fantastic. I own four of them. My cover looks a bit different (I got mine several years back), but the content is the same. Every page filled with Poe and his tales of murder, deception, ghosts, and other things that go bump in the night - as well as the things that creep up behind you and don't make any noise at all and by the time you notice them, it's too late...

Notes from the playlist: "Superbeast" by Rob Zombie

Recommended for Wolf Lovers and Photographers

Wolves: A Photographic Celebration by Amber Rose

This is another bargain delight I stumbled upon one day. These books fall into the Brick Books series, so there aren't just wolfy books like this. However, I think these are hard to come by now, so if you can't find them in the store, you might have to buy from a secondhand place. What I love about this book is that it's just pictures and fun facts. I love wolves. Always have. Always will. My parents still wonder why I'm not in the middle of the woods studying them. Sometimes I wonder that too. But since I'm not, I'll settle for this. Gorgeous color pictures with factoids accompanying each page. And if you were so inclined, it's not big like most coffee table books, but would make for an interesting piece.


Notes from the playlist: "The Greatest Story Never Told" by Murray Gold

Recommended for Soup Connoisseurs

The Soup Bible by Debra Mayhew

I have a semi-love/hate relationship with the Bargain section of the store. I'm not a fan of it because I can never find anything (ok, I do, but it always seems to take forever). Yet at the same time, I've found a number of complete and utter gems in this section. Almost makes me wonder if I should add a "bargain" label for this blog so you can find them easier.

I'd seen The Soup Bible a few years before, and lamented at the time that I didn't have the money to spare on such a fantastic-looking book. Later when I found it again, I promptly snatched it up. I love soup. Soup makes my tummy happy. Anyone I know could tell you that. And the soups in this book? While some of them may take some time to make, they're tasty and heavens, the pictures are gorgeous. There are over 200 recipes, and for people who love to see the recipe in its finished form (I know I do!), you'll get all sorts of excited over these pictures. They're simply stunning. Each soup gives you step-by-step instructions, as well as plenty of information beforehand about stocks, garnishes, and more. Pure soup goodness.


Notes from the playlist: "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by The Righteous Brothers