Used Book Superstore Staff Picks
See what books & films our booksellers recommend!
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Slaughterhouse-Five A wildly imaginative classic centered around the life of Billy Pilgrim, a character so easy to believe in and root for that you won’t be able to put this quick read down! It’s as much about time-travel as is it about being a POW in World War II, and only Vonnegut could connect the dots so easily. |
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The Lost City of Z In 1925, the legendary British explorer Percy Fawcett ventured into the Amazon jungle, in search of a fabled civilization. He never returned. Over the years countless perished trying to find evidence of his party and the place he called “The Lost City of Z.” In this masterpiece of narrative nonfiction, journalist David Grann interweaves the spellbinding stories of Fawcett’s quest for “Z” and his own journey into the deadly jungle, as he unravels the greatest exploration mystery of the twentieth century. |
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A Child Called “It” A horrifying true story of one of the most severe cases of child abuse, as told through the eyes of the victim, A Child Called It takes readers inside the mind of a boy whose own mother only refers to him as “it”. This first book in the trilogy shows us one child’s courage to survive with will, determination, and strength of character- a truly inspirational story. |
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Harry Potter & the Harry Potter is back for his 3rd year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry. A new adventure arises when a prisoner from Azkaban escapes and is supposedly headed to kill Harry, but turns out not to be the killer everyone thought. |
Harvest for Hope Goodall lends valuable advice on how to live green and contribute to sustaining our society. |
Tommy Boy You won’t stop laughing – not even a little. Chris Farley’s genuine comedic talent is not to be surpassed. Farley and Spade bring out the best in each other in an effortless manner. For college-burnouts, man-children or simply for those who love a good-hearted comedy. |
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Monster Steve is on trial for allegedly being part of a fatal robbery. We only know the events from Steve’s changing memory and feelings range from suggesting innocence to guilt. Readers may disagree by the last page. |
Heathers Welcome to Westerburg High, where Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder) is beginning to tire of her membership in the powerful yet cruel clique of ‘Heathers’ When Veronica falls for the mysterious new kid Jason Dean (Christian Slater), their dislike for the Heathers quickly escalates into a savage cycle of murder, suicide and Slushies. Now that her teenage angst has a body count, are Veronica and JD headed for the prom…or hell? Shannen Doherty co-stars in one of the greatest black comedies of all time. |
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything – Julie Newmar Inspired by Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, a trio of drag Queens unexpectedly turn up in podunk-ville and give the locals an eye opener on city life. A feel-good movie that explores the complexities of gender and sexuality and has Wesley Snipes and Patrick Swayze in dresses. |
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The Great Gatsby A captivating American classic. The closest book to perfection that I’ve come across. If an author doesn’t break your heart, they’re doing it wrong – and Fitzgerald does it oh-so-right. |
Punch-Drunk Love This understated Adam Sandler film shows that the comedian can also thrive in a more dramatic role. Thanks to a lack of interpersonal skill, his character struggles with his emotions after falling for a woman he has met in this offbeat and odd take on romantic-comedy. |
10 Minutes Till Bedtime Dad counts backwards to lights out as he reads his newspaper. But a hamster family rings the doorbell and slips past Dad to help! How much fun can bedtime be? How on Earth can lights be out on time? See the detailed illustrations and find out for yourself! |
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The Book of General Ignorance This book is a “must-have” for anyone who still believes everything they were taught in school. Taking you through over 250 commonly accepted “facts”, John Lloyd and John Mitchinson debunk them all with class and a touch of humor. |
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The Road A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don’t know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food – and each other. |
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Fried Green Tomatoes Based on a book by Fannie Flagg, this touching but funny film focuses on the life-long friendship of two very different women in the 1930s rural South. Add a murder mystery to stir up the community, and you have a film like no other! |
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The Miracle of Mindfulness Hanh explores the act of living in the moment through conscious breathing and other techniques throughout daily life. In these fast-paced times, this book was a miracle to read! |
The Transporter An action-packed thriller, the first Transporter film introduced Englishman Jason Stratham to a world-wide audience. With a story by Luc Besson and incredible fight scenes staged by director Cory Yuen, the pacing never lets up. Jason Statham is thrown into unbelievable situations at every turn, but beats all comers, gets the girl and saves the precious cargo just in time. |
Welcome to the World, Baby Girl! Dena Nordstrom is a TV Newscaster in the 1970′s. She is very private and very driven, but when she becomes sick she returns to her hometown where she begins to find peace and also some answers to life. A great read! |
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Paul Blart: Mall Cop After failing the obstacle course at the local Police Academy, Paul Blart is forced into another year of training and preparing with his job as a security guard at West Orange Pavilion Mall. While on duty, the rent-a-cop finds himself in quite the hostage situation when ‘Santa’s Little Helpers’ storm the mall. With the chances of blowing his undercover position, Paul has the chance to save his daughter, his dream girl and his reputation. A local favorite filmed inside the Burlington Mall! |
Out A fast-paced, murder-filled thriller set in Japan, this novel is sure to entertain with its wide range of characters and vivid scene descriptions. Couldn’t put it down! |
The Cable Guy Jim Carrey’s first dark comedy full of creepiness and laughs. |
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Under the Dome When the small town of Chester’s Mill, Maine is surrounded by an invisible force field, the people inside must exert themselves to survive. The situation deteriorates rapidly due to the dome’s ecological effects and the machinations of Big Jim Rennie, an obscenely sanctimonious local politician and drug lord who likes the idea of having an isolated populace to dominate. |
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The Notebook Noah and Allie are teenagers from totally different worlds, but they fall madly in love while spending one romantic summer together in North Carolina. Allie’s parents pressure her to leave Noah behind and pursue the life she’s meant to live, but fourteen years later, she’ll have to search her heart and truly make that decision for herself once and for all. A tearjerker if there ever was one! Bonus: Pick up the movie adaptation for a rainy night. Double bonus: Sparks’ novel The Wedding is the sequel to The Notebook so pick that up too, if you think you have enough Kleenex for both. |
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Fantastic Mr. Fox A hilarious movie captured in a brilliant and now so often under utilized medium- stop motion. |
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Matchstick Men Nicolas Cage stars as a con man with an obsessive-compulsive disorder whose orderly life and latest scam are threatened by the reappearance of a teenage daughter he never knew existed. Also starring Alison Lohman and Sam Rockwell. Directed by Ridley Scott. |
Mort Death comes for Mort with an offer he can’t refuse in this Discworld installment. As Death’s apprentice, he’ll have the position he’s always wanted except for one thing- it’s a killer on his love life. This book will leave you with a few laughs. |
Game of Thrones Fantasy doesn’t get much better than this! Enjoyed the HBO show? This is 100% better! |
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Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Featuring the amazing talents of actor Chow Yun Fat, this award winning film tells the timeless tale of revenge, the search for lost treasure, and undying love. With spectacular shots of the Chinese landscape, this movie is a must see. |
Rush Hour Jackie Chan is incredible, and add Chris Tucker into the mix, and you’ve got an action-comedy classic! |
Fight Club “The first rule of Fight Club is: You do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is: You DO NOT talk about Fight Club.” |
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White Fang This timeless tale of courage and survival will both sadden and lighten your heart as a lone wolf-dog learns human cruelty as well as human compassion. A great read for both young adults and adults, this story has been read by millions as it has been published in over 85 languages and in at least 3 Braille editions. |
When Rabbit Howls An insightful and tragic memoir about living with dissociative identity disorder. When Rabbit Howls is told through the voices of many of the personalities – ‘The Troops’ – as they piece together the horror of the childhood that led to their fractured identities and learn to work together. |
Casablanca Bogart, Bergman, black-and-white glamour. No bikini models, no crazy gunfire, no special effects: just a timeless love story, an exotic setting, and some of the most classic movie lines of all time! Treat yourself to a slice of old Hollywood!
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Me & Emma An emotional look inside an abusive home with a shocking ending. |
Black Hawk Down A gripping look at an American military tragedy. |
Roget’s College Thesaurus A singularly extraordinary resource for all who feel inclined towards the semantically verbose. Striking, indispensable, and ineluctable for any aspiring scrivener, typist or chirographer. |
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From the Mixed-Up Files of Go beyond the velvet ropes with Koningsburg’s From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Claudia and her brother Jamie run away from their humdrum lives to the elegant Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Their fantasy escape turns into a quest as they get entangled in a mystery involving a statue and its donor, the elusive Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. For every kid (or kid at heart)! |
The Dark Knight In Heath Ledger’s final Hollywood performance before his tragic death, this dark, complex and unforgettable sequel to Batman Begins, plunges Gotham City into the dark, maniacal, twisted mind of the Joker. Directed by Christopher Nolan and featuring a fantastic cast, this Oscar winning film is one of the best Batman film to date. |
Reservoir Dogs Reservoir Dogs is Quentin Tarantino’s first (and best) film. It’s ultra-violent and extremely fun. It will forever change the way you listen to the song “Stuck in the Middle With You.” |
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Rebecca Think of this as the darker side of Downton Abbey! This classic novel, also made into an Oscar winning movie with Sir Lawrence Olivier, launches us on a roller coaster ride with unexpected twists and plots! There’s the aloof aristocrat Maximilian DeWinter, the evil housekeeper Mrs. Danvers and the unnamed protagonist, the second Mrs. DeWinter, living in the shadow of her husband’s dead first wife. |
The Bonesetter’s Daughter In a remote mountain village where ghosts and tradition rule, LuLing grows up in the care of her mute Precious Auntie as the family endures a curse laid upon a relative known as the bonesetter. When headstrong LuLing rejects the marriage proposal of the coffin maker, a shocking series of events are set in motion – all of which lead back to Ruth and LuLing in modern San Francisco. The truth that Ruth learns from her mother’s past will forever change her perception of family, love, and forgiveness. |
Kitchen Confidential Still a bestseller after all these years, Kitchen Confidential is a look at how travel writer/chef/personality Anthony Bourdain got into the world of food. Dwelling on his time in the “culinary underbelly” (as he puts it) before his hit show No Reservations even existed, Bourdain talks about the restaurant world with a mix of intense passion and exhausted nonchalance. A wonderful memoir that will make you laugh and smile and cringe. |
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Say Anything You will be in love with Lloyd Dobbler by the end of this movie. I promise. No…really. |
The Alchemist An inspiring, fable-like tale about following your dreams. |
Juno A funny coming of age story with a really great soundtrack. |
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In The Woods If you can find a way to put this book down, I will be very impressed. From page one, Ms. French grabs you by the throat and never seems to let go with this gripping mystery set in the backwoods of Dublin. |
The End of the Affair Based on Graham Greene’s classic WWII-era novel, the movie examines the ill-fated love triangle of Ralph Fiennes, Stephen Rae, and Juliane Moore. They battle conflicting emotions and motivations as the Germans bomb London. |
The Shawshank Redemption A prominent banker unjustly convicted of murder spends many years in the Shawshank prison. He is befriended by a convict who knows the ropes and helps him to cope with the frightening realities of prison life. |
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Broken Music This book is an enlightening look into the early life of a top music artist. Taking a look at what lead Sting to a career of music, this book shows readers a mix of tenderness, sadness, and sometimes humorous narration. |
Rose Madder After 14 years of being beaten, Rose Daniels wakes up one morning and leaves her husband — but she keeps looking over her shoulder, because Norman has the instincts of a predator. And what is the strange work of art that has Rose in a kind of spell? In this brilliant dark-hued fable of the gender wars, Stephen King has fashioned yet another suspense thriller to keep readers right at the edge. |
The Rules of Attraction College life in the mid 1980s and all the flounderings in pursuit of love and the meaning of life. Starring James Van Der Beek and Jessica Biel. |
