has been operating for a month or two and we’ll continue to add inventory regularly. If you missed an event or have been pining for a favorite author’s signed first edition, click on over. We specialize in modern first editions, primarily signed. Our inventory is especially strong in contemporary and African American literature and African American studies. For years we squirreled away books signed by those authors who appeared at the store, jokingly referring to it as our kids’ college fund. Well, Child #1 is now in college.

I sat down with WAMU guest host Sam Litzinger this afternoon for a chat about books. We were joined by Barbara Hoffert of the Library Journal and Megan Graves of Hooray For Books in Alexandria VA. If you missed the Kojo Nnamdi Show today, here’s my abbreviated list of recommendations for the season (list with blurbs here). You can listen to the show in Real Audio or Windows Media. Stop in soon, we have lots more suggestions. (more…)

I was in the store pricing remainders Friday night and, oh! the book geek pleasures! Of course, we often see a title and think so-and-so would love that, but that night I had folks in mind for almost every title.

Part of my pleasure was simply sensory: good jacket designs, nice paper (not so common), weighty illustrated volumes that you need.

We usually refer to remainders as sale books. They are new books, but really priced to move because they are publishers’ overstock. I’m talking a 24.95 hardcover for 6.99.* A book scheduled for paperback might be remaindered, one that got great reviews and was reprinted (then returned by the chains), and even brand new warehouse inventory if a publisher changes distributors or locations.

You gotta buy remainders when you see them. (more…)

or PTA Moms (& Dads) Night Out
Thursday, December 4 7 pm

Our book buyer now believes that all authors should have liquor sponsors. That’s because Sandra Tsing Loh does and we’ll be raffling off fine sipping vodka from Modern Spirits during her visit on Thursday, December 4. Sandra is swinging by to discuss parenting and public school life and we hope you’ll join us.

Sometimes, you are too close to something to fully articulate your feelings. That may be the case with Vertigo Books. So let’s jump to Alex Beckstead, maker of Paperback Dreams, talking with SFist.

"Because faster and cheaper isn’t always better, and because diversity of thought and ownership are both critical to innovation and the vibrancy of local culture and an informed citizenry. One of Cody’s past employees once drew an analogy between the value of independent bookstores and the Slow Food Movement. As much as I love the internet, I think we’re overdue for a Slow Culture Movement. I mean, movies replaced books to some degree, and then TV replaced movies and now 3 minute You Tube clips are replacing TV. There’s a lot of value in the way culture is speeding up, connecting, and democratizing. But there’s also a richness and a value that can only come from the experience of being alone with 500 well written pages. Breadth is great, but so is depth. I believe in the value of a liberal education, and I admire people who aspire to informed generalism. That’s independent booksellers in a nutshell. (more…)

that we very much wish had not been necessary. Read Washington Post writer Bob Thompson on life at Vertigo Books and other stores and listen to Kojo Nnamdi (a serious book guy) discuss Paperback Dreams (the City Paper liked it).

Join us Wednesday, November 12 as Prof. Audrey Kerr discusses her book, The Paper Bag Principle. This should be of interest to Washingtonians and readers of sociology, American studies, history and African American studies/history. Thursday brings us a visit from director and producer Alex Beckstead. He’ll screen and discuss Paperback Dreams, a documentary about two important West Coast bookstores.

And it seems we have a Facebook group, the Vertigo Books Appreciation Society. This was started by our Jen, a greatly missed long-time employee. She’s pining for a bookstore in the wilds of CT.