Each week (give or take one or two here and there) I share three things I like – It could be a book, a movie, a podcast, an album, a photo, an article, a restaurant, a food item, a beverage, or anything else I simply enjoy and think you might too. You can find a whole pile of things, especially books, I like and recommend HERE.
1. McKay’s
As an avid book and music lover, I often find myself on the wrong side of budgetary decisions regarding the purchase of said goods and also, on occasion, in possession of books or albums I have little interest in. McKay’s is the ideal solution to both. It is a massive, warehouse-sized used book and music (and puzzle and game) store. Even better than McKay’s prices, though, is their trade-in policy. If you have books/music/games/puzzles or even instruments or sound equipment that you no longer need you can trade it in at McKays for cash or store credit. The store credit is always more than the cash they offer, by the way. This means that if you are like me, you can build and refine a library of books and albums without spending much money and while offloading junk you have little interest in. It’s wonderful. Admittedly, you have to enjoy a treasure hunt to shop there, but they do a good job organizing by genre and author/artist. Next time you are in TN or NC, be sure to stop in.
2. Christopher Morgan Pipes (Bones Collection)
Christopher Morgan designs and crafts really nice, high end pipes, the kind I cannot (or should not) afford. His “Bones” collection, however, is right up my alley. These are basic pipes of various designs, each with some flaw in the wood that keeps it from being part of the top lines. Instead, they have a light finish put on them and are sold as-is for affordable prices. They are wonderful quality, unique, and have the advantage of gaining color, patina, and personality over time as you use them. If you are looking to add a quality, inexpensive pipe to your collection, or to start building a collection, check these out.
3. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
I have, at best, mixed feelings about Stephen King’s books. Some of them are tremendous, others are trash, and some border on the unhinged. But there is no denying his writing talent and prolific output of successful novels. On Writing is his best book (mostly because it avoids the unhinged) and one I recommend to any writer or aspiring writer. While King is known for his fantastical fiction, this book on the craft of writing is applicable and ingenious for any writer whether aspiring to turn in better essays to an English teacher or write an epic novel. It begins with a memoir of his writing life ,which is fascinating, and moves into a collection of writing rules and tips that are invaluable. In short it is both the most enjoyable book in writing I have read and one of the most helpful.
