Bargain Book Shop: Barnes and Noble Bargains August 2009

The bargain department at Barnes and Noble can often seem daunting and random. At the best of times there will be striking display of similarly themed books, and at the worst of times it looks like a sea of hardcovers with no discernible pattern. This is your source for navigating the bargain waters and finding the really excellent deals, whether for gifts or for yourself.

August 2009 Lineup:

1. The War, Geoffrey C. Ward, Ken Burns, and David McMahon, $12.98.

Originally a release for the 2007 holiday season, The War is a savvy gift item for veterans, historians or simple lovers of World War II paraphernalia. It includes hundreds of rich photographs and follows specific people in an attempt to show the war from all sides of every equation. With 4.5 out of 5 stars, this once $50 book is a captivating gem.

"The War" @ bn.com

2. Bird Songs from Around the World, Les Beletsky and David Nurney, $7.98.

Another holiday 2007 release the first time around, this is a must for bird lovers (assuming you didn't receive it as a gift in 2007). Beautiful illustrations and an attached speaker loaded with all the represented bird songs make this a wonderful addition to any coffee table collection. Even if you aren't into birds, this has the odd attraction similar to what the young feel for sound stories. Trust me you'll love it.

"Bird Songs from Around the World" @ bn.com

3. Borat, Borat Sagdiyev, $3.99.

A complimentary item to the popular movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, this book chronicles Sacha Baron Cohen's journey as character Borat Sagdiyev. Cohen pretends to be this character and interviews various political figures, celebrities, basically anyone he can get his hands on in order to draw real responses from creating a real-life situational comedy. For the comedy lover in all of us.

"Borat" @ bn.com

4. A Field Guide to Farmer's Markets: How to Select and Prepare the Freshest Foods for all Seasons, Sally Ann Berk, $7.98.

Buying local is the new trend in our nation's increasing efforts to become greener and healthier. Avoiding the processed preserved foods from supermarkets is beneficial to your health and your local economy by allowing farmers to sell their wares directly to you, the consumer. The only drawback is that fresh produce requires specific storage techniques and planning ahead; you can be easily disappointed if you make a trip to the farmer's market only to discover that what you had your heart set on for dinner is not currently ripe in your area. Avoid these pitfalls and make your efforts to create local shopping habits successful.

"A Field Guide to Farmer's Markets" @ bn.com

5. The Pin-Up Pop-Up Book and Movable Book, Collectors Press, $12.98.

I almost squealed with glee when I saw this book for the first time. If old school pin-ups are a part of your style, this pop-up book is just too much fun. Artists such as Gil Elvgren had wonderful ways of creating movement, now see the movement as caricatured by the beloved pop-up style.

"The Pin-Up Pop-Up Book and Movable Book" @ bn.com

This concludes this session of The Newest and Coolest. Bargain Queen signing off.