Small and eclectic discount book-shop, specialising in magazines (next door) and discounted…read morehardbacks. It's in the heart of the Brighton's hippy and trendy North Lanes area. The selection varies enormously over time, so it's worth popping for a look - sometimes I leave with nothing, but I've also had some great bargains here. Staff can be a bit off-hand, but in my experience that's par for the course for discount bookshops.

David's Book Exchange is the sister store to Dave's comics and tends to be more of a discount book…read moreshop. They also cover a number of comics and items that have dropped off the shelves of Dave's comics. You will find a good range of fiction and non fiction titles here and everything is at reasonable prices. A lot of books are in very good condition and you can pick up a number of art books for under a tenner. You can also pick up a bargain 2nd hand paper back that has a few reads left in it and the shop is close enough to the station if you weren't up for reading a paper. They also sell a lot of trading cards here for games like Magic and the like. If that is your kind of thing they have a lot of rare cards you can buy individually. It's best to ask at the counter to see what they have. You won't necessarily find very specialised books, but I reckon there would likely be something for everyone on the shelves somewhere. The staff are also friendly enough and happy to point you in the right direction (or pile!!!)

This is such a great chain. Their basic stationery (paper, folders etc) is excellent value for…read moremoney - the cheapest decent stuff I can find on the High St - and their selection of greetings cards and discount books are good too. I've just got my Dad a great Father's Day card, which is always a bit of a headache - and at £1.50 good value, too. (Not that my Dad's not worth more, but the card is just perfect for him - funny, acutely relevant but not nasty in any way). This store is on Hove's main pedestrianised shopping street.

British Bookshops and Stationers still has a really great sale on - 75% off hardcover books and up…read moreto 50% off stationary items. The selection of both is pretty decent for a smaller shop that contains both. It's not the cheapest place to stock up on school supplies, but with the discount, I'd say it's about average. Other items include calendars, journals and day planners, some valentine's day stuff and a few basic art supplies at the back: paint, brushes, trays - not as much as the North Street location, but still a good place to top up supplies. Included in the book area is a selection of children's reading materials, travel books and basic reference books. I picked out a French/English pocket dictionary for £3.50, which seemed like a good deal. (New French class!) Near the counter there's the usual candy temptation, including (amusingly) some Thornton's chocolates for those who don't want to walk two doors down to the actual Thornton's.

You can't always get the latest titles in here, but the staff know their books pretty well usually,…read moreand can often recommend a book. And you can often pick up some bargains, as they usually have some kind of sale on. They also have lots of classical music CD's.

This bookshop has a good range of books at really good prices. They also sell CD's. The staff are…read morehelpful and approachable. I have always received good service here. Definately worth a visit next time you need a book!

Adorable local bookshop with a delicious little cafe inside. The staff are absolutely lovely and I…read morereally enjoy their selection of books by local authors.

Being an avid reader of everything from American literature and short stories to crime noir, I'm…read morealways on the lookout for good book stores. Sadly, Brighton is so small it doesn't have anything on the scale of Foyles in London or The Strand in New York. It does however, have quite a lot of quirky new and secondhand bookshops dotted around including Kemp Town Bookshop. A firm favourite with locals, it's an independent bookstore spread over three small floors. There's sections devoted to everything from art and travel to sci-fi, crime and childrens books. I can see they clearly put time and energy into the stock but alas, there weren't any books in the contemporary fiction section that I loved the look of and hadn't already read. Other book lovers should note, there's a cafe on the top floor selling coffee, juices, smoothies and snacks and they run creative writing workshops and events throughout the year. Just a shame there was no new Walter Mosley or Lorrie Moore books for me!

James Ellroy or David Peace? Hunter S. Thompson or William…read moreS. Burroughs? Banana Yoshimoto or Haruki Murakami? Carson McCullers or William Faulkner? Whatever authors you're into, City Books is a brilliant independent bookshop that's head and shoulders above Borders, Waterstones and other chains in the city. It's so small a coach party would have to visit in groups of ten but they manage to pack a lot of great fiction into that wee space. There's a lot of new releases, classic and cult fiction, crime, sci-fi, horror and womens fiction as well as a small selection of childrens books, cookbooks, travel books and art and design tomes downstairs. They also sell a fantastic range of greetings cards and Moleskin notebooks. The staff are all genuine book lovers so if you want something recommending, just ask. In summer, they often have a table outside offering reduced paperbacks and throughout the year they run a series of author events and readings at The Old Market - two minutes down the road. Nick Cave read from his recent novel here a few weeks ago and they have lots of authors lined up between now and Christmas. Speaking of Santa, I could probably do all my Christmas shopping here....

Books aren't for schmucks! I have written about both of Brighton and Hove's main libraries and how…read morebooks are a fantastic way to beat the credit crunch: "Libraries are a great way to be entertained and educated in times of economic hardship. Although the credit crunch sounds like a really boring breakfast cereal, it may have actually affected the way you spend money." Yeah I just quoted myself, what of it? I am going to contradict myself somewhat by now reviewing a bookshop and describing it as a great way to beat the credit crunch when I previously stated that the BEST way to do this is to get the same books from the library for free. However, you can't get all books from the library. There are some books that are too niche or just not there, so it is therefore necessary to hunt them down elsewhere. The internet is great for this, but a) the internet isn't a place in Brighton, and b) sometimes it is nicer to go out, see real people and support local businesses. Books and records are fantastically physical. It's not the same buying downloaded books, or music: it might be quicker and easier but it is ebbing away the physical way we consume. Books are records can be kept, shared, or sold on. They also give a home a real personal quality and show others what sort of person you are. City Books is a great example of a local business that we should be supporting. Not only does it give you the chance to buy books that you might not be able to get elsewhere and keep up the great tradition of reading, but they also offer an interactive experience with regular readings and book launches by established authors. It is inexpensive, educational and inspiring.

This stationers- they have more stationery than books in this branch- is quite a nice break from…read moreall the hand crafted, limited edition statiobery in the rest of Lewes. This place sells your more mundane pens, notebooks, calendars, cards, and sometimes that it what you want-some straightforwardness. It's also cheaper than other Lewes sources so if you want to save a little check this place out.

This is a very Lewes Shop, luxurious and rich paint, beautiful, intellectual and interesting…read morecollectors items, and well laid out and tidy. If your looking for a second hand place that is like the 15th century bookshop, ramshackle and ridiculously quaint, this is not the type of place. This is for serious collectors who have nice clean houses with a few choice things (maybe?), not for mad old bag ladies, which you could imagine cram into the 15th century bookstore in droves. I saw some beautiful leatherbound classics, as well as some interesting art books. There was a book here that was going for £600. Now come on!

This is the most classic of bookshops- as the name suggests it has beautiful bow windows- an…read moreelegant dark red frontage, wooden floors, wooden floor to ceiling bookshelves and row after row of leather bound, cloth bound, dust-covered classic books, first editions and rare books. It has a hushed and reverent feel to it when you first walk in, but quickly as you scan through the books you realise that there are all kinds of books here- all second-hand and prime condition- but not all out of reach. You can't go in and find any number of books for a few pounds but you can buy a great hardback first edition of an Anita Loos, Paul Auster, Ian McEwan or an art book for between £10 and £20. Or...you could spend several hundred (even thousands) on a rare and/or old book.

Colin Page's is a very cool bookshop in the Lanes, selling antiques as well as a couple of second…read morehand classics and the like. It's not that great for fiction, theatre or modern art books (9/10ths of my bookshelf), so I don't come here very often, but it's the sort of place I can imagine liking more as I age and the books I like start to grace its shelves. It's not young, it's certainly not hip or cool, but it is impressive to behold, and a great place to find hidden gems. What I have looked for, and enjoyed the selection of, is non-fiction here. There are a huge variety of old classics here, especially in the psychology section: all of the classics are here, and in ample quantities. I suppose this is the kind of shop to look for strange old books over looking for modern and exciting pieces, but since that really isn't me... I'd recommend it if it's you though.

This ia a bookshop above bookshops and certainly the kind of place you don't see so often these…read moredays. Don't expect trendy music, a in store coffee bar or the latest fiction or Jordan biography. What you can expect are shelves well stocked with leather bound tomes and grimoires covering most fiction and non fiction genres. I am a bit of a collector of random metaphysical texts and such like and can spend hours in here searching through the shelves for something out of the ordinary. Usually, anything I come across is in my price range also, which is always nice. The gentlemen running the store are also very nice and always patient to indulge a heavy browser like myself. Sadly, I rarely walk in here with a clear title I am hunting for, but I get the impression that if this was the case they would be very helpful in sourcing a copy for me. If you are more into your contemporary paperback, they also have a selection of reasonably priced title out the front of the store and I have picked up a few bargains here by sorting through the fruit boxes. If you are in the city and after a title, you would do well to keep this place in mind.