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.

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!!!)

I really like Waterstones as a whole but this particular one needs to work on their customer…read moreservice. It was pouring rain outside and incredibly windy so we stopped in to catch a break from the weather. We knew they had a Cafe so we picked a table and sat down for about two minutes before a woman came up and told us tables are only for Cafe customers only. Under normal circumstances I could totally understand but to be so incredibly not understanding about the weather and to assume we weren't going to buy anything was not okay.

Forget the battle between Digital Vs Print it's impossible to visit this newly extended branch of…read moreWaterstones without wanting to leave with at least a handful of books. As regular visitors will note, the ground floor used to be devoted to new releases and 2 for 3 novels whilst the fiction section was squashed into the small first floor. Not anymore, book lovers! The ground floor is now a temple to the art of storytelling with lots of spanking new tables, book shelves and display areas filled with all kinds of novels and anthologies. There's currently a whole section devoted to the Booker Prize nominees but if you explore further, you'll also find lots of fantastic books from independent British publishers like Granta, Portabello, Comma, Serpent's Tail, Myriad and Two Rivers Press. Go visit. Even better, go buy as many books as you can carry home!

I just love to browse book shops. Oxfam seem to do it very well. The shop doesn't smell aweful like…read moresome I can mention. So, no damp book smells here! The books are all filed into categories. The prices can be more than one would expect from a charity shop. Oxfam seems to be the most expensive charity outlet going! But if one is studying then some old classics can be found here. Also some good fireside fiction is available. For the traveller there are some good guides. Some travel books by the most respected writers can be found here. It was a rare occasion because I didn't buy a book. Mind you I have a good mountain of books to read at home already. I suggest exploring this shop if one is an avid reader.

I've never been much of a library person. They tended to serve more of a purpose when I HAD to read…read morea book so the deadline would act as an incentive. However, buying books new is not a cheap hobby. That is why this book shop is a wonderful source to keep my bookshelves full. I like buying books in charity shops. They are normally in a decent condition and you get that lovely good feeling when you buy something from a charity shop. It's quite a small shop, the one in the North Laines is bigger and has a wider range but the Hove location is dandy enough. I've got some good treats there by Nick Hornby and Jane Austen for less than £3 each. When I'm done with them I will most likely donate them back. Then buy more.

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.

Savory Antiques and Books is yet another gem in the Fiveways crown, with a truly extensive stock…read more The pavement outside is a maze of packing cases brimful of paperbacks, and inside the shelves are well organised into sections, with a very good modern fiction section including an array of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, both the brilliant Donna Tartt book and the slight let-down, in several covers, a bit of Amy Tan and a proliferance of Vikram Seth. The classics are well represented also, and the non-fiction section worked out well for me. I'm not certain where the 'antiques' came in, unless it were the antiquarian books, of which there were many. The collector's items obviously go for a bit more, but your average paperback will be about £3, a hardback £4 or £5. It's a surprisingly light, airy bookshop that almost feels like it's not second hand - everything apart from the real antiques is clean and in excellent repair. There are no dogs or cats curled up in dusky corners, and that smell of dusty mildew is significantly absent. This was a disappointment to me, but probably an advantage to those of us without my unusual olfactory tastes. This would definitely be an excellent visit if you were looking for something specific or out of print, as the owners have a nigh-on encyclopaedic stock knowledge, not all of which is available to the browser's eye. A certain good bet for your day of Fiveways browsing.

There are so many second-hand books here that they have them in boxes outside on trestle tables,…read morepiled up on the floor, floor to ceiling inside and pretty much covering the counter. I have found so many brilliant books here- their fiction collection is incredible- the mother and daughter owners have impeccable taste and pick out a great mix of classics, future classics and fun reads. They have a great crime section, cookery section, children's section and, more unusually, they have excellent small drama, history, and political theory sections. The prices are great- paperbacks for a few pounds, hardback art books for five or less, some best-sellers on offer for a pound! Great for you and for gifts. They also buy secondhand books in good condition.

I walk into Two-Way Book Exchange and am greeted by the musty smell of cheap books. Mmmm. The…read morefirst section I notice is the entire wall filled with romance novels...These are really cheap - between 50p - 75p (Although, I do notice the Christmas-themed romances have been placed near the front and are closer to £2.) Non-fiction and classics are around £3 each, and range from Dickens' David Copperfield to Grisham novels to out-of-date textbooks. There's a large collection of used magazines near the back, along with a box filled with the ever-popular used car manuals. Children's books are also well-stocked, and these are back to the 50p - 75p price range. I don't find any gems today (not a romance fan) but I'll try back again...and may bring in some books to exchange.

The largest collection of Mills and Boon- possibly in the entire U.K....need I say more! Some…read moresecond-hand book shops stock whatever comes in as long as they are in good condition, Two Way books does things a little differently- they specialise in seventies paperbacks, science fiction, book series of all kinds including mildly erotic novels. It's excellent! This place finally gives due attention to the trashy novel, no one properly acknowledges the role and pleasure given by these paperbacks, and now you finally have a place to source them, buy them in bulk (they are only about 50p!) and read without guilt.

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.