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.

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 Non-fiction and classics are around £3 each, and range from Dickens' David Copperfield to Grisham novels to out-of-date textbooks.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.

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 love Rainbow Books for the simple reason I picked up a copy of one of my favourite books here for…read more60p. Yes, that's 60p not £6.00! As the crazy window displays indicate, Rainbow Books is a second-hand bookshop that's literally packed floor to ceiling with books. New books, old books, dusty books and books that are falling apart. There's fiction, non-fiction, biographies, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, crime, true crime and strangely, quite a large selection of humour books. If you don't mind getting your hands dirty, you could probably spend an hour or two in here and emerge with a bag of books you'd like to read. In keeping with the community feel, there's a coffee machine where you can buy cheap cups of coffee and a table and chairs where you can sit and flick through potential purchases. Oh and did I mention, the books are insanely cheap? The book I bought? Ray Shell's ICED.

When you walk into this shop and see the stacks of books piled everywhere you almost expect the…read morecast of Black Books to appear from amongst the shelves. The room is literally filled with ceiling high bookshelves and books on every surface- I've been in lots of times and have never looked through the books on the floor- does anyone look at those?! There are some good second hand books here if you search through the shelves and the owner/shopkeeper seems to strangely know what stock they have despite it looking like a bookbomb exploded in there. I do wish they would maybe dust or clear some books out of there sometimes- it can be off putting if you're not in the right mood.

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.

Owned by the lovely Mike and Robert, Castor + Pollux is a cool design emporium that sells unique…read moreand distinctive textiles, lampshades, pottery, jewellery and homeware. It also stocks a fantastic array of art, design, travel, food and photography books by the best international publishers from Thames & Hudson to Chronicle Books. The shop also doubles as a gallery exhibiting and selling limited edition prints and canvases by talented artists and illustrators, like Johnny Hannah and Paul Davis. If you're interested in finding about forthcoming exhibitions, drop into the shop or log onto Castor + Pollux website and sign up for their newsletter. Right now, I'm pining for the white horse lamp they sell. Sadly, the piggy bank is empty.

Castor and Pollux is a cute, artsy shop on the seafront. It's quite large, but cluttered and a bit…read moredifficult to manoeuvre through, but who can be in a grouchy mood when the ocean is RIGHT THERE?? Not me, recovering prairie girl. One half of the shop is more like an art gallery - drawings and paintings displayed on the wall, with unframed copies available for lower prices. Some of the artwork looked strangely familiar to me - and I recognised the name Quentin Blake as the illustrator for Roald Dahl's books. Neat! The rest of the shop is an arts and crafts-y gift shop: magnetic poetry, art supplies, jewellery ranging from kitschy to elegant, day planners, journals, posters and some large, colourful art books. A selection of greeting cards is also available, and Christmas items have been discounted - decorations and holiday knick knacks. The shop has a nice, laid back atmosphere and a wide variety of items if you don't mind getting close to strangers while you work your way around.

Without doubt, there should be more shops like the The Book Nook. Located near the start of Hove in…read morethe residential First Avenue, this is an independent and friendly book shop for children of all ages. I'm came here to buy a book for my niece and was delighted to discover such a charming place, all the kids here seemed in heaven as they enjoyed the toys and colourful decor. There is also a cafe for those parents whose children can't tear themselves away from the fun of Book Nook. While small, you'll still have no trouble in taking a weight off your feet and relaxing.

This wonderful book shop has won Independant business of the year award for Brighton and…read moreHove.Children love it as well as the parents who visit, too see there little faces whilst reading to their parents or friends is magical. The enthusiasm from Vanessa and Julie shows how they love this business. The choice of books and catering up to teenage years make it a family visit special. Tea and cakes just adds to the pleasure!

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.

One of the best shops for secondhand books in the city, Books for Amnesty is housed in an…read moreeye-catching, bright pink building at the heart of the North Laines. Spread over two floors and three rooms, it offers a brilliant selection of contemporary fiction, classic books, biographies, academic textbooks and a smaller selection of art, film, music, travel, food and history books. All of them are reasonably priced - I picked up two books by fiction writers I'd wanted to read for the bargain price of £4 - and there's also a small selection of old records and CDs. The icing on the cake is the friendliness of the staff. Everytime I've been in they have been helpful and welcoming and seem genuinely enthusiastic about both books and the causes Amnesty International draw attention to. I haven't been to any but apparently, they run occasional poetry slams and readings in the shop. They also encourage local artists to exhibit installations in the main window. My only problem is if I keep shopping there, I'll end up needing another bookshelf!

Really well organized and user friendly for a second hand book shop, Books for Amnesty is a…read morerelaxing and informative bookstore. Whether your looking for obscure books in the LGBT or the 'Old and Interesting' section, or you want to talk about Amnesties work, and get yourself involved, it's all here, and all with an inviting and inclusive vibe. The main ground floor rooms has a large selection of fiction and non-fiction books arranged A-Z by author, and unlike a classically chaotic and ramshackle second hand bookstore, there is a good and up to date selection, which is accessible as well as in good condition. The two rooms adjoining this contain, in one, an interesting selection of vinyl (The Who, Queen) and CD's, which of course contains your untouched classics (Cliff Richard) and some modern hits such as Franz Ferdinand. There is also a chance for local talent to sell their music here, and I saw a CD made by a student at Sussex called Dan Sartain, which is nice to see. In the other room, the books are split into genres such as Gender, History, Psychology, and include some interesting reads for the the hobbyist and if your lucky some invaluable literature for students and academics. Upstairs provides a more old fashioned and eclectic/crazy mix of old sporting biographies and the vague but enticingly named 'Old and Interesting', which houses books that look like they might contain some sort of medieval potion by the looks of it's cover and binding. Though as they say 'you cant judge a book...blah blah', which is so very true. The best way to judge a book is to come to this store, and whilst your at it, maybe find out about Amnesty.

The sheer range of LPs on offer stops me from giving this place a 2, but I must admit I'm not…read morestruck on Across the Tracks at all. Where as "Monkey Music Emporium" and "Borderline" can't hope to compete with the volume at ATT, they both have something that Across the Tracks really craves... A personality. I just feel this place doesn't care, from its general lack of ordering, absence of a stock sheet (the owners themselves won't be able to tell you if they have what you want), and surprisingly steep prices for second hand LPs, it feels soulless. Save your money, and head over to Monkey Music Emporium for a great store, with fantastic prices, and the feeling that both you and the music you crave matters.

Price, range, volume and personality, I was blown away by my unexpectedly idyllic experience at…read morethis veritable vinyl heaven. It ain't pretty, but it sure provided the goods in abundance. And the prices were the lowest I found throughout Brighton. From the old vinyl buffs that were behind the counter to the salty characters who were, in effect, record store roadies - this place oozes a lack of care for anything but the music itself, which I can definitely get behind. As soon as they found out I actually knew what I was talking about, they completely changed their aloof tune, pointed out some new treats for the pickin' and even showed me some rare gems they stash in the back for their treasure hunters. It's not about the hype or the decor or the chipper staff, ATT is all about the music. If you are as well, I'd highly recommend a good browse.