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Recycled Books Records CDs
Categories: Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Music & DVDs Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Comic Books Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Bookstores Music & DVDs, Comic Books, Bookstores [Edit]
200 N Locust StDenton, TX 76201
(940) 566-5688
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 9 am - 9 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
46 reviews for Recycled Books Records CDs
Review Highlights
"...really helpful seeing as you can get lost in that store."
(in 5 reviews)
"It's full of neat nooks and crannies."
(in 4 reviews)
"Definitely a notch above half-price books with it's local..."
(in 6 reviews)
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46 reviews in English
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Review from Kirk P.
Dallas, TX
12/15/2011
Everything about Recycled is quirky, unique and cool. Recycled represents the spirit of Denton and the location right on the square in an old opera house is superbly charming. This store is what big used bookstore should be, what Half Priced Books used to be before they change locations. Recycled is a place to get lost in, it is a beautiful mess with nooks, crannies, side rooms and nearly hidden treasures. The selection of books, music of all kind and movies is truly eclectic and varied. There is a huge selection of books about music in general, opera criticism, art history, philosophy and all types of history not to mention the large selection of fiction upstairs.
The only small complaint is that many of the places to sit have gone away and it is slightly harder to spend a large amount if time here but this is still a small quibble. -
Review from Zandra E.
9/1/2011
Recycled Books is absolutely my favorite bookstore period. Not only is the bookstore housed in a cute, multistory, purple building, but you seriously can get lost in here for hours.
I first had the opportunity to check out Recycled when I first moved to Denton to attend UNT years and years ago. I was immediately attracted to its resemblance to Half-Priced Books, but was much cooler. As soon as I walked in, I zeroed in on the awesome CD and movie section. They have an awesome selection of some hard to find movies/music and even better, they gave me a great exchange price for my copy of "Hollywood Shuffle" (double bonus points for the manager buying it for their collection:) ).
Even better, the book sections are plain amazing. My friends and I used to go in there and get lost spending hours reading with no one bothering us at all. I was able to even do research in there for a paper I needed with no problem. The staff was even great with assisting me with things I needed to get it done.
Seriously, go check it out, but if you are a bibliophile like I am, give yourself plenty of time. You will definitely need it. -
Review from Ney M.
Frisco, TX
1/13/2012
Love this place... Book lovers dream better than the library.. Very eclectic mix of media items cant beat the prices
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Review from Philip S.
Flushing, NY
6/11/2011
I can't believe I haven't review this place yet. Now I have never really shopped here for books; I just look at the records.
And this place has a nice collection. While it's not very large, the records are all in NM or M shape, which is almost unheard of. There is a nice selection of LPs spanning jazz, R&B, disco, rock, and pop. There is also a small 12" selection as well, which is cool for a bookstore, but can't really compare with 'real' record stores.
Recycled is a great spot in Denton, and definitely worth a look if you like the quaint atmosphere of Main Street. The storefront fits nicely with the historic courthouse across the street. -
Review from Jennifer D.
Denton, TX
7/23/2011
I cant say this enough but Recycled Books Store is one of the best things that ever happened to Denton. Think of it as a Half Price Books only smaller and cozier, less mainstream more mom and pop ish? Walking in you can hear the floor boards creaking underneath your feet and for me its so relaxing being in that kind of environment.
Recycled Bookstore has a main level floor, basement and second floor not to mention the different levels of books on the main floor. There is a movie, music and rare book section all located on the main floor. They have lots of local music as well as a wide selection of a little bit of everything.
I think my favorite part of the store is the fact that its open every day from 9am-9pm. Even on Sundays when all the shops and stores in Denton close at 5-6 pm this one will stay open until 9. This is a MUST visit for everyone!! -
Review from A H.
Denton, TX
6/30/2011
Recycled is a very neat place. The building is pretty big and has a HUGE selection of used books. The atmosphere is relaxing and it's a pretty cool place to hang out.
The things I don't like are how the used books cost almost as much as getting a brand new book at Barnes and Noble.
Also, when selling books, I'm not sure what the criteria is for selling books, but I brought two HUGE suitcases full of literature, fantasy and mystery books, probably about 50 books total, they bought 7 of them and paid me $15 dollars. I would have had a better chance selling them on the streets! -
Review from Matthew R.
Manhattan, KS
9/2/2010
This is a pretty cool little bookstore. But the thing about old used bookstores is that musty old-man acid smell that seems to permeate every crevice. Seeing as how this is is a huge old used bookstore, this smell is present, and in mass amounts.
I'm not sure how the logic behind the organization works. They have sections, but overall it's a little strange. There are also random chairs everywhere, especially downstairs, with weird stains on them. Usually old men are sitting in them reading war books. I bet the cushions smell farty.
There is a lot to be found here, but mostly it seems be a whole lot of what you don't want. Let's say you want a cookbook. Like an old copy of Joy of Cooking. That book has sold I don't know how many million copies, but is there one to be found here? NO. But I had the same problem at Half-Price books, so maybe people are just holding onto to the fucking things. Who knows. I guess they pop up once in a while when someone hauls a box of their dead grandmother's books up here for beer money.
I was going to give this place three stars, but I did find a sweet ass Vincent Price cookbook here, for a pretty good price. So that got them an extra star. It is also full of hipsters. Lots and lots of hipsters. But you know, they carry vinyl records, and if there's one thing hipsters love more than used bookstores, its vinyl.
I have no idea how the pricing here works. Some of the books seem reasonably priced, and other books seem like they tossed a dart a a huge grid of prices and plopped something on there. The staff varies in quality. Sometimes you get nice people, sometimes you get crotchety old people. This also tends to be the trend at used bookstores. -
Review from David V.
Tupelo, MS
9/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great place!!! If you're here stop by. Best book store I've been to in America! and i have been to every town google can find!! love this place,cant wait to go back. the staff was brilliant as well.
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Review from Steven S.
2/23/2010
A large, multi-story bookstore in a downtown square. Wow. And packed with books records and CDs. Rare books, paperbacks, reading books, every kind of book, tape and DVDs imaginable. The kind of place you couldn't possible cover in hours. I was there two hours and I never got out of the mystery book section. The largest mystery section in the area by far. New stuff, old stuff, great stuff, you betcha. They also have a large rare book section, rare leather books, Easton, Franklin Library leather books. A huge section of rare science fiction as well. Not cheap, but there is no match in the area that I know about.
At the same time as I was enjoying the place, I had a moment of sadness as well.
"Where have gone Joe Dimaggio?
A nation turns its lonely eyes to you".
For you youngsters, that's a famous line from Simon and Garfunkel song, and if you don't know who they were, then ask your parents or grandparents. The line speaks to nostalgia for a time, place or heroes that are no longer around. Recycled Books is a survivor of the once old-time used bookstores that no longer exist except in a few scattered places around the country. They're victims of large scale operations like Half-Price and made redundant by the Internet. Like the dinosaurs, there is no place for them in our economic environment. When they're finally all gone, who will write a song about them? Go experience these places before they too are no more. -
Review from Kristen K.
Fort Worth, TX
3/24/2009 1 photo
This place is a dump. And I don't mean it in a bad way at all. It's just that it's toats budget, which is definitely a good thing because that keeps the cost of books and other items down. Not to mention it's huge.
My favorite part is how expansive the place is. Really... you could spend days there inspecting all the aisles of books, movies, records and CD's they have. Days I tell you! I also like the entire make shift bookshelves and the feeling that you're in some weirdo's basement that just can't seem to let go of anything... including posters and random memorabilia.
I wandered to an upstairs area, found a chair and plopped myself in front of a pull cart that was just a bunch of books that hadn't been put away yet I guess. I picked at random by title, read the backs, flipped through and decided I needed some humor in my life. I'm glad that I paid like $27 for three books and after reading the first chapter of one of my selections and the fact that it mentions the word penis like 10 times, I know I made the right choice.
This place is top notch for discount, people watching, book selections and all other things cheap and entertaining. I'm super happy we went inside, can't wait to read my books and perhaps go sell them some of the stuff that's been lying around my house for like a decade, collecting dust.
It also reminds me of a much larger version of City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco. I don't know if anyone will agree, but that's the feeling I got when I was in there, just not as historic or epic.
All I can say is YAY! -
Review from Juli t.
Krum, TX
7/20/2011
Very nice people, most of the time. They have a good selection of books and a good buy program.
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Review from Daniel A.
Richardson, TX
11/12/2008
Beautifully unique layout in what I believe is an old opera house. You can spend countless hours here. It's right on the Square in Denton so you can go grab a bite to eat, a few drinks, whatever. Most everything I've seen is very reasonably priced. Worth checking out if you're ever in the area.
One of the few things I miss about Denton! -
Review from Shaka D.
Austin, TX
3/20/2009
WHY THE DRASTIC PRICE INCREASE?!
I've been coming from out of town to shop at Recycled for over 12 years now. Over the last year, I've watched their prices on LPs and books climb to meet prices you find online--in many cases, the high end of what you'll find online. In fact, when I asked them about the price hike, they responded "The owner checks prices online." On this last visit, they also informed me that the small discount they give for large purchases has been discontinued.
What's your logic Recycled? Given the economic situation and your relative isolation up there in Denton, why would I drive to see mouldering shelves of over-priced material when I can nab them cheaper on Amazon or for the same price or better on eBay? Conversely, I'm hooked shopping experience of browsing the mouldering shelves and have certainly pulled out my share of gems over the years. This is an experience that grows rarer and rarer across the country.
The point is dearest Recycled, that your inflated prices and frankly rather thin selection has hit the limit of my desire to drive all the way to Denton and exhausted my patience. Unless something changes, you have lost this customer (who spent almost $1000 on his previous visit). -
Review from Matt G.
Fort Worth, TX
8/1/2010
My somewhat better half and I went to Recycled Books, which is a big (3 stories! Maybe more! Who knows?) cool place with books, records, CDs, and such. No back issue comics, if that's what you're into, just graphic novels.
The old guy behind the desk seemed a little dismissive when I asked him about back issue comics, but maybe I'm a little sensitive sometimes. A possible woman clerk was very helpful otherwise in pointing out where I might find some back issue comics.
I still made two sweet finds at Recycled Books: A copy of The Comic Fan #2, a Larry Herndon comic fanzine from August 1965. It's in very good condition, I got it for five bucks. Larry Herndon was a prolific fanzine publisher during the 60s and 70s - a time which an American comic book enthusiast may refer to as "the golden age of comic book fandom," if he didn't care what people on Yelp! thought about him.
For ten bucks I also picked up The Great Society Comic Book (Parallax Comics, 1966), which features LBJ and other politicians of the day in a super-hero adventure.
Both items were buried in a stack of old movie serial fanzines, boxing magazines and various Country and Western printed matter.
So I thought this was one big-ass, cool place. I saw some 50, 60 dollar first editions (Gravity's Rainbow, some book about Hitler and the occult) they had out in the open, but they had an antique section that a clerk (possible she-clerk?) had to accompany you into...I'd be into that. -
Review from Anne S.
6/1/2010
Cons: prices seem generally a bit high, store is very strangely organized, and some sections are hard to find.
Pros: you can find good deals if you hunt for them, and they have a huuuuuge selection.
Overall: a cute, local-flavor place where you could easily kill an afternoon wandering the labyrinth of corridors stuffed with old books and filled with that old-book smell (mmmm). -
Review from Annie C.
Seattle, WA
9/19/2008
I love the old smell surrounding me when I step inside Recycled Books. This place has been there for me in times of both need and boredom while in college and beyond.
The selection is stellar with a maze of books and vinyl that you can easily get lost in...and then can't find your way out. I like to peruse the music and dvd bins for some cheap finds and unexpected treasures. Though, I wish the music selection contained more obscure stuff.
There is also a porn-esque section were you have to show ID to enter. I found some vintage Betty Page stuff a while back.
Go to Recycled Books if you hope to find something rare and unique, b/c you probably will.Listed in: music is my best friend.
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Review from Lauren A.
Houston, TX
12/20/2009
This place is really a gem. It's great to come here on a Saturday and spend a whole afternoon browsing the store. It's amazing what you can find here since they have such a huge variety.
The staff here is always super helpful and they have great prices. -
Review from Jerry Y.
10/16/2009
My wife and I were strolling through Downtown Denton and decided to stop in at the book store. Primarily, we were looking for childhood books to read to our daughter when she is older.
Recycled Books is a hidden treasure! The store is almost a maze due to the fact that there are so many books and sections that span multiple floors. Its actually a little fun to wander through there!
The ends of each bookshelf are labelled with not only the category (automotive, business, science, children's, etc) but also have a sample of the contents of that shelf listed.
For example, downstairs, in the business section, one of the shelves might also say (opening a business, opening a catering business, making money at home), etc. I found that to be helpful since this place is HUGE!
Something that we didn't know until we checked out is that the prices for the books are written on the inside cover. And usually its just a number with a dash next to it without a dollar sign.
We walked in to spend about $50 on children's books and left with clsoe to $200 worth of books ranging from automotive to business to children's books to making beer at home.
Lastly, don't let the look of the place fool you. This isn't a bunch of old junk that nobody cares about. The selection contains classics and relatively new books alike. -
Review from Chelsea E.
Washington, DC
2/4/2010
One of the things I miss most about Denton. Come here and get some Books For Really Tall People.
They have an awesome childrens' section, a great history section downstairs, and it's always fun to look for fiction in the upstairs loft. It's full of neat nooks and crannies . . . but really, this place is just huge. -
Review from flora R.
1/14/2009
I've been coming for 10 years now and I still love this place. The bookshelves are a hodgepodge of obscure finds and best sellers, the music selection is heavy on local but also has tons of other stuff, plus everyone who works there is nice and helpful.
Basically, I could waste a couple hours wandering the shelves and sitting in one of the random office chairs they have laying around, and paging through whatever.
I live far from Denton now, but whenever I'm in town I try to pay this little bookshop a visit. -
Review from Esther H.
3/1/2010
When my bookshelves have filled up and I'm just shoving my newest comic book into any empty space, you know its time to get rid of some stuff. Unfortunately my manga series, MARS, was the one to get the ax. 15 volumes COMPLETE with a prequel edition novel.
Anyways, I knew that the comic book didn't sell well in general so my expectations for selling it online were slim. Lucky for me that Recycled Books takes anything that has a spine and a nice cover.
The store itself is super rundown. It has all the quirks of how a cinematic bookstore has: an aura of the arts, the coolness of the music playing, and the vibe seemed...intelligent. The people are really friendly and they direct you to any book you may need. It's really helpful seeing as you can get lost in that store. The place winds up and down, in and around. The books are actually are overwhelming.
I don't think it I can give it 5 stars simply because I wasn't too thrilled by the offer of what I sold my comic books for.I discovered that the way they value the price of the comic book youre selling is based off what they already have. Since I had novels #1-15, and they had #3 & #9 they couldn't buy mine. They offered me $18 cash or $21 in credit to the store. I took the cash. There was no way to get rid of the series.
I said goodbye to my once beloved manga and realized I'm never going to buy manga again. -
Review from Kristina M.
Hyattsville, MD
9/23/2009
If I die and am allowed to pick my version of heaven, Recycled books would be it.
I have spent countless hours exploring the nooks and crannies and always finding hidden surprises and the magical way that the staff can always fit in one more bookshelf when you thought it couldn't be done.
All of the sections in this store are teeming with great finds. Don't miss the foreign language section under the stair case or the oceanography section in a tiny little niche.
The music and video selection is absolutely huge and they have many rare and signed books for the collector. Manga selection is defintely growing.
If there is anyway for you to go to this bookstore I would recommend you do it. Also, hit up Beth Marie's while you are in the area. -
Review from Maxx C.
Washington, DC
3/13/2010
Incredibly sprawling, but organized into comprehensible sections. Loved the section of books for really tall people. And the way you pass through the metaphysical section to get to the science room.
The main store has some outstanding books at very fair prices. The section of rare books is overpriced, but at least they're very amenable to your browsing them. -
Review from Andrea G.
Dallas, TX
6/18/2008
This is Denton's hidden gem.
spend an hot summer afternoon wondering around the maze that is Recycled Books and bask in the AC. You will not walk out empty handed or broke. Great selection and prices! -
Review from Gabby M.
Austin, TX
7/18/2008
I found all kinds of hard to find Japanese music, blues, and soundtracks here. The manga section is actually super cool, they have a lot of interesting selections besides stupid shonen jump type stuff, I bought Kazuo Umezu's Scary Book here! The children's book section is great too with every classic in sight. They also have vinyl.
This place is amazing. Go to it. You will not regret it. -
Review from Sebastian P.
Yonkers, NY
4/15/2009
I love coming to this place. It's pretty cheap I would say, especially when compared sometimes to Half-price books. BUT this depends on what you buy. If it's something newer they'll just slash the price in half. I'm happy to say as an English major and wanting to buy a copy of Finnegan's Wake and Pale Fire, I found some new editions for half the price. Barely used. I was totally lucky.
Plus, when I go up to the fiction section, I love looking at the different editions of translated books. There's a ton to choose from. The hard-covers are beautiful.
I also went here to find some great graphic novels. Usually, it's a pretty good place to find all the obscure indies. When I went to the flagship store of Half-price in Dallas and looked through for some indies, I wasn't too impressed. Eclectic finds galore. Also the movies and music of course. All around good service and selection. -
Review from Shannon A.
Fort Worth, TX
8/1/2010
I cannot say that I've really bought that much here but I always like looking...until I get way too hot and have to leave. Especially on the "hello! heat rises" second floor. I like that it isn't perfectly organized, you feel like there are cool surprises lurking in nooks and crannies and such. My BF found some really cool old comic books in a pile of random magazines on a brokedown bookshelf. I happened upon a cool old country magazine and learned a great deal about Little Jimmy Dickens -only one of my favorite Grand Ol' Opry regulars! There's always neat records to thumb through and despite having been there many times, I don't think I've ever gone downstairs, there's just a lot to look at. It's cool that it's in that creaky old purple building and that it isn't a chain.
Listed in: Denton -not actually all that…
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Review from Beth D.
Ponder, TX
3/9/2010
I won't lie, it's a little grungy. But it's dirty and icky in the most wonderful kind of college town way. This store is full to bursting with all kinds of books including rare and unusual stuff, first editions... It's a treasure trove that's fun to look at even when you're low on funds and can't do much except browsing.
There's also a nice selection of DVDs and VHS where I have been lucky enough to find some good deals. For the music enthusiasts, there's a really nice section of vinyl in addition to a cool slice of local artists and used CDs.
Mostly this is just one of those stores that I more or less can't walk into without coming out with something. The upside? Coming from Recycled books, at least I'm not going to be breaking the bank most of the time. -
Review from Eric L.
Dallas, TX
9/20/2009
Best record dig in the metroplex.
I can easily spend two to three hours here browsing their selection of used records. I frequent local Half Price Books to dig for records as well, but I have never left Recycled empty handed. If you're a DJ looking for sample material or just a fan of vinyl you won't be disappointed. The only thing that could make the record-digging experience of Recycled better would be the availability of record players to preview some of the vinyl before you buy it. This doesn't detract from their rating since I haven't seen anyone else in the area offer record players for listening either.
As an example of what I've found hiding among the records here, the last time I went to Recycled I dug up the following:
Lyrics Born - Hello / One Session promo
Kurtis Blow - Party Time?
KRS-ONE - 5 Boroughs
Kraftwerk - Trans-Europe Express -
Review from Michelle L.
Lewisville, TX
2/11/2011
I just recently bought a record player for my boyfriend and took him here to get some vinyl. What I thought would be an hour trip ended up being three as there was much more selection than I had thought there would be. All the records are organized well if you are looking for something specific but also easy to browse. We also took some time to look at some of the rare and antique books they had in stock. This selection was actually more impressive than the vinyl. Many antique books in all genres for sort of reasonable prices (I mean, most of them are 100 + years old so the pricey-ness is to be expected). We will definitely be back!
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Review from Scott M.
Sanger, TX
9/10/2010 16 Check-ins Here
I love, love this store. I go here whenever I can! If you love saving money on books, CDs, DVDs, even Albums (yes actual vinyl), etc. this is the store for you! They have an incredible selection of EVERYTHING, even antique books. They have 3 levels of books, paperback and hard back, a wide selection of music CDs, and tapes, movies in VHS and DVD. The children's area is vast and expansive. About the only thing you can't find in here is 8-tracks, lol. If you love to read, you must visit!!
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Review from Amanda P.
Amarillo, TX
Did a search for what we needed to check out in Denton when visiting my brother. My husband is an avid book reader and when he found this spot we HAD to stop by before we left. I was surprised at how huge it was. Upstairs, downstairs, this way and that.. books galore. He was in heaven!
They also had a selection of DVDs and VHS tapes. I own a DVD/VHS combo and still watch my old VHS tapes so we picked up a few of each for a good deal. They had both new and old movies. A CD selection too.
We will have to go back because there were some collectable items he wants to get his hands on. Very cool business! -
Review from Q L.
Richmond, VA
6/23/2009
First off I'm a reader of romance books......I had high hopes for this place. True this place is huge, probably the biggest used bookstore I've ever been too. I walked about for about 10 minutes looking for the romance section. Oh, the disappointment. They hid the books near the how-to section. I personally have more romance books than they do!!! What a waste of a lunch hour.
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Review from Lindsay P.
Irving, TX
10/30/2010
Oh, Recycled. You're so beautiful, with your musty books and dusty corners.
The prices aren't the absolute cheapest you'll find, but you're making up for that in both atmosphere and selection. THREE LEVELS OF BOOKS, people. Three. I spend an two and a half hours in the basement alone. There's no real rhyme or reason to the sections, just sort of generally placed in all of the little nooks and crannies. It's not hard to find the section you're looking for, it'll just take some exploration.
Pick up a bumper sticker, slap that hoe on your car, and represent one of the best things about Denton. -
Review from John M.
5/18/2010
a fun way to spend an afternoon. It is like taking a trip down the rabbit whole. Massive bookshelves wind and curve throughout the store. Lots of old and obscure titles. Lots of really interesting stuff. The prices seemed real hit or miss as you would find a steal one minute and a complet A-raping the next. Overall though a real pleasure to have a store like this around. During my visit I did not walk away with anything for me but did find some cool stuff for others.
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Review from Kristin B.
Austin, TX
8/19/2006
I could get lost in there for hours. Cheap books, music and movies. They have quite a gigantor selection. However, their jazz and blues section was a bit disappointing. I just wanted a freakin' Skip James record. Also, I found their organization of the art history books a bit scattered and hard to find something particular. But overall, it's the best place to go to find almost anything you need for reading, music, or movies.
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Review from Clarisa R.
Chicago, IL
7/22/2006
Recycled is this huge, rickity, lilac-painted opera house filled to the gills with books on every single freakin' topic. There's a section devoted to BOATS. What's neat is the store was arranged like a maze, so there are little sub-rooms and corners to lose yourself. My book-loving parents had a field day when I brought them here. They purchased over a hundred dollars of used cookbooks! I think it would take me weeks to look through all the rows of books.
The selection of DVDs, CDs and records, on the other hand, is a bit lacking in comparison - unless you're looking for Jazz or a CD from one of Denton's many great musicians (Fishboy, The Baptist Generals, Bosque Brown, etc.). I always come here to browse because, although I usually find something unexpected (a bootleg Sonic Youth record for $5 or a 50 year old copy of Franny and Zooey), I never-ever find anything I'm specifically looking for - especially in the fiction section.
Recycled buys used books, CDs and DVDs, but they're pretty selective. -
Review from James M.
Denton, TX
10/5/2006
i have bought some pretty cool stuff from there.
check it...
music:
beat happening-songs to climb the apple tree by, jamboree, and black candy
boredoms- wow2
red krayola- parable of arable land & god bless the red krayola and all who sail across her
books:
mohammed mrabet - the boy who set the fire
amos tutuola-palm wine drinkard
jonathan safran foer-extremely loud and incredibly close
arthur rimbaud-illuminations
harold pinter-complete works 1
that's just a best of i guess. -
Review from Johanna M.
Denton, TX
11/7/2008
This is a must place to take any book lover while visiting or just passing through Denton. A three story barrage of antique through modern book collections to suit everyone's taste. Definitely a notch above half-price books with it's local flair and rare-to-find edition collections!
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Review from Tommy H.
2/15/2006
This is a great used music and bookstore on the square in downtown Denton. Whenever we eat downtown, I like stopping in at Recycled just to browse. I found some fun stuff in the $1 bin around Christmas and I've bought a few other things, mostly CDs, from time to time.
