<a rel="attachment wp-att-3104" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/gardners-used-books/3319910577_e97c07b4af/"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3104" title="Gardner's Used Books" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/3319910577_e97c07b4af.jpg" alt="Gardner's Used Books" width="375" height="500" /></a>

There's a place, just south of the B.A. Expressway on Mingo, that is a weird-yet-wonderful capital of all things pleasing to book, music and movie lovers, and to collectors, too.

The place I'm talking about is <a href="http://www.gardnersbooks.com/index_files/Page266.htm">Gardner's Used Books and Music</a>.

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The store boasts a collection of nearly two million gently used books, all shelved by category and sprawling across a space of about a half-acre.

The two photos above are of just one shelf in the literature section and the section of books on local topics, respectively. There's so, so much more.

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Want paperbacks? Head to Gardner's, where you can stock up on everything from Stephen King to naughty romance novels for next to nothing.

<a href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/gardners-used-books/3320740080_620fdfb732/" rel="attachment wp-att-3105"><img src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/3320740080_620fdfb732.jpg" alt="Gardner&#039;s Used Books" title="Gardner&#039;s Used Books" width="500" height="375" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3105" /></a>

Calling all comic books fans! And fans of CDs, DVDs, Blu Ray and a variety of collectibles, including dolls and bells.

Yes, bells. Thousands of them.

It's a lot to peruse, and it could take all day - several days, in fact. But the only reason you'll have to leave is if you get sleepy; breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee and snacks and basically all of the sustenance you'll need for rooting around through miles of bookshelves are available at <a href="http://www.gardnersbooks.com/index_files/Page527.htm">Gatsby's Grill</a>.

<a rel="attachment wp-att-3103" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/gardners-used-books/dsc00669/"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3103" title="Gatsby's Grill" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/DSC00669.jpg" alt="Gatsby's Grill" width="480" height="640" /></a>

<a href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/04/hungry-check-out-gatsbys-for-breakfast/">Which is best at breakfast, in my opinion</a>. That's when you can get this giant breakfast sandwich and this mound of thickly grated hash browns and a cup of coffee for less than $5.

No, really. Under $5. I wouldn't kid you about such things.

Just when you're coddling your coffee and you think you've seen all there is to see, this opens up from a dark corner in the cafe:

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The gateway to a heaven of obscure and often hilarious books on everything from accounting to weight loss.

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This is the section of books on food and cooking, where I found titles such as "Woman's Day Encyclopedia of Cookery Vol. 5," copyright 1966, and "Whirlpool's Micro Menus Cookbook," copyright sometime during the days when microwaves the size of my conventional oven were going to save us all from the treachery of the kitchen.

Gardner's runs specials on books, music, movies and other do-dads all the time. <a href="http://www.gardnersbooks.com/index_files/Page377.htm">Be sure to check here for the latest deals</a>.

Another thing? Gardner's isn't just a place to buy stuff. It's a place to sell stuff, too. <a href="http://www.gardnersbooks.com/index_files/Page463.htm">Check out their book trade and sell policy</a> - who knows, you might have a valuable jewel you'd be willing to part with in exchange for cash or, even better, more books.

And remember Gardner's when you're shopping for gifts this Christmas, too. <a href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/12/tdt-holiday-gift-guide-gardners-used/">Here are some good (and weird, though nonetheless convincing) reasons why</a>.

<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SXKXrRsqwkI/AAAAAAAAAgs/vSd37A9tHrY/s1600-h/DSC03347.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292459281854677570" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SXKXrRsqwkI/AAAAAAAAAgs/vSd37A9tHrY/s400/DSC03347.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>

I love children's books. I promise I'll never write one, though. The children's book section at Gardner's proves the world needs not more by anyone still living. The best ones were written (and illustrated) when my parents were kids.

But, that's just one blogger's opinion.

<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SXKXcZWfV6I/AAAAAAAAAgc/wdGLD6ZT18E/s1600-h/DSC03351.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292459026211100578" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SXKXcZWfV6I/AAAAAAAAAgc/wdGLD6ZT18E/s400/DSC03351.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>

Even so, when our little one was 11 months old, he found a late model at Gardner's he just <span style="font-style: italic;">had to have</span>. So, he threw his first-ever public fit in the floor of the children's book section.

<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SXKXjTk-gxI/AAAAAAAAAgk/Y8NckSI4iSw/s1600-h/DSC03354.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292459144920335122" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SXKXjTk-gxI/AAAAAAAAAgk/Y8NckSI4iSw/s400/DSC03354.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>

And he won.

And we lost. Forever.

But if it means being begged for more trips to Gardner's Used Books, where children's books are always buy one, get on free, then that's one battle I'm willing to lose.

<strong>Gardner's Used Books</strong>
Where: 4421 S. Mingo Road
When: Monday-Friday, 7am-8pm; Saturday, 8am-8pm; Sunday, 12-6pm
Call: (918) 627-7323
Web: <a href="http://www.gardnersbooks.com/index_files/Page266.htm">GardnersBooks.com</a>

<em>Revised from the original post on Jan. 18, 2009.</em>