Best Books--Chain
Barnes & Noble
READERS' AND STAFF PICK: We love our independents, but Barnes & Noble manages to combine some sheer personality with the best aspects of chain book stores in one seamless whole. Tables and benches encourage leisurely reading (particularly in the well-stocked children's section). We also like the bargain shelves, the author signings, the organized activities for kids, the 10-percent discounts on hardcovers, the caricatures of authors that line the walls and, perhaps most importantly, the fact that the Fiction and Literature section is three times larger than the Self Help section. Are there any other chain bookstores in town where you could find a new copy of Harpo Speaks? We didn't think so.
5480 E. BroadwayREADERS' POLL RUNNER-UP: Waldenbooks, three locations.
