Interesting bit on Patricia Highsmith, author of the Tom Ripley series, in the March/April 2003 issue of Book magazine (excerpt at the website). I went to alibris‘s website, and found some first editions of The Talented Mr. Ripley. Ah, one day, when I have money to spare—don’t hold your breath—maybe I’ll get into the hobby of collecting rare, first-edition books.
Speaking of books, if you’re looking for a breath of fresh air from the Amazon.com hegemony, check out the following: Powell’s Books and Daedalus Books. They don’t have the hugest selection, but they’ve definitely got a cozy vibe and lots of stuff for cheap.