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The
Ivy Bookshop in Baltimore
in an upscale neighborhood is great -- small with oak floors, one
small table and maybe two chairs, but an excellent selection of
travel, art and bestsellers and more literary authors. Address:
6080 Falls Road . Tel: 410-377-2966. Next door is a coffee shop
with outside tables.
Jackie, Baltimore, USA
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If you stay in the
usual conference hotels (Sheraton, Tutwiler, Redmont, or housing
in the University area) in downtown Birmingham,
Alabama, you are in a desert island as far as shopping is concerned.
The happy surprise is to find the tiny Episcopal
Book Store at 2015 6th Avenue North. It's packed
floor-to-ceiling with tasteful gifts and cards and books of course.
The titles are not all religious in subject; I found books on political
conflicts and current events, good fiction, regional cookbooks,
humor, and children's classics along with philosophy and religion.
Knowledgeable, friendly, all-women staff and clean restrooms. What
more can you ask? There IS more: you can buy a book and read it
in the beautiful church garden around the corner, facing 20th Street.
This bookstore is within walking distance of the Museum of Art,
the federal and county court buildings, and most of the banks where
you may be doing business.
S.O., Alabama, USA
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On the island of
Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, just where the road curves south
in Buxton, is a marvelous
escape called Buxton Village Books.
In a little white house with a wonderful owner, GeeGee, to guide
us through the scrumptiously known and unknown in literature, non-fiction,
children's books, and even a few little water color and pen and
pencil sets for the "sudden artist" that appears in all
of us when we vacation. Bliss!
Jenny, from Athens, Ohio
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Chicago has wonderful
bookstores for academics - especially in the Hyde Park area. The
CTS Bookstore has a great selection of new books
covering many academic areas, and has many publications not widely
available in the US. Powell's on 57th Street is an excellent stop
selling used academic books.
Sue, San Francisco, USA
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There's a female-friendly
book store in Chicago.
It's called, Women and Children First,
and it's right on Clark (5233 N. Clark Street). I think other women
will like it.
Emily, Chicago, USA
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I would love to
recommend Tattered Cover
located in Denver,
Colorado. I studied for my MA in Denver so I had a lot of personal
experience with Tattered Cover. There are two or three locations
in the city. It is a warm and welcoming bookstore that has lots
of activities. There is also a cafe and comfy sofas all over the
bookstore where you can read to your heart's content. Some have
been known to fall asleep and no one wakes you! There is also a
lot of community interaction. See their website: http://www.tatteredcover.com.
Ruth, Barbados, West Indies
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I know that Detroit,
Michigan USA is not a hot travel destination. But there is an used
bookstore that is at least 3 floors of books called: John
K. King Used and Rare Books on 901 W. Lafayette
Boulevard, Detroit, MI, 48226 USA. I am writing a novel set in Ireland
and live in Detroit. That book store is a treasure for someone like
me who likes to do research. Not much in ambiance, but lots of substance.
Tel: 313-961-0622. Website is www.rarebooklink.com
Email: kingbooks@aol.com.
Lynn Ellyn, Detroit, USA
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I love this opportunity
to share my most favorite bookstore in Houston,
USA.  Twice
Told Tales is a 'small in area but huge in selection'
used bookstore. It is owned and run by the nicest lady who used
to be a manager at a large chain bookstore, and the others who work
there are also book people: just as nice - and unbelievably helpful.
They take all paperbacks (& some hardbacks) in trade and maintain
your balance on file indefinitely. They do both requests and searches.
They coordinate with the local schools and have books on required
reading lists, both summer & school terms, in stock. I really
could go on and on. (and it's not for lack of competition: within
a few miles is a Barnes and Noble, a HalfPrice Books, and several
other used book stores). Address: 8648 N. Hwy 6 (out Hwy. 290, NW
of Houston in the suburbs). Tel:281-463-4961
Beth, Houston,
USA
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I'd like to recommend
Becker's Books
in Houston,
Texas. It's literally(!) a house (3500 square
feet) full of used books. The owner, Ann claims that she has another
houseful of books as her inventory. She and her husband have run
this shop since 1994 and every available nook and cranny is stuffed
with used, out-of-print, many signed titles and rare books. It's
a quiet place to browse; most prices are reasonable. Address:
7405 Westview, Houston, 77055, (713) 957-8088. Website: http://www.houstonbooks.com/
Susan, Houston, Texas
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In Iowa
City, Iowa, USA there is the Prairie
Lights bookstore. This place is a haven for bibliophiles.
Of course, during the summer, it becomes a second home to attendees
of the University of Iowa's Summer Writers Festival. In addition
to housing every genre of book imaginable, the shop has one of
the most extensive selections of literary journals available.
It also has a coffee shop upstairs where writers can convene or
sit with laptop or manuscript and get lost in solo creativity.
Karen, Pelham, USA
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I would highly recommend
the independent book store called, Lemuria
in Jackson, Mississippi.
Every employee possesses a wealth of literary knowledge while the
store is filled with an impressive inventory of carefully selected
titles, has a "First Editions Club" in which a signed
first edition is sent to each member every month, has numerous author
signings, and will ship anywhere. It is the VERY best bookstore!!
Connie, Jackson, USA
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In Los
Angeles, CA there is Every
Picture Tells A Story, a delightful children's
book store that doubles as an art gallery featuring artwork from
children's books. The shop used to be located on Beverly Blvd.
but recently located to Santa Monica. Its website is http://www.everypicture.com.
Karen, Pelham, USA
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In Louisville,
Colorado, The Book Cellar
sells new, used and rare books and has a terrific used book trade
policy. They are open Mondays through Saturdays. The store is located
in the cellar of a refurbished historical building in Old Town Louisville,
The Marketplace. They share this space with a bead shop, bakery,
chili shop, beauty salon, massage spa, and pottery studio. The store
is cozy, and lined with bookshelves full of books of all kinds.
Book are arranged by category and alphabetically by author, and
if, by some chance you can not find what you are looking for, you
can always ask Barbara, the proprietor, or Annie and they will always
be able to put their hands on what you want. Twice a year Barbara
holds a Psychic Faire when she hosts a numerologist, tarot reader,
clairvoyant, and tea leaf and palm readers. It's great fun. Louisville
is a little out of the way, but anyone visiting Denver or Boulder
should try to make time to stop by The Book Cellar. Address: 820
Main Street Tel: 303-604-2880 Email: thebookcellar@qwest.net
Website: http://www.thebookcellaronline.com.
Elizabeth, Louisville, Colorado, USA
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There is a little
upscale bookshop in New York
that I return to time and time again when I need a special gift
for the kiddies that I love. Books
of Wonder contains a fabulous collection of titles
that are sometimes difficult to locate in other places. The staff
here is so courteous and I never leave the store empty handed. Gift
wrapping in bright, shiny, green or blue paper is complimentary
and while books are not discounted here, the last time I visited
I was given two $1.00 certificates towards my next purchase. P.S.
Every Sunday at noon, Books of Wonder hosts a good old-fashioned
storytelling time (16 W. 18th. Street).
Evelyn, Toronto,
Canada
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The Strand bookshop
in New York City is
massive and has the most amazing titles. I spend hours there. They
have rare books, used books and are a family owned business. I like
to support them as they are not a cookie cutter store.
Beth,
Hoboken, USA
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I want to tell
you about one of my favorite bookstores in NYC.
It's the Black Orchid Bookshop
at 303 East 81st St,. Telephone 212 -734-5980. Email Borchid@aol.com.
Website www.ageneralstore.com.
It is a small shop that only carries mystery writers. They have
hard covers but also many many paperbacks. Bonnie and Joe, the
owners are very knowledgeable about the genre and have introduced
me to many new writers. I make sure I go there before every trip
I take. I have been known to overpack books because I once had
the experience in Europe of running out of things to read. Don't
want to repeat that experience.
Tarah, New York City, USA
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In North
Cambridge, MA there is Kate's
Mystery Books. This shop is not to be missed by
any lovers of mystery books or black cats. (Though there are no
live cats, there are plenty decorative ones throughout the store.)
Kate has a wonderful selection of mysteries and thrillers, both
hard cover and paperback, and she and her capable staff are happy
to make suggestions. She showcases New England mystery writers
on one set of shelves and host book signings with writers of local
and national acclaim. She also plays host to the New England chapter
of the Mystery Writers Association, who hold their monthly meetings
at the shop before taking their invited speaker out to dinner
nearby. Another interesting piece of trivia, the book shelves
were installed by none other than mystery writer Robert Parker
of Spenser series fame.
Karen, Pelham, USA
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I lived in Olympia,
WA for four years before (sadly) moving away. There is a fabulous
little shop in downtown Olympia
called The Fireside Bookstore.
It's the perfect size, in a perfect location (plus, coffee shops
abound nearby), and the owner, Jane is sooo knowledgeable and friendly.
There is also a great reading group that meets in the store on a
monthly basis. I wish I could still visit!
Jennifer,
Sun City, USA
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Bindlestiff Books
in West Philadelphia
is an awesome little bookstore. Opened in the fall of 2005, their
staff is super friendly, their selection is outstanding (despite
them being a tiny bookstore), and the prices are right! Bindlestiff
gets most of its books from remainders or on discount, and then
pass those financial savings onto customers. They also solicit
feedback from customers, and actually listen to it. Their selection
includes great children's books, cookbooks, fiction, and history,
including a lot of activism/social awareness stuff. I've found
nothing but great books there. Hours: noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday
through Sunday, closed Mondays and Tuesdays. They're located at
4530 Baltimore Avenue, in West Philly, Tel: 215-222-2432.
Kelly, Philadelphia, USA
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My favorite bookstore
is Powells Books in
Portland, Oregon.
It is the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world.
The staff is very knowledgeable, and the store is well laid-out
with color-coded aisles and matching maps. Take the narrowest subject,
and you will find hundreds of books, while you probably would find
only a few anywhere else. The store takes up three floors on one
block in downtown Portland. It is almost impossible to make a short
visit. Their website (powells.com)
allows you to be notified if an out-of-print book becomes available.
I can't recommend it enough!
Fran, Portland, USA
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Without a doubt
my favorite bookstore is R.J. Julia
Bookseller in Madison,
Connecticut. I could live in this place. It is so charming it's
like being in another era. The decor is warm and woodsy, the furnishings
are such that I'd like to have them in my own home. The pictures
on the wall are appropriate and lovely; the selection of books is
wonderful, timely, and attractively displayed. There are also reproductions
of authors's signatures on the hardwood floors. Gift items are available
as well, but not so many that you forget you're shopping for books.
In the back is a little tea shop for sustenance. I've never been
in such a wonderful bookstore and stop in every time my husband
and I drive east.
Pattie, St. Louis, USA
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A used bookstore
at an airport? Yes! 2nd ed. Booksellers
is located at Raleigh-Durham International
Airport (Terminal A). If you happen to be flying
into/out of the Raleigh-Durham (RDU) airport in North Carolina,
and you love books then you have to stop in at this shop -- a real
cozy spot in the airport. They have used books, maps, music, and
nice people working there. This store almost makes me look forward
to going to the airport! Just fantastic! Website: http://www.rdu.com/shoprest/shopping/2nd.htm
Lisa, San Diego, USA
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Greetings from Washington,
DC. A charming bookstore is my city is Chapters
Literary bookstore. http://www.chaptersliterary.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp
It is tucked into a small space on 11th street and has a very carefully
selected collection. There is no end to the hidden gems you will
find. One of my favorites, a biography, Mistress Bradstreet: The
Untold Life of America's First Poet, by Charlotte Gordon. Here's
a few others...
Politics and Prose,
http://www.politics-prose.com,
is fabulous and has a huge following. It is located close to the
Maryland line in Chevy Chase, but well worth the trip. They have
numerous author talks every week, run monthly book groups, and
are part community activists.
Olssons, http://www.olssons.com,
has numerous locations throughout the city and in VIrginia. They
have a great store at National airport -- makes it much easier
to sit through a delayed flight.
Audrey, Washington DC, USA
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I recently travelled
to Washington DC.
Amidst the business suits, monuments, museums & galleries lies
a unique little bookstore. While exploring the shops along Dupont
Cirlcle, I came across this unique bookstore called: Kramerbooks
& Afterwords. From the outside, it looked like
a regular bookstore but once inside I noticed it was also a cafe!!
Its a great way to spend some time among great books and good food.
Web site: http://www.kramers.com
Tania, Toronto, Canada
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For the mystery
lover check out Foul Play
bookstore in an old house in historic uptown Westerville,
a suburb of Columbus, Ohio. Meet the resident cats and check out
the many books (and cat gifts). They also have author visits and
a book club. Website: http://www.foulplaybooks.com/
Laurel, USA
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Have Book will Travel
in Wilton, Connecticut
is a company that boasts a data base of over 5000 travel books.
Need special information? They’ll locate the book(s) titles
that will be helpful and even sell the book to you at a 10% discount.
Call (203) 761-0604.
Phyllis, Miami, USA
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