Monday, March 23, 2009

Musing Mondays

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about bookstores…

How many bookstores do you frequent? Do you have a favourite? If so, which one and what makes it so?


I am blessed to live in a town with many great bookstores, both independent and chain, and I can barely go a day without visiting one of them! Where to begin? Porter Square Books is a great little indie- everything an indie should be. The Harvard Coop (short for Harvard Cooperative Society), Harvard University's bookstore, is run by Barnes & Noble but has to be the best Barnes & Noble in the country with standout selections in just about everything. The New England Mobile Book Fair in nearby Newton is a huge reading wonderland of new and remaindered books. The new books are separated by publisher and they carry everything. The remaindered books are diverse and cheap, cheap, cheap. The Bryn Mawr Bookstore is a medium-sized used bookstore located in a tony neighborhood where folks drop off some real treasures. There are others- this is just what occurs off the top of my head. In my neighborhood there are specialty bookstores for poetry, travel, foreign language, science fiction, manga, comics, and other things as well. I love Cambridge!

My favorite bookstore, though, is the Harvard Book Store, an indie unaffiliated with the university. The first floor houses a fantastic selection of new books, specializing in fiction and academic nonfiction. They have great displays and great taste, and I can never walk in there without wanting to buy the place out. Downstairs houses a fabulous selection of used book and remainders- bargains galore. They host tremendous, frequent readings and events. They're awesome, they're open late, and I can walk there from my house. What more can you ask?

Musing Mondays is hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page.

5 comments:

LorMil said...

The Harvard Book Store sounds ideal.

Candy Schultz said...

I am sorry to say the bookstore I frequent these days is Amazon. I don't like them but I can't beat the convenience or prices. I worked in bookstores for years and I miss it. I am unable to work any more and rarely leave my house.

I have a Barnes & Noble and a Borders in my neighborhood and one decent used bookstore. That is it. None of them are within walking distance so thank god for Amazon.

kalea_kane said...

Ahhhhh. I miss the bookstores on the East Coast! I'm afraid I do not have a lot of options here in little ole Prescott, Arizona. I frequent B&N, Family Christian Stores, and every thrift store I can locate. I do have a favorite in New Hampshire called The Local Bookie. I think it was in Conway or North Conway. It was my weekend fave. :)

The Bookworm said...

You know, i've never been to an indie book store! I want to one day.
sounds like you got some great book stores by you.
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

Marie Cloutier said...

Naida- are there none nearby you? :-(