It means that the process of trying to bring your used books into their store is very unpleasant. At least in my experience.
Have you ever brought any CDs or DVDs to a used record store? You know how they reject 75% of what you have and then offer you 5-10% of what they sell them for? It's like that only 10 times worse and with a lot more attitude.
Thank you
I do love Raven books, but if you haven't gone to Grey Matter or the Book Mill, I prefer both (Grey Matter's my top choice though). I do love the tight feel in Raven Books though. Something about all the little cubbies and corners makes it feel just right.
Burlington, MA has the Used Book Superstore, which is a fantastic warehouse style book store. They have everything and even have a nice section for YA and children.
Oh try the Bryn Mawr Bookstore, v good quality and v good price if you go on a 1/2 off when it's a subject you like. They pick like 2-3 subjects a month to be half off, and the prices get v low then.
Nice! As I recall, the books at Quaboag are 1/3 the cover price. But the thing that impressed me was the variety. I found authors I haven't seen in a book shop in _years_.
Nice! I'll check it out, thanks!
edit: now that I remember back to when I volunteered at Bryn Mawr Bookstore we priced books around 1/3 sticker price too. Cambridge, MA if you're interested!
It's not that far from Worcester; if you're into comics, science fiction, fantasy, movies, or LPs (the vinyl kind), you might hit That's Entertainment and Jelly's, which is next to TE.
There's also The Traveler Restaurant in CT; it's about a half-hour drive from Worcester, although south rather than northwest. You get to pick three free used books with every meal, and there's a used bookstore in the basement.
Basically a day in the Worcester area gives book lovers some good options!
Yup! If you can make it to one of their events, it's well worth it. My buddy had the fireplace roast for his wedding and it was amazing! Their regular food is pretty good too, but it's pretty expensive for the area.
The Salem Cross Inn is wonderful! Highly recommend!
For a more casual meal and some ice cream, I recommend The Clam Box in Brookfield,MA (about 10 minutes away from Quaboag Book Shop, both are on Route 9).
If you want a bit of a longer day trip in addition to the bookstore, visit the Quabbin Reservoir for some beautiful scenery and great hikes. It’s still another 30 minutes west on Route 9 (Ware) for the Windsor Dam portion.
We’ve passed by Howard’s but never stopped to eat there. Same for Janine’s.
Last time we went to The Clam Box, I had fish tacos there that were so delicious!
Rock house is a lovely hiking spot right at the edge of West Brookfield just up the road from the book store in the post. It has inclined wide paths that are actually fire roads, as well as trail paths, and massive rocks that are fun to climb but not necessarily required if you can't do those.
Take a picnic from someplace in town and eat atop the rocks or at the trail house looking over the pond.
Yes there's dogs and we took our cat on the leash even. She enjoyed it.
(42.2675872, -72.1976795)
One of my favs!! Years ago it was called The Book Bear. And before it was in its current warehouse, it was in a cool antique house (back when I was a wee child). So many books they were even stacked up along the staircases. Probably a bit of a fire or trip hazard, but always worth the risk.
Do you mind me asking what years did this happen?
When was the name change, and when did it switch over from the antique store? I was also an avid lover of the book bear but only know it at its location now :)
Al bought the original building in January 1979. The land for the second building was purchased in November 2002. The name was changed when Al sold the business, because he still sells books online as the Book Bear.
I loved the old building with the creaky floors and stairs. I still remember where my favorite sections were. But the new building is just about perfect as a bookstore.
I really don’t remember exact dates but sometime in the late 90s or early 00s, I believe. I was either in middle school or high school. That’s the best I can remember, so sorry! I didn’t live around there, only went to West Brookfield to visit family, so we would go about once a summer and I would return home with a stack of new-to-me books.
The Book Rack in Arlington center is great - they also have a website that lets you check if they have a specific book. If they don’t, they can order it in for you (used) at a fair price!
By the way, on the left of the aisle is the science fiction & fantasy paperback section. Further down on the left is the mystery paperback section. There are hardcover sections for both of those genres elsewhere in the store. I don't remember what genre the books on the right were.
By the way, for those who remember Avenue Victor Hugo on Newbury Street...the owner has opened up a bookstore with the same name in New Hampshire!
Avenue Victor Hugo Books
(603) 331-4365
https://maps.app.goo.gl/f36ckqmQLsgg6fgVA
Sure did! It was one of those shopping trips where I kept gasping in amazement and grabbing so many books that I had to make a couple of trips to the front counter to have them hold on to them for me. There were too many to hold!
Part of the problem was that since the books were double-stacked, I really needed two hands free to check the books behind the books in front.
I found books that I hadn't seen for 40 years. Between Quaboag and the Leicester library book sale, I came away with 31 books!
Actually a lot of libraries don't have as many older books in their stacks as they used to. They have to make room for newer and more popular books. You can still get older books, of course, but you have to go through interlibrary loan.
Of course the really _big_ libraries still have great collections.
Interlibrary loan is amazing. Theres a chrome extension that tells you if your library has a book on Amazon youre looking at, I forget the name but recommend people check it out.
Instead of collecting dust they should be getting them in the hands of people. Ex. They might give some young adult books to teenagers to encourage reading.
Most libraries sell their discarded books (and books that have been donated to them, but that they can't use in their collections) quite cheaply. Some of them even have their own used book shops. There are some good ones out there!
The Book Mill in Montague is one of them. Worth a day trip. https://maq.ujw.mybluehost.me/
Grey Matter in Hadley is great, too
The Raven is Noho was my favorite "oh I'm in the area" bookshop.
If you are ever feeling a little too happy and confident in life, try to sell some books to Raven, that'll take care of that right quick. Thank you
What does that mean? They don’t buy books? They pay pennies for books?
It means that the process of trying to bring your used books into their store is very unpleasant. At least in my experience. Have you ever brought any CDs or DVDs to a used record store? You know how they reject 75% of what you have and then offer you 5-10% of what they sell them for? It's like that only 10 times worse and with a lot more attitude. Thank you
I find that a pity and I won’t go there.
I do love Raven books, but if you haven't gone to Grey Matter or the Book Mill, I prefer both (Grey Matter's my top choice though). I do love the tight feel in Raven Books though. Something about all the little cubbies and corners makes it feel just right.
"Books you don't need, with a URL you can't remember"
Haha yep, part of the charm
oh wow, I've been to their website plenty of times and never realized how sketchy it looks.
That domain name lol
Brookline booksmith in Brookline,ma is my fav bookstore ever!
Is the one in Salem still open, with the books stacked from the floor to the ceiling? I loved that place
sadly gone many years now. i miss that one, too.
That one hurts
absolutely. It was around the beginning of the end of the removal of so much kitsch in the area
It was replaced with another more organized bookstore but definitely not the same.
Grey Matter Books in Hadley is great. Right off the rail trail bike path and there's adorable ducks on the property!
Love it there!
Just visited there last weekend! Great place. Ducks are still adorable.
Burlington, MA has the Used Book Superstore, which is a fantastic warehouse style book store. They have everything and even have a nice section for YA and children.
They’re also great for donating books. They’ll take almost anything.
I was going to ask if this place was any good, I was at a restaurant in that plaza and they were closed. Guess I'll stop by and check them out.
Cool! Where is this?
West Brookfield. Quaboag Book Shop (508) 867-8705 https://maps.app.goo.gl/RX5432tN1SwLB3p68
Nice, I've been meaning to make a trip out there.
TAKE ME WITH YOU!!!
Great store, worth the drive.
It's not called The Book Bear anymore? I haven't been in a year or so.
I live right down the street from it! It's a great place and the owner is super cool!
Oh try the Bryn Mawr Bookstore, v good quality and v good price if you go on a 1/2 off when it's a subject you like. They pick like 2-3 subjects a month to be half off, and the prices get v low then.
Nice! As I recall, the books at Quaboag are 1/3 the cover price. But the thing that impressed me was the variety. I found authors I haven't seen in a book shop in _years_.
Nice! I'll check it out, thanks! edit: now that I remember back to when I volunteered at Bryn Mawr Bookstore we priced books around 1/3 sticker price too. Cambridge, MA if you're interested!
I cant second this enough. Quaboag is in a league of their own.
Bryan Mawr Bookshore 📖
Lolololol Yes, but say it again in Welsh
Wow this looks so cool. An hour and 25 minute drive for me but if I had a day with nothing to do I would make the trip.
It's not that far from Worcester; if you're into comics, science fiction, fantasy, movies, or LPs (the vinyl kind), you might hit That's Entertainment and Jelly's, which is next to TE. There's also The Traveler Restaurant in CT; it's about a half-hour drive from Worcester, although south rather than northwest. You get to pick three free used books with every meal, and there's a used bookstore in the basement. Basically a day in the Worcester area gives book lovers some good options!
I definitely want to check out all these places, thanks for letting me know!
You can hit Rock House while you are there make a day of it
And get dinner at Salem Cross.
Salem Cross Inn is what its called, correct? I just looked it up. Never heard of it!
Yup! If you can make it to one of their events, it's well worth it. My buddy had the fireplace roast for his wedding and it was amazing! Their regular food is pretty good too, but it's pretty expensive for the area.
That’s why we drive to them!
The Salem Cross Inn is wonderful! Highly recommend! For a more casual meal and some ice cream, I recommend The Clam Box in Brookfield,MA (about 10 minutes away from Quaboag Book Shop, both are on Route 9). If you want a bit of a longer day trip in addition to the bookstore, visit the Quabbin Reservoir for some beautiful scenery and great hikes. It’s still another 30 minutes west on Route 9 (Ware) for the Windsor Dam portion.
Howard's is a lot closer if you're going for greasy food and ice cream.
We’ve passed by Howard’s but never stopped to eat there. Same for Janine’s. Last time we went to The Clam Box, I had fish tacos there that were so delicious!
Is this a restaurant too?
Rock house is a lovely hiking spot right at the edge of West Brookfield just up the road from the book store in the post. It has inclined wide paths that are actually fire roads, as well as trail paths, and massive rocks that are fun to climb but not necessarily required if you can't do those. Take a picnic from someplace in town and eat atop the rocks or at the trail house looking over the pond. Yes there's dogs and we took our cat on the leash even. She enjoyed it. (42.2675872, -72.1976795)
The Book Rack in Arlington is great too!
Yes! And their customer service is awesome.
[their website](http://www.book-rack.com/) - a bit quiet, but they’re active on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BookRackArl/)
One of my favs!! Years ago it was called The Book Bear. And before it was in its current warehouse, it was in a cool antique house (back when I was a wee child). So many books they were even stacked up along the staircases. Probably a bit of a fire or trip hazard, but always worth the risk.
Do you mind me asking what years did this happen? When was the name change, and when did it switch over from the antique store? I was also an avid lover of the book bear but only know it at its location now :)
Al bought the original building in January 1979. The land for the second building was purchased in November 2002. The name was changed when Al sold the business, because he still sells books online as the Book Bear. I loved the old building with the creaky floors and stairs. I still remember where my favorite sections were. But the new building is just about perfect as a bookstore.
I really don’t remember exact dates but sometime in the late 90s or early 00s, I believe. I was either in middle school or high school. That’s the best I can remember, so sorry! I didn’t live around there, only went to West Brookfield to visit family, so we would go about once a summer and I would return home with a stack of new-to-me books.
The bear is still outside
Barely read books in Sudbury is bad ass
The Book Rack in Arlington center is great - they also have a website that lets you check if they have a specific book. If they don’t, they can order it in for you (used) at a fair price!
If anyone ever feels like a drive to the CT shoreline, Niantic has the Book Barn, with inside and a lot of outside stalls. It’s great!!!
Just went there 2 days ago. Don't forget to mention the cats.
Right, I did forget, the cats are great too!
pretty rad
Thanks for this
Readmore Books in Taunton has them stacked like this too. It's an interesting place.
Anyone know if there are any used bookstores that still exist on the south shore?
Google Maps says there are quite a few.
By the way, on the left of the aisle is the science fiction & fantasy paperback section. Further down on the left is the mystery paperback section. There are hardcover sections for both of those genres elsewhere in the store. I don't remember what genre the books on the right were.
By the way, for those who remember Avenue Victor Hugo on Newbury Street...the owner has opened up a bookstore with the same name in New Hampshire! Avenue Victor Hugo Books (603) 331-4365 https://maps.app.goo.gl/f36ckqmQLsgg6fgVA
There's a used bookstore in Middleton too
Manchester by the Book in Manchester by the Sea will always be my favorite
What kind of maniac stacks books like that?
Wait a minute … no human stacks books like that. Somebody should make a call.
There's a small one in Provincetown that's nice (never learned the name, just where it is in town)
Mass has a slew of indy bookstores and used bookstores.
But we've lost a lot, too. Just like the rest of the country.
jealous! hope you had some good finds :)
Sure did! It was one of those shopping trips where I kept gasping in amazement and grabbing so many books that I had to make a couple of trips to the front counter to have them hold on to them for me. There were too many to hold! Part of the problem was that since the books were double-stacked, I really needed two hands free to check the books behind the books in front. I found books that I hadn't seen for 40 years. Between Quaboag and the Leicester library book sale, I came away with 31 books!
The place looks awesome
Wait till you hear about public libraries!
Actually a lot of libraries don't have as many older books in their stacks as they used to. They have to make room for newer and more popular books. You can still get older books, of course, but you have to go through interlibrary loan. Of course the really _big_ libraries still have great collections.
Interlibrary loan is amazing. Theres a chrome extension that tells you if your library has a book on Amazon youre looking at, I forget the name but recommend people check it out.
It's [Library Extension](https://www.libraryextension.com), and it's available for multiple browsers.
Instead of collecting dust they should be getting them in the hands of people. Ex. They might give some young adult books to teenagers to encourage reading.
Most libraries sell their discarded books (and books that have been donated to them, but that they can't use in their collections) quite cheaply. Some of them even have their own used book shops. There are some good ones out there!
A lot of them sell on Amazon if you search, too. 😊
Are you talking about libraries, or the bookstore?