Bookstores are my safe place. When everything else in life is out of control, I know I can always find something there to give me peace, to take me to places where I can find calm. Going home with a new book, settling in my chair, cracking the cover and tucking in...Now I can breathe deeply and come back refreshed.
I worked in 3 bookstores when I first moved to Ottawa - The Old Book Market (4 floors of used books) on Dalhousie, Coles on Rideau, and then Prospero Books on Bank and Slater (where I met and worked with Mark L). Working with books and in bookstores was an absolute dream come true for me. At Prospero, I was the shipper/receiver and so I was the first one in the store to see, touch, and occasionally smell (!!!) each book as it arrived. I still dream about that job, 26 years later!
Yes, I agree, time in a bookstore *is* always well spent!
I had the pleasure of perusing the stacks at Munro's books here in Victoria yesterday - I know you've done signings there. Beautiful bookstores are like church to me - peaceful and lovely.
Couldn’t agree more about indie bookstores. Went into Abraxas Books on Denman Island and bought a book. Tachi Barker and her team are loyal supporters of the Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival every July,
You'll have to put Atlantis Books in Oia, Santorini on your bucket list. If you imagine Shakespeare & Co. in the Greek islands, you'll be pretty much bang on, right down to the cats and the blue rooftop patio!
Entershine Books in Thunder Bay is one of our few local bookshops left -- and they're new. Great little shop that supports local writers.
I loved going to Nicholas Hoare and just spending time looking at all the books. They also had a store in Ottawa in the Market, which I think opened before the Toronto one. I knew of them thru my mother - as a librarian she would buy books there as they had a great selection. I miss it. Great column.
This is the truth - indie bookstores are the BEST! You have so many lovely experiences, and forever friends there. Our local indie is Georgian Bay Books in Midland. It’s a favourite stop and the women who own it are TOPS, and go over the top to help, recommend, dig through out-of-season children’s books, bring in and support local writers, or just chat. Thank you for reminding readers the importance of indie bookstores. 💜
Enjoyed your column about arriving at Ben McNally’s bookstore. I always enjoy his 45 book reviews in 45 minutes annually. Never miss it! I’ve learned about books I may never have bought thru that venue! Thx Terry!
Bookstores, for me, provide a totally aesthetic experience, appealing to every sense except taste. This Spring, while on a great trip in Europe, there was Dubray’s in Dublin, Waterstones in Cork, and Feltrinelli in Rome (with a very good English section). And, thanks to your mentioning Type Books in Toronto, in a previous posting, Terry, I became a new customer.
Thanks for another great post, Terry. McNally Robinson Booksellers in Winnipeg is part of my summer migration, a 'must stop' for me. I've never seen such a replete children's section anywhere. On this summer's visit I came out with some travel themed books. I love where a good story can take me! There are no lost bags or flight delays inside a well written story. I "went" sailing in a 35 foot ketch all around the South Pacific; and now I'm in southern France in a remote village of old stone houses and growing vegetables in my first garden with the help of locals.
Every writer, surely, is an inveterate reader too, and readers love bookstores. I remember in my last year at Queen's taking my MBA and considering, with my minority shareholder, whether I might establish a bookstore in Picton. The shareholder, even though a reader herself and a bookstore lover, though more pragmatically, demurred and outvoted me – she preferred to eat. Later when I became an author myself I've been back to Picton where Books & Company stock my books. I also sell them in other indie bookstores up and down the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario (to mixed results). I've also had some success with Coles Books here in Ottawa.
Unlike you, Terry, I don't find browsing bookstores therapeutic, more stressful. I consider all the options there, and the books I might be looking for that are not there, and leave the store flustered and no books purchased.
My father was a Book of the Month club for years and in my teenage years would often see an intriguing title. I recall reading books by an author named Ian Fleming which introduced me to a fellow named Bond years before the movies.
And like you, browsed the offerings of the Mac bookstore.
Bookstores are my safe place. When everything else in life is out of control, I know I can always find something there to give me peace, to take me to places where I can find calm. Going home with a new book, settling in my chair, cracking the cover and tucking in...Now I can breathe deeply and come back refreshed.
Precisely!
I worked in 3 bookstores when I first moved to Ottawa - The Old Book Market (4 floors of used books) on Dalhousie, Coles on Rideau, and then Prospero Books on Bank and Slater (where I met and worked with Mark L). Working with books and in bookstores was an absolute dream come true for me. At Prospero, I was the shipper/receiver and so I was the first one in the store to see, touch, and occasionally smell (!!!) each book as it arrived. I still dream about that job, 26 years later!
Yes, I agree, time in a bookstore *is* always well spent!
I had the pleasure of perusing the stacks at Munro's books here in Victoria yesterday - I know you've done signings there. Beautiful bookstores are like church to me - peaceful and lovely.
Couldn’t agree more about indie bookstores. Went into Abraxas Books on Denman Island and bought a book. Tachi Barker and her team are loyal supporters of the Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival every July,
Me too, Terry, me too! Bookstores are my Happy place.
Glad to see Cedar Canoe in Huntsville doing so well. Such a lovely store.
I had the opportunity only recently to visit this store and it really is beautiful!
You'll have to put Atlantis Books in Oia, Santorini on your bucket list. If you imagine Shakespeare & Co. in the Greek islands, you'll be pretty much bang on, right down to the cats and the blue rooftop patio!
Entershine Books in Thunder Bay is one of our few local bookshops left -- and they're new. Great little shop that supports local writers.
I just passed through Thunder Bay, part of my summer migration. Thanks for letting me know about Entershine. I will look for it next summer.
I loved going to Nicholas Hoare and just spending time looking at all the books. They also had a store in Ottawa in the Market, which I think opened before the Toronto one. I knew of them thru my mother - as a librarian she would buy books there as they had a great selection. I miss it. Great column.
This is the truth - indie bookstores are the BEST! You have so many lovely experiences, and forever friends there. Our local indie is Georgian Bay Books in Midland. It’s a favourite stop and the women who own it are TOPS, and go over the top to help, recommend, dig through out-of-season children’s books, bring in and support local writers, or just chat. Thank you for reminding readers the importance of indie bookstores. 💜
Another great post Terry! I too used to spend hours there, Albert Britnell and WBB. Wandering and wondering, until reality came crashing in.
Enjoyed your column about arriving at Ben McNally’s bookstore. I always enjoy his 45 book reviews in 45 minutes annually. Never miss it! I’ve learned about books I may never have bought thru that venue! Thx Terry!
Bookstores, for me, provide a totally aesthetic experience, appealing to every sense except taste. This Spring, while on a great trip in Europe, there was Dubray’s in Dublin, Waterstones in Cork, and Feltrinelli in Rome (with a very good English section). And, thanks to your mentioning Type Books in Toronto, in a previous posting, Terry, I became a new customer.
Thanks for another great post, Terry. McNally Robinson Booksellers in Winnipeg is part of my summer migration, a 'must stop' for me. I've never seen such a replete children's section anywhere. On this summer's visit I came out with some travel themed books. I love where a good story can take me! There are no lost bags or flight delays inside a well written story. I "went" sailing in a 35 foot ketch all around the South Pacific; and now I'm in southern France in a remote village of old stone houses and growing vegetables in my first garden with the help of locals.
Every writer, surely, is an inveterate reader too, and readers love bookstores. I remember in my last year at Queen's taking my MBA and considering, with my minority shareholder, whether I might establish a bookstore in Picton. The shareholder, even though a reader herself and a bookstore lover, though more pragmatically, demurred and outvoted me – she preferred to eat. Later when I became an author myself I've been back to Picton where Books & Company stock my books. I also sell them in other indie bookstores up and down the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario (to mixed results). I've also had some success with Coles Books here in Ottawa.
Unlike you, Terry, I don't find browsing bookstores therapeutic, more stressful. I consider all the options there, and the books I might be looking for that are not there, and leave the store flustered and no books purchased.
My father was a Book of the Month club for years and in my teenage years would often see an intriguing title. I recall reading books by an author named Ian Fleming which introduced me to a fellow named Bond years before the movies.
And like you, browsed the offerings of the Mac bookstore.
I'm very lucky to be able to walk to The Bookshelf in Guelph. A lovely store for browsing/shopping, and an independent cinema above!
"Let's Talk About Books" is Cobourg's indie treasure...on the main street, right beside the indiie specialty grocery store.