Hello my name is Sarah and I am a bookworm. Though of late, I am loving the social media trend that paints me as a book dragon, reading and hoarding books with equal merriment. What does a book dragon do after three weeks of illness in the house, where one parent was ill the whole time? Why, her family takes her to a bookstore for a day out, that’s what!
While there are many bookstores near me in Maine that are a joy to browse, for a very special treat there are a few places I like to go. Recently we drove to the outskirts of Boston, passing the Charles River, Fenway Park, and about 300 Dunkin Donuts and spent some time at the Brookline Booksmith.
Since 1961, this family owned community bookstore has been “dedicated to the fine art of browsing.” Founder Marshall Smith penned these words for his March 1961 opening of the Paperback Booksmith on Arlington Street in downtown Boston. Quitting his job on Wall Street to participate in the “paperback revolution,” a second Paperback Booksmith was later opened in October 1961, just a few doors down from the current location of the Brookline Booksmith. Their website is full of wonderful historical information about this store that is part bookstore and part cultural tour de force. I found out after this most recent visit that Marshall Smith often went to court in defence of the right to sell banned books, and published Judge Garrity’s 1974 decision to desegregate the Boston schools.
The store grew into many locations over the years that have come and gone with time, but the current store has persevered throughout. In 2008 the Brookline Booksmith kept its doors open, but the local Barnes and Noble closed their doors. The community did not stop reading, but they stayed committed to the Booksmith.
“It’s very rare to find a situation where the big chain ends up leaving an area and the independent shop stays. We’re very lucky to be here, and we know that it is entirely through the support of the Brookline and Greater Boston literary community that we remain. The battle between monopolized ‘bookselling’ enterprises like Amazon and independent bookstores is by no means won, but we’re grateful to serve our community and treat our customers and workers with respect.” – Dana Brigham, Former Store Manager.
I first went to the booksmith to attend one of their many author readings a few years back, for Melissa Albert’s The Night Country, and was instantly won over by the place. A vibrant selection of new titles, reduced backlog titles, and a simply amazing used book basement, there is always something to be found at the Booksmith. Since the last time I visited, they have purchased the building next door, knocked a wall down, and expanded not only their book selection but their available ephemera. It is simply a book lover’s paradise to spend a few hours walking around this store.
So how does a book dragon select her books, on a purely recreational and luxurious book buying trip?
The first thing I do is browse. Then I browse. Then I browse some more. I linger over beautiful covers, resist buying stationary, and inhale all there is to offer, even in genres I don’t typically buy. If I find something at this stage that I am desperate for, then I will grab it. After a short sojourn of simply enjoying the books, I head to the used book section. I have a quick peruse in general, but also look for any targeted books or authors I might be looking for. On this trip I found a missing volume from Elly Griffiths Ruth Galloway series, and one of my dad’s needed books from his Alexander McCall Smith run. I also snagged a new-to-me book from Europa Editions, I always hunt for their logo on a spine, about a passenger on the Titanic.
A Room Full of Bones by Elly Griffiths
Every Man For Himself by Beryl Bainbridge
After a spell in the used book section I will check out the backlog section to see what steals and deals I can find. At the Booksmith this is pretty extensive, and you can find a vibrant selection of recent or older titles in the $6.99-$10 range. I found a few that I have been wanting to get, one from an author I love, one that I had just heard recommended on a podcast that morning, and a few that simply intrigued me.
Foster by Claire Keegan because Claire Keegan is amazing.
Norse Fairy Tales and Folk Tales compiled by James Shephard because Norse anything is my jam.
Vladimir by Julia May Jones because it sounded interesting.
The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven by Nathaniel Ian Miller because it has been stalking me across several bookstores.
Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark because it has also been stalking me.
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen because I am easily won over by a pretty cover and interesting backpage blurb.
The Many Daughters of Afong May by Jamie Ford was recomended on a podcast I listened to just a few hours prior.
Then I take a targeted walk around the regular fiction section. This time around I had a few authors I was newly looking for, and a few that I am always looking for. And while I didn’t find any of those targeted needs this time, I sure had fun looking. For me, the targeted needs can change from visit to visit. This time around I was looking for a copy of Edith Wharton’s The Custom of the Country, as it comes highly recommended by my favorite podcasters and is a Wharton I have not yet read. I was also looking for works by Elizabeth Taylor. The beautiful covers of her books were recently highlighted on instagram, and the more I looked into her works, the more I wanted to read them. For both of these I have ended up going to the library. Whilst looking for my targeted needs I also came across Greenglass House by Kate Milford, which jumped off the shelf at me. A wonderful spine, a beautiful cover, and a fabulous description.
By far the funniest way I have ever picked out a book occured on this trip. We had just driven several hours to get here and I was in desperate need of the bathroom. Well, to get to the bathroom at the Booksmith you basically have to walk through the stockroom. Hallways lined with metal racks of stock. I could have spent a few hours waiting for the bathroom, and been happy. Twitchy, but happy. On my way through I came upon The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon. It’s size, cover, and description instantly delighted me. A quick look on Goodreads led me to believe that I was not deceived by the cover, that this was a promising read. But I stuck to my usual method of perusing and left the book on the hallway shelf, theorizing that I would come across it in the regular store. I did not find it on the main shelves, and so before I left made a detour back to the bathroom line to snag a copy.
My kids were less entertained on thsi trip than I was, though a wonderful bookseller helped my 8 year old find what she was looking for. But part of this trip was the promise of my husband that I could peruse uninterupted, to be me mom in a bookstore with no parental obligations. It was glorious.
This is actually the first of several planned bookstore visits this year, and was a complete success. I was reminded of the joys of the Brookline Booksmith and certainly will not let so much time pass again before my next visit.
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