As you know, we love going to bookstores when we travel. On our last trip to Boston of the 4th of July, we went to one old favorite—Brattle Books—and one fun new one: Commonwealth Books.
Perhaps like you, I judge a bookstore so many different ways. Especially a used bookstore, like these two. The main reason I love both of these is that their small spaces are filled with unusual books. In others words, no shelves of bestsellers. In fact, I’d say both of these shops have more non-fiction of every kind than fiction! Which is really fun when you love history and write historical fiction!
Brattle also has an entire alley annex with bargain books—$5, $3, and $1 titles. Heaven!
But Commonwealth has a unique and fun aspect, too! In fact, I’m not sure I’ve seen anything like it in any other hole-in-the-wall local bookshop.
On the edges of bookshelves, on any free wall space, they have quotes. Quotes about books. Quotes about reading. Quotes pertaining to the subject of books on said shelf!
Famous quotes. Obscure quotes. All on different scraps of paper.
Here were some of my favorites:
Which of theses quote do you like most? I confess I love the last one!
Do you have another favorite book/reading quote?
And if you’ve been to either of these bookstores, let me know what you thought of them!
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Oh, now these two bookshops are on my bucket list! I love that Winston Churchill quote! I need to do that more!Especially letting a book fall open where it will and just enjoy little bits of books I may not get around to reading in the next year…if ever. I do hope there are books and reading in heaven!
Me, too, Deb! 🙂
What wonderful bookshops, D’Ann! I love those quotes. My favorite is probably the Beecher one. A library is not a luxury, but a necessity. 🙂
One of my favorite bookish quotes is from Elizabeth Barrett Browning. “No man can be called friendless when he has God and the companionship of good books.”
I love that quote! Thank you for sharing it! 🙂
Not sure which is my favorite. I like them all. But the last about books breeding at night? Yes, I think they do.
I agree! 😂
What fun! Would love to visit Boston. Last summer we walked through a ginormous book fair in Madrid, and it nearly slayed me not to browse or buy anything – all the books were in Spanish! My favorite quote is something I often tell people: A good book is meant to be shared. What could be better? (Although I totally agree that books multiply overnight!)
Oh my goodness! That would be difficult to find a book fair like that and know you can’t buy anything because they are in a different language! Eeek! A good book should absolutely be shared! 🙂
Hi D’Ann,
I like the quote by Gladstone about books welcoming you into a room. There’s something about a bookstore, or a library – personal or public that seems to wrap its arms around you and draw you in.
Yes! I think that’s one of the reasons I love my house–the library is the first room people see as they walk in. Books are so welcoming. At least to people like us!
Would love to visit both of these bookstores! I’d spend the whole day in them.
You left out how many you bought 😉
Ha! Yes, I did. And I’ll just say that it wasn’t as many as I wanted to buy. I was restrained by the room in my luggage. 😏
Among the favorite quotes you mentioned, I can see why the last one stands out to you. The idea of being surrounded by books and feeling like you have a thousand friends is a sentiment that many book lovers can relate to. It beautifully captures the magic of reading and the joy of being in the company of books.
Among the favorite quotes you mentioned, I can see why the last one stands out to you. The idea of being surrounded by books and feeling like you have a thousand friends is a sentiment that many book lovers can relate to. It beautifully captures the magic of reading and the joy of being in the company of books.