Rodney's Bookstore
Category: Bookstores [Edit]
Neighborhood: Central Square698 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 876-6467
- Nearest Transit:
Central (Red)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
34 Reviews for Rodney's Bookstore
I'm mainly a fiction reader, yet shockingly, I always walk out of Rodney's with an overflowing armful of NONFICTION titles; there is so much great stuff.
The place is nicely organized but also neatly cluttered--the perfect used bookstore combination.
This places calls my name every time I go to Cambridge and I always have a hard time not buying anything. Used bookstores always have a way of attracting some of the shadiest crowds, and I have to say the fact that Rodney's has so many normal people kindo f takes the fun out of it.
If you're tired of putting up with the usual shit that Borders and Barnes and Noble offer, this place is a breath of fresh air. I started to collect postcards that they sell here, because they always have really unusual ones that I don't think I'd be able to find anywhere else. They have a fucking phenomenal art history section and their literary criticism section isn't bad either. I always want to pick up books in here that I would never pick up in any other store. Maybe it's the fact that I'm always feeling a little inquisitive when I go here, or maybe it's just cool knowing that someone else has already read and owned the books in the store.
They sell an Elvis Costello shirt behind the register that I keep telling myself I'll buy, but I haven't yet.
It's a really quiet place and I can easily spend an entire afternoon here. One of my favorite places in Cambridge, so don't go here if you're an asshole because you might ruin it for me.
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Ohhh Rodney's. Taunting me every time I walk down Mass Ave, just calling me in to lose four hours browsing the stacks. I have to forcibly stop myself from going in most days because my paycheck really hates this store.
The selection of genres is mind-blowing, though some are smaller than others. You can teach yourself a lot if you want, or just pick up some good beach reading for cheap (though it's really easy for all those books to add up). The few times I have wandered in here looking for specific titles I was disappointed, so I come in here with no expectations and walk out with a new collection to add to my already full bookshelves.
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Mediocre bookstore by any legitimate standard other than "Wow, this place has books!"
The fiction/literature sections are a complete joke. (No Borges?!) There is abundant science, nature, art, and other, much more specifically classified texts. Unfortunately, much of the selection is what I'd call "older"--section after section filled with slightly- to massively out-of-date books.
Three stars for the huge selection of used photography and art books.
If the thought of how many people had touched the books in here didn't send shivers down my spine, or make my stomach upset I would be in here all the time. As it is, I ask to go with my friends who frequent this store just so I can browse with my eyes and not my hands.
The people who work here are really friendly, and the selection is great! I suggest people go often, for me - germaphobia will win out, for now...
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I'm pretty spoiled by having lived in Portland and worked for Powells books, the largest independent used/new bookstore in the US. And Rodney's is no Powells.....still, I like it. It's a pleasant space, well organized. They have lots of academic titles, a good history section. They have some pretty cool out of print kid's books and a lot of great art books upstairs. I love the cards and the book displays. The employees are nice. They don't have as large of a selection of fiction as I would like. Still, I'm sure I'll come back a lot--it's a perfect place for browsing.
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How freaking awesome is Rodney's? It's this total hole in the wall but an awesome place to browse on any afternoon. They books are interesting, the gifts are really cute, and the zillion postcards are clever and awesome. I need to come here more often!
Me: "Hi, I'd like to buy these four crappy fantasy paperbacks I found in that paperback closet you've got out back."
Nice Lady: "Oh well lucky you! They're on sale, that'll be $4.56"
Me: "Are you serious? But...but... but you have hideous posters in your window on sale for $125!" *shiver, quake*
Nice Lady: "This is Cambridge, dear."
Me: "Oh yeah."
I just wanted something to read, and was able to buy a cheap series in there that turned out to be very fun. I've done this a couple times now. I think it's good for presents for others (in front) or yourself (in the back) but it's a pretty neat store.
Fuck those posters though.
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I don't think I'd mind living here, actually. I'm here often enough that I feel I should be paying rent.
Yes, the art books are amazing, and there's plenty of eye-catching, jaw-dropping coffee table lit here, but what really struck me was the linguistics section: there is a whole shelf, yes, a shelf of grammars and language guides and pretentious treatises! Perhaps I'm blown away in part because places like Borders or B&N don't have such a section to begin with, other than the obligatory "Eats, Shoots & Leaves." Here, though, I bought a dissertation on sociolinguistic variables in rural Southern communities (particularly dealing with variants of the past "be" and copula absence, natch), completely on a whim. I never knew I needed such a thing, but it was obvious that I just HAD to spend $8 on this.
The old postcards are also lovely -- this is where I go to do all my birthday card shopping. The whole experience is incredibly relaxing, something of a Sunday afternoon ritual.
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Rodney's doesn't carry a ton of titles in the things I'm interested but there are some real nice finds in there. The recent arrivals table usually has some gems. I once passed up buying Lacan's Ecrits in French. (Damn you whoever picked that up!) The rack of cheap books upstairs is actually cheap and I once got a copy of some relatively obscure book by DH Lawrence off of there for pennies.
Other stuff: the staff is reasonably friendly and it's a nice space to browse downstairs.
I love, I love, I love. Makes any errands in Central Sq. difficult. Rodney's has the best selection of used mint condition general stuff and nearly perfect art books in the area. Better organized and less full of random crap than other used bookstores around. Prices most often match quality. Go spend an hour or four.
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Rodney's is dangerous....so dangerous for me. The children' s section/the art books/plays/ cook books/ non fiction/travel writing/ notebook/ note cards....so so so dangerous....so much stuff..looking into the inside of the cover for the $$price$ is like opening a day on an advent calendar. So exciting! There's always something new that's old but just what you wanted to buy at Rodney's. Put aside some time for yourself to really peruse.
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Dear Rodney's bookstore,
I just spent my saturday night inside of you... and it was all the pleasure I needed. If only you also gave free acess to beds with in your store... I could have just finished up, rolled over to smoke a cigarette and gone to sleep. Not only did I pick up a signed first edition copy of TC Boyle's The Inner Circle-- (in amazing condition for only $14.95) I also discussed the animation of Disneys Pete The Dragon Vs Puff The Magic Dragon with one of your quirky employees.
I love you Rodneys Bookstore, you make the brainies of central go mental for your sweet sweet lovin'.
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I agree that this place is hit-or-miss. I think they have trouble keeping good stock because it leaves so quickly: only mediocre books are left.
I certainly enjoy walking around looking for something interesting on their shelves.
Note: Don't sell your books here. They will take you for a ride and will only give you store credit. My books are the only thing I own that are worth anything; during hard times they are the first thing I sell. If I am selling my kids I want to get a good price for them!
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This place is rather hit-or-miss. I think it depends on who just sold their collection to them.
The prices are average - not the best but certainly less than some used book store in the area.
They seem to get a lot of manga in, for whatever reason, and have a nice section of local interest books, for folks into area history.
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Rodney's bookstore is the best! I spent a few hours just browsing books and sitting down and reading in one of their chairs and no one minded. They have great prices for books that seem new and a great selection of fiction, non-fiction, plays.... definitely check them out.
This seems like a great bookstore. They have a big selection and friendly staff. It's in a good location, and they have cute posters and postcards. But for some reason it just doesn't excite me. I'd rather go to Raven, or Lorem Ipsum, or the Bryn Mawr bookstore. But, out of deference to the fact that that's probably just crazy me, they still get four stars.
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An excellent used bookstore, one of the best I have ever been too. It's organized, clean, and the books are not crappy and falling apart though yes they are used so some are a little worn around the edges.
The selection is impressive. There was a surprisingly large amount of recent fiction books which usually you never see in used bookstores. Usually you just get the crappy castoffs that no one ever wants to read but here they have books that I actually wanted. There was also a large assortment of non-fiction books in great condition. All those fancy coffee table books you see at Barnes&Noble can be found here for at least 50% off and a lot of them don't look used at all.
I ended up wandering around there for over an hour just browsing and I wanted to stay even longer since there is so much to go through. I ended up buying three books and only paying $3 for them which is probably something like 75% off retail. I will certainly be going back.
One of my favorite places in Central Square. I could just spend hours and paychecks in there. You'll never leave empty-handed. The prices at other used book stores sometimes make me think, hey, why don't I just buy a brand new copy?! But Rodney's is damn reasonable if not... cheap. The staff is awesome, friendly and oh-so helpful. And surprisingly for a place in Cambridge, even most of the patrons are pretty polite.
Rodney's makes me nervous because places this good never last, and yet they've been there for years now. A huge selection, well organized, with friendly staff. The upstairs is the seventh circle of hell, in that it ensures I will stay there and never accomplish anything again. SO many books. Their calendar selection, and their exquisitely-printed and unfathomably cheap old ad poster reproductions are unrivaled.
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If I ever get to Heaven, it will probably be a lot like Rodney's, a huge used book store with a lot of hidden treasures. The prices are also pretty fair--it's a great place to find unique gifts. They also have a nice collection of vintage posters and prints as well as some furniture. Definetly a place you can get lost in on a rainy afternoon.
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This is a fantastic place. They have books on all kinds of things, but the upstairs is truly treasure trove of great art books. There are about a million things I'd like to buy here.
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This place is packed with all kinds of used books. The floors are carpeted and everything is really quiet. You can browse for hours.
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LOVE IT!
One of my favorite spots to sit and kill time, or spend a sunday afternoon browsing. They have an incredible range of used (and some new) books. A very large selection of art books. They have a good turnover on the fiction stuff and have a decent T-book selection (paperbacks that are a real easy and non-challenging read). The staff are always very friendly and helpful. When my father was here, he was looking for a book on silk-painting. We visited many a store, large and small, and Rodneys was the only place a book on it. Incredible.
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As other reviewers have written Rodney's is a 2 floor used bookstore with seemingly huge selection. However, their used books tend to be over priced and I never stumble upon a book I have been looking for (unlike my experience at the Brattle Bookshop and McIntyre and Moore's). I usually leave Rodney's feeling disappointed and with no new books for my library.
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Following my review of Borders, I feel I have to prove that I do actually support the little booksellers of the Boston area, of which there are MANY (MANY MANY MANY, holy cow, MANY).
Rodney's is a great little (but not tiny) sole proprietorship, dealing largely in used books. I'm pretty sure it was Rodney himself who helped me with my purchase. If you're looking for art books, Rodney's has an incredible selection, all at very reasonable prices. I'm not that into Art books and got completely sucked in by the sheer awesomeness of the section - I bought several that day.
Be sure to check out the selection of vintage posters, as well. There are some beautiful prints that you can order in a variety of sizes & framings, all for generally less than $100.
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Rodney's is freakin beast. I used to hang there all the time when I first moved to Cambridge. If I had the spare time or the money, I would be all up in Rodney's buying books like crazy. There's one book in there I want really bad and I'm NOT going to tell y'all what it is because if you buy it I will be really pissed.
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Rodney's specializes in used Art, Architecture, and Photography books. They have the largest selection of used architecture books I have seen anywhere. Amazing resource.
http://www.rodneysbook...
Refreshing to still find an independent , used bookstore. The art and "coffee table" books are definitely their specialty. However, I have found some great out-of-print novels and non-fiction and the children's selection isn't bad, although they are quick to point out they don't buy alot of kids' books. I'd definitely recommend coming in for some kids' series books which can be out at the library.
Top-rated used book store! It has a huge selection of good books in decent condition and it's organized in an easily decipherable manner, which is no small thing for used book stores. It also has an amusing side buisness of selling unfinnished bookshelves and vintage prints. Don't miss out on the upstairs, which has a few of the larger non-fiction categories (i.e. biographies) and great coffeetable books (new, probably from regular bookstores' overstook). You have a 90% chance of finding something you want in any given casual browse. :)
A great resource for used art books. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. One of the best book stores to browse in, in all of Boston.
If you need a used book on any subject this is the place to go. The selection is large and well organized. They also have greeting cards for $1!
rodney's is a great used bookstore if you're not looking for anything specific. i used to stop in there every couple weeks and look at their paperbacks to try and round out my collections of my favorite authors. i'd also inevitably pick up something random and interesting (which is easy to do since a lot of books are under $2). it's also a nice environment to browse in.
Those who remember the days of the great used bookstores in Harvard Square (McIntyre and Moore - i know they still exist, but being in Harvard Sq made it special) will be pleased to see the selection at Rodney's. While it lacks the depth of academic works that Mc & Moore had (I bought my Indogermanische Woerterbuch at Mc & Moore), it more than makes up for its pretty decent coverage of general book categories - i.e., gardening, art books, crafts, children's books, etc.). It's definitely one of my favorite haunts in Central Square and shows that there is still a place for bibliophiles in the Boston area.
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