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Back Pages Books
Category: Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Bookstores Bookstores [Edit]
289 Moody StWaltham, MA 02453
(781) 209-0631
- Nearest Transit:
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Moody St @ Crescent St (170, 505, 553, 554, 556, 558)
Moody St @ Pine St (170, 505, 553, 554, 556, 558)
Spruce St @ Moody St (558)
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 11 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
Sun 12 pm - 6 pm
- Price Range:
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$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
14 reviews for Back Pages Books
Review Highlights
14 reviews in English
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Review from Sallie M.
Boston, MA
6/15/2011
Great independent bookstore owned by awesome owner. The people who work there and go there really make the place. The owner, especially, is so genuine about life, people, and literature.
I go here for the conversations, books, and the haven. It's also a great place to meet people, ironically. It's also pretty good to eaves drop on interesting conversations the owner gets himself into.
Go to Back Pages for books and more! Back Pages Books support independent and local artists so you'll always see some little goodies Alex Green (owner) is selling. It also holds a lot of events and author readings so sign up for their e-mailing list. -
Review from Laura M.
Decatur, GA
6/12/2006
Opened by two Brandeis alums in 2005, Back Pages was the first bookstore to grace Waltham's Moody St. in my time at the university, and the first general bookstore in Waltham in 15 years. They offer new and used books, with sections for local writers alongside the other genres. The friendly staff often have friends hanging out in the store, and they'll remember you and say hi the next time you come in. While the store is a bit small, the selection is ever-increasing. They also buy books on Wednesday evenings, and I've unloaded a few there myself when slimming down the shelves before a move.
If you ask me, any low-key Waltham date has gotta end with dessert at Lizzy's, then a trip across the street to browse through this book store. It makes me happy.
EDIT: While I've always loved the book store itself, the Back Pages staff have upped this review to five stars now that I subscribe to their email newsletter. They're all about organizing author events (they booked Howard Zinn at Brandeis this week!), they share the store's bestsellers (interesting to see where they diverge from national bestsellers), and they're involved with the Waltham community, sharing info about proposed development projects in the Moody St. area and how you can give your input at city council meetings. This is a business that cares about Waltham, and one that I feel awesome for supporting.Listed in: Walthamia
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Review from Darius K.
Somerville, MA
6/14/2007
This is my favorite bookstore. I've been a regular customer since right around the time the store opened, and I'm always satisfied with the service.
They are really good about getting rather high-profile authors to do signings and readings. Their staff selections are pretty much always dead-on. And the staff is helpful and knowledgeable when suggesting books or placing special orders.
Really, I have no complaints. -
Review from Jennifer L.
Cambridge, MA
11/27/2010
Independent local bookstore that sells new and used books at reasonable prices? Yes, please. Even better: how about a staff that knows their books and can recommend all kinds of things to you? Yes, please! And, just to top it all off: What if they're even willing to chat with you for a while instead of acting like they're way too busy to be human?
This place is great for so many reasons. They host local events relating to books, politics, and more, they have comfy couch chairs for you to sit and read in the store, and the whole places exudes a welcoming vibe that makes you feel somehow at home and safe. -
Review from Melissa T.
Belmont, MA
3/11/2011
If you like ordering books online, use this instead of Amazon. I ordered two books online here. There was an issue with my order (received softcover instead of hardcover). The owner promptly emailed me and offered to *drive to my house* to bring me the correct version. Shit y'all, Amazon's never going to do that for you!
It looks like they also do a lot of good things for the community (another thing they have that Amazon doesn't). Another big plus in my book. -
Review from Alex W.
Middlesex, MA
9/27/2009
Five stars- as good as it gets. Why, you ask?
Back Pages Books has brought in more amazing authors and speakers than a major university could muster. And they are right here on Moody St !
Alex Green is a great literary enthusiast and a fantastic citizen as well - see the newest city hall election series he has going (I am writing this in late September 09).
Great selection of books, if they don't have it they can order it.
An ample city parking lot is in back of the store, go Moody to Crescent then take a left. -
Review from Jocelyn G.
Boston, MA
8/25/2007
Great shop in Waltham with a varied selection and discounts for teachers and students. They also buy used books on Wednesdays, which is always nice.
Had an interesting conversation with the guy at the register about teaching religion in schools which was quite amusing. Definitely going back. :)
Also near cheap parking if you can't find anything on the street. -
Review from Lindsay K.
New York, NY
2/27/2007
Fabulous bookstore that welcomes young and local authors. Helpful service, a nice selection of used books, and a good homey feeling. Don't get suckered into Borders or B&N, take Irene F's advice and head to Moody Street for some bookstore bliss. It makes me proud to be in publishing.
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Review from A. G.
South Waltham, MA
4/16/2008
An awesome independent book store that really demonstrates why independent and locally-owned business are SO much better than the big chains. The owner, Alex, is incredibly cool, friendly and helpful. I've been looking for a particular out-of-print book for awhile, and he took my name and number so that if a copy comes in he can let me know. He's also really knowledgeable about local issues, politics and history; I've learned a lot about the city just by chatting with him while browsing, for example: Did you know that Waltham is the largest city in America without a single Starbucks? It's all about the zoning laws....
Their new space (opened a few months ago) is in a section of the old Jordan's Furniture building (Jordan's original location) on Moody Street. An adjoining section has been turned into an art gallery, and the connecting door between the bookstore and the gallery is usually open, making it an even more interesting place to stop in to.
The whole staff really cares about books, reading books, discussing books.... everything about Back Pages is great! -
Review from Irene F.
2/27/2007
OK, so maybe I'm a bit biased because I know the guys who opened it, and people who have worked there, and continue to work there. But seriously, some love for the little guys! Barnes n Nobles is good and all, but I love me a small bookstore with people who actually care, as opposed to bored high school students who are plugging away at a computer and get pissed off when you ask them where a book might be. Rock on, guys!
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Review from Jessica D.
San Jose, CA
4/3/2007
Great independant bookstore with a good selection of new and used books. The owner is very involved in the local community and has frequent readings featuring local authors. There are (or at least were, when I lived in Waltham) chairs and small game tables so you can sit and browse through a book or play a game of chess while you eat your ice cream (Because you can't go to Back Pages without a trip to the fabulous Lizzy's Ice Cream across the street).
Waltham has many great restaurants. It's worth a trip of you're in the Boston area to get some lunch or dinner and follow up with ice cream for dessert and a good book to take home. -
Review from Hubert H.
Cambridge, MA
12/29/2009
Very nice bookstore with a huge $1 rack. Could use stronger arts and music sections. In fact, every section is a bit slight considering what quality stuff they have there. In other words, they have a good selection percentagewise, and thus should expand sizewise. I would have inserted more shelves in the middle section to accommodate more books. Staff super friendly. Nice finds here - support them and happy reading!
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Review from Sarah F.
Altadena, CA
I just came in the other day and things were set up a little differently since the last time I came (about a year ago), but still equally awesome. There's a table by the front door with piles of books that are only $1-$3 and got some more interesting suggestions from the owner. Coming back made me a little sad I don't have a nearly as awesome little bookstore waiting back home for me in L.A.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/14/2010
I love this bookstore mostly for the fact that it's all about loving books and as little about just… Read more »
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Review from Nicole L.
Chestnut Hill, MA
8/22/2009
cute shop, nice stafff, great prices & selection :)
