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Categories: Newspapers & Magazines, Bookstores [Edit]
Neighborhood: DowntownMon-Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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Buy things at bookpeople:
because you know there isn't a Bookpeople everywhere
because you need a reason to leave the house and amazon isn't going to bring interesting authors to your backyard
because they have an old dentist chair you can sit in
because community is made of nice places for nice people- and this book shop helps that
I love books. So much that when I moved from Minneapolis to Austin, pretty much everything got sold on craigslist except for my books (media rate, USPS, just an FYI-- it's cheap).
BookPeople also loves books. The store has some quirky authors one might not find elsewhere (they're pretty good at feeding my Martin Amis addiction), some really cool art books that they'll actually allow you to flip through, a great selection of magazines and literary journals and foreign publications, and, even if they don't have what you want, they'll order it for you. They also have really cute notes for their staff picks, Oh, and a huge sale selection. I just picked up a hardcover of Dennis Johnson's Tree of Smoke for $10.99.
One of my other addictions is a weekly dose of PostSecret. While reading other peoples' secrets, I noticed that Frank Warren's coming to BookPeople in Decemeber, just a heads up.
P.S.: It's local.
Here is what is up.
I don't buy books a lot because then I have to keep them and since I am in college and moving a lot it is annoying.
But
My niece got this amazing books about how to make t-shirts in bags and dresses, etc... She said she got it at BookPeople and I have to have it.
So my friend is interviewing at a job nearby and I need to study while waiting for him plus I want to buy that book. So I go to BookPeople.
First I have to take everything out of my backpack before I go in.
So annoying.
Then as I am studying for only 10 minutes this worker walks by and fixes a book
Then he comes by for no reason 4 more times. Once he asked me if I needed anything.
I felt like I was being sketchy when I was just sitting and studying.
I was so creeped out I left without the book.
Pros: It's a fun place to browse and I really appreciate the coffee shop when the barista is available. They have a decent selection of magazines and greeting cards and wrap. They have a wide variety of books. I wonder why they don't use the third floor?
Cons: The staff can be loud as they make small talk among themselves.
BookPeople was one of the first businesses I fell in love with when I first moved to Austin a year ago. As cliche as it sounds, coming from the soul-draining suburbia that is Tampa, FL (and let's be honest, most of the country...), I was in rapt awe of a city that actually encouraged independent businesses. As a lifelong magazine and book nerd, my relationship with bookstores has always been with the Barnes & Nobles and Borders of the world. Enter, BookPeople.
Firstly, after walking in the door, you are immediately greeted by their attentive staff who are kind, knowledgeable yet completely not pushy. Their magazine selection is extensive. Tons of international publications and very good design section, i.e. they carry Lurzer's Archive, Print, etc...my personal favs. Their cafe is kind of lacking in selection, but adequate. DEFINITELY needs more tables. The gift section is sooo key when I need a last minute, unique gift for a friend. So many times I've been running late to a party downtown and BookPeople has saved me.
The main reason I love BookPeople is the amazing authors they draw for appearances. We're talking Bill Clinton, David Sedaris...Lauren Conrad. Yes. It is all over the board, people. No judgements! Also, when you walk in, there is a section with signed books from the events. So, you can sleep soundly knowing that your very own copy of "LA Candy" with LC's autograph is waiting for you.
Bottom line: it's not The Strand, but it's pretty great, unique and a very welcome change from the corporate bookstores that have taken over the country.
I think it's great that Austin has a locally owned book store that rivals Borders and B&N. They sell a lot of quirky things aside from books and they also host a number of book tours! Most recently, I was here to hear the author/blogger of Cake Wrecks book which was so much fun. Seating is limited so I'd suggest getting there early for any book signing type event.
What a wonderful store. Austin if you keep having so many great places i'm just not going to go home to dallas! A great selection of books as well as other items. I love how many signed copies they have available. I was drawn here to attend a talk/signing for the book Born to Run and found myself wandering around the store browsing. I am probably going to come back soon even though all I really read right now is textbooks:)
H-E-A-V-E-N !! I literally walked around in a daze. It was my first time checking this place out and I was amazed! There was so much there was no way I could focus on one thing. I had a gift card and couldn't even decide how to spend it! I could spend days here-it's not just books, but magazines, toys, tshirts, jewelry, chocolate, soap....The employees were all "weird looking" and wonderfully nice. Great selection, beautifully displayed, great sections, clean store-wow!
The only reason I am taking off one star is that although the prices are decent, they are not as cheap as others I have found though. I will say I would rather pay more at an independent store such as this than a walmart or barnes and noble.
Can't wait to go back when I have more time (like weeks) to browse.
Yeah, what hasn't been said about this place? I love it. I've loved it since I was a high school kid skipping school and hiding in the stacks. I love it today because when I wanted to send a "This is Texas" gift to a friend in CA, Bookpeople was the perfect place for random Austin / TX crap to stuff in my box.
I love you, Bookpeople. Always and forever.
Many of Austin's most curious minds and voracious readers can be found her e at the corner of Sixth and Lamar. THE place to keep it weird, get your read on, get your snack on next door at Whole Paycheck and then wander across and blow the rest of your dough on CD's and drink free beer at Waterloo Ice House. ....ok I have just described most of my 20's and 30's spent here in the ATX.
Also it's my GO-TO place for last minute gifts. The toy section is fun.
I really like this bookstore even though they don't offer as many specials as I would like. Still, nice wide aisles, colorful displays, helpful staff all contribute to this great experience! I studied recently in their cafe area which was nice...the chairs and tables fit each other perfectly so my shoulders didn't hurt (a random but important detail). Happy reading!
BookPeople is one of those places where I don't usually buy anything (unless it's on sale), but I immensely enjoy going there nonetheless. They always give me good ideas of books I'd like to buy on Amazon for cheaper. The cafe is an awesome place to hang out, read, or study, but a few more electrical outlets wouldn't kill them. I like to buy cards and gifts here most of the time.
I agree with the person below about the job application. It is like 20 pages complete with an essay section. Wow.
When I'm not redeeming a gift card from Borders or Barnes and Noble, bargain hunting at Half Price Books, or reaping the rewards of my tax dollars at the Austin Public Library, Book People is where I go to feed my book habit.
The staff are very friendly and eager to help. I like that in addition to having a great selection of books, they also have a million different knick-knacks for sale. Another thing I like about this place is that its coffee shop did not originate in Seattle. Book People is the kind of place you can enter and look down at your watch and discover that you've whiled away an entire afternoon.
If you have Book Children, as I do, you will find the children's book section to be extensive. The staff are very knowledgable about children's literature and seem to have actually read the books that they recommend.
In Austin, there's no shortage of creative outlets, bookstores being no exception of course.
Over the past decade, I've seen a lot of shifts in the book market around town, and no one has gone untouched. Barnes and Noble bought or shut down a lot of Bookstops, The University coop absorbed and eliminated the barnes and noble on the Drag, Follet's Intellectual Property on the drag went by the wayside within 18 months of opening, and half-price books seems to always be juggling with one problem or another that relates to being a small-time bookstore. There has been a force that seems to have gone untouched, the magical land of Book People. Consistent growth, full stock, and a regular flow of customers keeps this place buzzing. You can find all sorts of people in there taking advantage of free reading space and just relaxing, getting those neurons firing at no cost to them, unless of course they care to take the book home with them. Which brings me to my only real complaint. The place is pricey. Granted it can't buy in volume like your B&N's, and nothing beats amazon, but a student budget can't live on Bookpeople texts.
Wanna buy a book and keep your money local? Look no further than Book People. It's the largest bookstore in Austin and chances are you will walk out with something to read.
You can buy a cup of coffee at the in store cafe and browse the stacks looking for a book or magazine.
This is also THE place in Austin that authors stop during their bookstores. it has hosted presidents, cabinet members, famous chefs, musicians and novelists.
If you are reading this-you can read a book...yes...that's it...shut you laptop off...turn off the screen of the desktop...put your Iphone down and go read a book.
I usually buy things other than books at Bookpeople (go figure) but I have actually purchased a paperback or two. I have fond memories of indie bookstores as a kid and this place is like all of those memories combined. On steroids.
I was devastated when The Cadeau on the drag shut down a few years ago because I was suddenly left without a place to buy amazing cards. Cards are my thing.
Now, Bookpeople is my greeting card superhero. Hooray!
Some of my favorite finds: roman numeral cake candles, the Leslie paper doll magnets, hip (letterpressed!) thank-you cards and obscure magazines. When you don't know what to get someone, swing by here because I bet you'll leave with something that struck you.
I'd like to give a personal shout-out to the cashier with the (Aussie?) accent. You are always magically there when I stop in for some cards - and always fantastically jolly. You rock my paper-filled world.
Oh and on my last visit, I came across a journal with what appeared to be an inspirational quote on the cover that said:
"Writing is a way of talking without being interrupted."
Genius!
I like Book People. They're a little pricey, so I really just go there if I'm looking for something specific or to screw around and enjoy the atmosphere. I filled out a job application there once, and it was the most intimidating job application I have ever seen in my entire life. It comes with a cover sheet that essentially reads:
"So, you wanna apply to BOOK PEOPLE, huh?
"Did anyone tell you we're the MOTHER F---ING HARDCORE S--T! WE ROCK 24/7 ALL UP IN YOUR FACE! This is BOOK. PEOPLE. We do NOT F around. You think you're BAD ASS enough for this job? Can you HANDLE the Book People?!
"Then fill out this app. BUT WE WILL F--- YOU UP!!!!!!!!!11111
BOOK PEOPLE OWNZ YOU WE GO HARD"
I love roaming bookstores and Bookpeople is no exception, but I've had two bad encounters with pretentious and rude staff members within the last few months. To be fair, I've encountered dozens of wonderful staff there over the years, so I hope it is not a trend.
The bumper stickers they sell are also decidedly one-sided, without differing points of view, and bookstores of all places should be a marketplace of opinions. When I wrote management about it, they failed to respond.
I love hanging out at Bookpeople. It makes me feel better buying from them because they are local as opposed to the stale and boring Borders and Barnes and Noble.
The Cafe area does not have much outlets for your laptop. So it may be tricky getting a good table that has outlets.
Unfortunately I can't go in because I'll end up spending too much money on books but I definitely recommend them.
Bought two book here to prep for my trip to Buenos Aires. Not only did they have a great selection but when I went to purchase (and showed them my Go Local card) they offered to ring the two books up separately so I could redeem the Go Local card for two drinks - one for me and my hubby. Great selection and great customer service!
The name says it all - this is a place for book people. I'm a book lover. I don't read casually… Read more »
On the one hand, Book People is a large local bookstore with deep roots in the community that brings in interesting speakers and authors. In many areas of interest, they have a good selection. For instance, books of local interest are well represented and they front load these titles near the entrance with a nice selection of bargain books.
On the other hand, it is a hot-bed of pseudo-science, mysticism, quasi-metaphysical dribblings, and other topics of interest to the technically literate but figuratively brain-dead. The new age section is easily four times as large as the science section. Books on post-modern social criticism far outnumber books real sociology. Aromatherapy, charms, and other placebo-effective loot is abundant, and sometimes it seems like you are in a new age gift shop rather than a book shop.
All in all, three stars.
i wasn't really impressed with book people, mainly because everyone was telling me how huge it was and how exciting of a place it was. it wasn't anything spectacular and it wasn't the biggest bookstore in the world, as i had previously been told. the best thing about it is they have a wonderful and well stocked lesbian/gay literature section. that was impressive. the location is also nice. it's in downtown austin and parking wasn't difficult.
Let's face it: I was spurred to move to Austin because of Bookpeople. After a few trips to Austin I suspected that I loved this city very much but two steps inside Bookpeople and my suspicions were confirmed.
I'm a bookstore junkie, but between the funny and engaging staff recommendations everywhere, a cashier running to the back to offer me the on sale version of the book I picked out, and me being pretty much set for the next year of reading due to their fantastic "This is my favorite book 2008" publication (which pretty much made me want to be bffs with everyone working there), I adore this place. The book clubs are a great part of the Bookpeople dynamic as well- talk about super engaged and passionate people of all ages in the discussions.
Great book selection! Helpful staff!
BUT WHERE DID ALL THE MAGAZINES GO? I went for a copy of Sage Woman and found they had removed so many titles from their selection.
What's up with that Book People?
On a day far from home and all alone, I miss Bookpeople.
Before you even get into the store, there's already something to be happy about for a store in downtown Austin: a parking lot! A nice, large parking lot that is rarely ever full, and if it is, just go a few steps further and park in the old Whole Foods parking garage with the giant vegetables on top!
My favorite thing about this place are the recommendation cards. You know how at Barnes they have that one shelf of books called "Staff Favorites?" Well imagine that, but everywhere! I love seeing recommendations and reasoning and even short summaries, and when I start noticing one person whose recs keep jumping out at me, I know I've found a winner.
Also really great for: quirky gifts, great magazine selection (the boyfriend enjoys the guns and cars varieties, me, I like the foreign fashion magazines), and a cafe with outlets. OUTLETS! How come other places don't have more of these?
It also helps that Whole Foods is near by, for food and flowers and other fun stuff. My dream is to live within a block radius of the two, and I'm pretty sure I'd be set for life.
I love Bookpeople!!! And now, so does my boyfriend - and he is generally anti-bookstores! It is impossible not love them! They have a big store with something for everyone. I like to look around at the tables and shelves with staff comments on them. I typically go in to just lose myself for an hour or so looking around - and wind up discovering books I had no idea about when I went in - and that wouldn't have jumped out at me in a corporate giant's book store.
Bookpeople has a heart - a feeling - a relaxing sensation that washes over a person when they walk in. The staff is uber friendly and helpful - and THEY LOVE BOOKS! It's not just a job that pays ... it's a passion.
BookPeople has really grown on me, and I already loved it in the first place! I don't go very often because I wind up spending 150$+ (once 400$ D:) there. I'm very happy with the types of sections they have. I was able to find two books on Hungarian history, which I didn't expect. They didn't have any Hungarian cook books but that would've just been out of this world, seeing as very few good ones exist in English.
The sociology section (they call it something else, something awesome, but I can't remember it) is really neat. I've never spent much time in the children's section or the cafe.
I like most of the staff I've interacted with, the ones I haven't I just don't know well or they seem bored. I liked the people and the place overall well enough to try and get a job here. Obviously I wasn't hired, but the sheer amount of applications they get is a real nod to how much people love the store.
Make SURE to check out the bargain books, those are usually the ones I get and don't feel bad about spending too much money on.
I'm rating it 5 stars as a locally owned bookstore and the quality, not the quantity of books they have. I still am more impressed by the soulless bookstores with European History sections bigger than my first apartment, when it comes down to sheer content size. Tell me I have no soul if you want but as much as I love BookPeople, I do actually like other bookstores too.
BookPeople have a lot of obscure history of and psychology books I found terribly interesting. At… Read more »
Here are some of the more significant reasons (out of my growing list of 200+) why I believe BookPeople is the best independent bookstores ever:
Reason #2-Countless placards with employee recommendations and (think: Designer Imposter's body spray slogan) "if you liked this, you'll love that" further recommendations.
Reason #8-THE place for the person who doesn't believe in giving cards with presents (because all cards suck) to find the PERFECT card.
Reason #11-I found an apparently special-ordered book on movie costume designers from 1900-1970 with beautiful photographs for $15 over ten years ago. I still look through it often. Amazing silent film and 1930s costumes.
Reason#20-Attended the Saul Williams in-store and book signing in 2006 for 'Dead Emcee Scrolls: The Lost Teachings of Hip-Hop.' The audience was so large it flowed down the stairs.
Reason #23-I found the perfect gift for a family member here. Went from "I'm at a loss" to EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED in ten seconds.
Reason #58-In Winter 2008, they published an employee's favorites booklet entitled "This is My Favorite Book 2008" which was reminiscent of a comic book. Replete with cartoon drawings of employees, blurbs about their favorite books, photos of a few of the in-store author discussions/book signings.
I absolutely love independent bookstores and Bookpeople is fantastic.
Whenever I come to Austin, I spend so much time here. I can easily lose several hours here. Great magazine selection, great cafe with free WiFi, great selection of books, and the atmosphere in general is very pleasing.
I am amazed at the number of beautiful women in Austin and Bookpeople seems to attract many of them.
The last time I was here though, the dude in the cafe seemed less than enthusiastic about having to work but I won't take any stars away. You guys rock.
Sorry to say that I buy most of my books from Amazon, but I will gladly pay retail to keep a place like this in business.
Yet another Austin institution that it's taken me 3 years and a move to Seattle to finally visit. Not quite sure how I keep passing up all of these gems... perhaps because I have 4 day weekends now, I have more time on my hands for awesomeness.
Stopped in randomly on a lazy, yet shoptastic Sunday afternoon with my partner. I didn't even know where to begin. I thought I'd head to the coffee shop, but quickly got sidetracked by the cooking books. I've been looking for a "Cooking for One" book, but the search was futile. Spent a little bit too much time seeking out Anthony Bourdain and his literary/ culinary fantasticness. I ended up forgoing the coffee shop in the end.
I like how BookPeople has all sorts of nooks and crannies for you to sneak off to and get lost in whichever book you've chosen. After cooking, I headed straight to Palahniuk, grabbing Haunted as my next book of choice. Carried the book around for a while, located a Pixar book that had recently been reviewed in The Onion and decided to come back for it. I was amused by the toys and novelties (no, not THAT kind of novelties... and you don't have to call them that anymore) on the second floor. Thought about buying a Hello Kitty for one of my quirky coworkers.
As my photographer partner wandered off to look at the pretty pictures in the latest magazines, I went to put Haunted back... but not without reading a chapter or two first in a comfy chair. I'll be back for it, when I'm finished reading the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
It seems that they have a couple of book clubs that are open to everyone, there was a large display of which books were currently being read and when the group meets. Some handy information, I've been meaning to get out more. And to meet people.
It definitely won't be another 3 years before I come here, I can tell you that much.
Five stars for Book People, please!
Austin's independent book store, Book People still has that personal touch. Most of the staff are avid readers - if not writers themselves - and have a real affection and connection to the place.
Book People is an important fixture in Austin.
Nice coffee/snacks area, sitting/reading areas, children's play area, and meeting rooms.
Plenty of parking, and near Whole Foods on N. Lamar.
Well worth a visit!
This place is like a Barnes & Noble with balls. Whereas everything on the floor at a B & N has been sanitized and vetted through corporate, Bookpeople is an independent store replete with unique displays, Jesus action figures, fake mustaches, and toilet paper that lets you wipe your pitooty with Dubya's smirking face. The selection is about what you'd expect from one of the chain bookstores, but the local accents and gifty items make the store unique.
I doubt that there's another bookstore in Texas that offers as many quality book signings and events as Bookpeople. The event planners at Borders and B & N must be crying in their Venti mocha lattes, because all of the good authors and major figures with books to sign go to Bookpeople.
Oh, and if you're looking for Keep Austin Weird merchandise or Leslie magnets, this is the place.
I can't get enough of this bookstore. Lots of neat stuff with they local staff review pics on display. Great place to find something new that you wern't expecting.
If you're looking for something specific call ahead, or just go and if they don't have it find something else! More fiction than non, but only just. Then again, full disclosure, I'm disappointed if anywhere isn't he Library of Congress.
These people have got a lot of my hard earned washingtons, and they will continue to in the future.
I love to lose myself in Bookpeople. It's a lot easier to find my way back than when I lose myself at work.
I buy about a book a month from these guys and usually find a bunch of other cool trinkets when I least expect it.
My only regret is that I can't take my bag with me into the store. I sometimes miss my supplies and I hate the shopping basket's they impose. There must be a better way...
Anyway, it's one of my 'can't live without spots' downtown and I hope it never goes away.
Support our local bookstore and let's help Bookpeople flourish.
Enjoy!
http://www.nineten.net
This was my first visit to BookPeople, and I'll have to preface this review by saying that I come from a small town where we were happy to drive an hour just to get to a Barnes and Noble or Borders.
As a new Austinite, I figured it was my duty to come here so I jaunted over after my Whole Foods pig out. A+ for the location, and they also have a decent parking lot.
The inside? I know they are going for the cozy book shop feel, but I found myself aimlessly wandering around here, and not in a good way. Also, the front end was a little weird, with various desks and registers all in the same area so that I had to make sure I was going in the right direction to pay for my goods. Once I made it to the register the clerk was very warm and friendly though. Also the assortment of gifts and kitsch was great, but spread out through the store, which might be annoying if you are just gift shopping.
I ordered a soy latte at the cafe, and got a little of the cold shoulder from the barista. She warmed up to every other customer that came after me, so I guess I just screamed "out-of-towner" or something. My latte was 1000 degrees, but once it cooled down was delicious. $3.75-ish for a medium, if you're wondering. Food looked tasty, but I was wayy to full to try. Prices were about the same as the other big chain retailers, but I'm sure Book People can't afford to pump out all those promotional coupons and discounts like B&N.
Three(and a half if I could) stars for selection,proximity to my apartment, quality of coffee, and the fact that they sell a bunch of flavors of Ritter Sport chocolate.
Do this: go in to BookPeople, look at the displays, talk to the booksellers and think about how great a bookstore it is. Then, consider that BookPeople starts their employees at $7.00 an hour.
That's not a knock, seriously. Retail doesn't usually pay the big bucks.
I wanted to work there when I first moved to Austin, actually-- picked up an application. Got close to writing the essay before I saw the pay (which , if I remember correctly, is on the app) and decided I couldn't do it, that I needed to pay the rent, even if it meant working a really boring job (got it!).
So, keep that in mind. When you're in there and marveling at how great a store it is, how it rejects the soullessness that Borders and Barnes and Noble represent, and the love that many of the employees have for books, remember that they are making, essentially, minimum wage.... and they wrote an essay for that job.
Everybody who knows me knows I go out with an agenda: to expand my peer group. Normally, in order to receive five stars, my favorite venues need to appeal to that part of me that wants to meet new and interesting people. BookPeople receives five stars and is pardoned from my primary objective because it really is the BEST book store I have ever stepped into. I LOVE BookPeople!!! I love the books, the nerdy selection of t-shirts, the obscure and quirky gifts, the free wi-fi, the cafe, and the downright bizarre staff announcements over the intercom. I have spent many a weeknight listening to free talks from local, national, and international authors. I've even paid the $15 for the 20 minute chair massage at BookPeople. BookPeople is so amazing and Austin-y, I bring out of town family members here as a tourist stop. But here is something you might not know: even though other venues are more conducive to mingling, it IS possible to expand one's peer group at BookPeople. You just have to be a little more covert and careful. Here's how I expand my peer group at BookPeople. First, I order a coffee and sit in the cafe next to the only wall with electrical outlets. Eventually folks with laptops will need to recharge their computers and they will ask to sit with me. This is my chance to say, "of course you can sit here" and follow-up with, "wow, is that a new laptop" or "great necklace" or basically anything to engage brief conversation. Of course I have to assess whether the person is seriously working or not, but I have enjoyed many conversations with many interesting people from all walks of life this way. Once I was sitting upstairs on the couch and a very attractive guy asked me if he could also sit on the couch. I made a joke and said he could sit there "even though it [the couch] did have my name on it." And yes, he sat down and eventually asked me out for coffee (which I politely turned down because this was unfortunately before my divorce). But, my point - it IS possible to meet people and even score a date with attractive literate hotties at BookPeople. (By the way, BookPeople Hotties, I'm divorced...so don't be shy).
Very helpful staff. Great place to browse for books. Good selection.
Stopped in on a Saturday morning while I had a couple hours to kill. I didn't think I'd find the book I wanted there, but lo and behold, there it was! I sat down at a table with a big cup of drip coffee and read my book while a great selection of music played softly in the background.
I like their computer system for finding the exact location of a book in-store. Worked like a charm. The staff who helped at the coffee bar and the front cashier were both nice and friendly. Definitely my favorite place to read a couple chapters. (of Conan even!)
I have a confession to make: I'm a book sniffer. Yes, yes, embarrassing, I know, but true. This has been a dubious habit of mine since I was a kid, when my mom would take me to the Walden Books at the mall and I would stand there selecting books at random to sniff. I was mortified the couple of times other patrons caught me, although it stands to reason they just assumed I rode the short bus and had my helmet in hand.
The best were the paperbacks, especially the older ones that had been collecting dust on the shelf for quite a while and were clearly not bestsellers. I would thumb one down from the shelves, then quickly and assiduously push my nose directly above the open pages while my hand flipped across them, releasing this oaky yet dusty smell that gave my olfactory sense a near orgasm. I would do this several times, and on a few shameful occasions, my book purchasing decision was directly proportional to how good it smelt.
As a self-confessed book sniffer, I find much fodder for my snorting pleasure at Book People. I find that the fantasy novels, since those clearly aren't as popular as, say, "Under the Tuscan Sun" or "The Golden Compass" have the best nose. Like a fine wine, books smell better when aged (or serving out a life sentence on the tall shelves).
Besides book sniffing, Book People offers a lot more than most bookstores. It's locally owned, for one - always a plus. Two, it's got the biggest hodgepodge of random tchotchkes imaginable. Want some beaded necklaces? Great, there's a whole shelf of 'em. Weird board games that no one has ever heard of? They got a whole repository. A great patio for settling down with your latest literary purchase? Ok, just watch out for shitting grackles.
And my favorite part may be the crude little cardboard placards attached to the shelves indicating the staff's favorites and picks. Knowing these people aren't making enough to cover two good bags of kine bud per week, it's a curiously nice touch to think they care enough about the written word to sit down with Sharpies and scissors and affix their little signs to the shelves. A pride in what they're doing, maybe. Or maybe it's snob value. Hell, who cares? You certainly don't find that at Borders.
And if you're looking for me, head to the unpopular sections of the store. You might catch me snorting a long-shelved fantasy novel by Jenny Wurts or Tad Williams. Just don't let me know you saw me; I might get really embarrassed.
Austin, TX
Category: Bookstores
Austin, TX
Category: Bookstores
Neighborhood: University of Texas
Category: Bookstores
Austin, TX
Category: Bookstores
Neighborhood: 78704 (South Austin)
Category: Bookstores
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