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Books Again
Category: Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Bookstores Bookstores [Edit]
225 N McDonough StDecatur, GA 30030
Neighborhood: Decatur
(404) 377-1444
- Nearest Transit:
-
Decatur
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 6 pm
Sat 10 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
5 reviews for Books Again
5 reviews in English
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Review from Joey V.
Atlanta, GA
2/19/2012
I love Books Again, well actually let me start with saying that I work at Eagle Eye Book Shop (a couple miles away from Books Again), and while I of course love my book store, we dont have some books. Like my mother wanted to get my sister some old Happy Hollister books for christmas, we dont really have a wide selection of vintage books and so i just told her to go to BA. I go to BA not as much to browse but to buy older book by authors i love (RIP Robert B Parker). Dont think you cant browse there, its just that if i browse im gonna spend way more then i should, and i do that to much at EE already. But it is a great book store and if a customer at EE wants a certain book ill almost always send them over to BA. Its the type of store where you wouldnt be all that surprised to find a first printing of Tom Sawyer next to some original Shakespeare (maybe thats stretching it a little but you get my point). The staff really does love books, unlike at barnes and noble or borders.
I know i went off on a couple tangents there, but i really do like Books Again and if you havent been go check it out. Dont forget Eagle Eye though. IndieBound for Life :) -
Review from Charles P.
Atlanta, GA
9/1/2008
My wife and I were heading to the Decatur book festival and happened to park across the street from this shop, and we were lucky that we did. I had never heard of this bookstore, but it is a gem.
Most of the selection is used, and it is a little dusty and cramped inside, but that is part of the charm. There are lots of history, classics and literature, sci-fi and Georgia books, just to name a few.
The owner is very friendly and happy to chat. Twice a year, they have a 30% off sale, but the prices are pretty good to begin with. I picked up several sci-fi classics for $3 a piece. Try that at your big box store.
Also, be careful not to step on the large white cat who likes to nap in the aisles. -
Review from Walter R.
Atlanta, GA
12/20/2008
Voted as one of the top used bookstores in Atlanta - I'm surprised so many people don't know about this place. Yes, it's not easy to spot, but it has been around for awhile. They have the best "quality" used cookbook selection in Atlanta. And offer a fine assortment of many topics in such a small to medium sized space. They also give the best trade credit of any used bookstore. If you're a book hound, you have to put this place on your regular exploration list. The owner is super friendly.
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Review from Armida G.
Decatur, GA
7/10/2010
I'm glad to see some positive reviews of this classic bookstore, but since the latest was two years ago, I thought I'd update them somewhat.
The Decatur / Druid Hills area is very unique in that we are blessed with *three* used bookstores, each of which fills a particular niche. Book Nook is mostly for inexpensive, popular paperbacks, comics, manga, records, videocassettes, and DVDs, as well as cheap copies of schools' classics requirements. Eagle Eye has mostly late-edition bestsellers with some manga. Books Again, in contrast, is a classical bookstore with mostly hardcover and collectible books on serious topics (however, it is equivalent in price to the others, not a highly-priced rare book store).
The contrast between the three can be shown in their proprietors and staff: Book Nook is notorious for the Book Nazi; many of my friends have discussed wearing earplugs or headphones to avoid his diatribes. Eagle Eye's staff can vary greatly, sometimes polite and helpful, sometimes inattentive or rude. Again in contrast, Books Again is run and staffed solely by its owner Jim Adams, who is the model of the gentlemanly, kind, patient traditional bookseller; I've never seen him even show exasperation with some of his more ignorant or trying patrons.
Only at Books Again could I have found a hardcover copy with dust jacket of Robert Benchley's theater criticism, a volume which I hadn't known existed--or a signed copy of one of Benchley's harder-to-find works. Indeed, Books Again specializes in signed copies of a variety of works, not just of contemporary authors (i.e., those who have had signings at Eagle Eye). If you want to find a classic thirties' version of one of Steinbeck's works, this is the only one of the three bookstores you will find it at. There is a large selection, many signed, of local and Georgia authors as well as substantial sections of art, architecture, religion, history, gardening, and of course fiction, where you can find older and more serious works than those at Eagle Eye as well as many surprises.
Of the three, only at Books Again have I seen famous area writers shopping the shelves for collectible books and reference sources for their writing. Eagle Eye may have writers in for an invited signing, but the authors themselves do not return regularly as they do to Books Again in search of the sort of unique and hard-to-find works that professional authors collect.
Proving Books Again's status as a classic bookstore, it alone of the 3 has the traditional bookstore cat, a beautiful white Persian cat who loves to be petted by shoppers. The cat's name is Octavo, which speaks volumes (sorry, couldn't resist the pun) about the higher level of erudition at this location.
If you're a bibliophile, I've probably already convinced you to give this Decatur institution a try. Even if you're just looking for an interesting read, don't pass it up. The variety of books is wide, condition is excellent, and even for hardcovers with dust jackets, equivalent to what you would buy a paperback for at one of the other bookstores.
Genuine old-fashioned bookstores complete with traditions such as the bookstore cat and knowledgeable, patient bookseller are becoming far too rare. We're lucky to have one in downtown Decatur, just two blocks behind the courthouse, and we all should give our support to maintain exactly this kind of literate community asset. Indeed, Decatur's great reputation comes specifically from individual, high-class stores such as this. Especially if you are a student, a professor, or just not afraid of books that focus on thought rather than sensation, you owe it to yourself and to your community to give Books Again a try. -
Review from Lee H.
Decatur, GA
3/24/2011
I've spent a lot of time in Decatur throughout my entire life and now live here, and I was surprised the first time I noticed Books Again a couple months ago. I got around to visiting a few weeks ago, and I think it may be my new favorite bookstore. I loved the cozy atmosphere with the overwhelming stacks of old hardcover books and a cat sleeping on the floor. They have better deals on books than most used bookstores. Unfortunately, they close at 6 pm on weekdays and 5 pm on Saturdays, so I haven't been able to go on most occasions when I've had the urge, but I plan to go back as soon as possible.
Specialties
We are an open bookstore in Decatur, Georgia. We are 2 blocks from the Decatur MARTA train station which is very convenient from downtown Atlanta or the airport. Our current inventory is approx. 30,000 books. We specialize in Modern First Editions, Southern Literature, Poetry, Mystery Fiction, Art, Photography, Architecture, History including Civil War, Religion, Philosophy and much more. There is definitely something for all tastes and budgets. Check out our large selection of collectable books.
