El Ateneo Bookstore

This old theatre in Argentina was turned into a bookstore.
It's called El Ateneo and is located in downtown Buenos Aires.

Can you imagine getting to shop here? Heaven.

Photos and more info found here.

Powell's Books

If I had a solid week to wander I would still probably feel like I didn't see all of Powell's Books. It's a huge, massive bookstore in Portland, OR that literally takes up an entire city block. We visited the bookstore for the first time last month and I was smitten.


There are multiple floors, dozens of categories and hundreds of books that wanted me to take them home.


If you get the chance to visit while you're on the west coast make sure to give yourself plenty of time. That was my only regret. I could have spent a few days there, but unfortunately we didn't have that long. Although that's probably better in the end for my sagging bookshelves.


Here's my loot from the trip. I ended up with a gorgeous copy of The House of Mirth, Man Walks Into a Room (same author as The History of Love) and the graphic novel French Milk. Also, that's my copy of Treasure Island that I bought at the City Light Bookstore in San Fran.

Photos by moi.

City Light Bookstore

During my recent trip to San Francisco I made sure to visit the City Light Bookstore. It was the first all-paperback bookstore in the USA and rose to fame after publishing Allen Ginsberg's controversial "Howl." Yay for visiting famous bookstores!


Next door to City Light Books is the infamous bar, Vesuvio, where Jack Kerouac and other beats used to hang out. My husband indulged me and stopped for a drink there with me after we visited the bookstore.


In the alley, aptly named Jack Kerouac Alley, that runs between the bookstore and the Vesuvio, the pavement is covered with quotes from authors. The above quote is by the poet and co-founder of City Light Books, Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

(Stairs leading to the basement of City Light Books)

I exercised some serious self-control and left with only one book. I chose the new cloth-bound Penguin edition of Treasure Island, because the author, Robert Louis Stevenson, lived just outside of San Fran in Napa Valley for a few years.

Photos by moi.

The Book Thing

While in Baltimore I discovered the unicorn of bookstores. That's right, the mythical beast we all dream of but didn't think actual existed... a bookstore where everything is free! No seriously, it's real!


Located a bit off the beaten path, The Book Thing of Baltimore is an organization which collects donated books and offers them to anyone who wants them. Their mission is "to put unwanted books into the hands of those who want them." It's as simple and wonderful as that.


With a few winding rooms, The Book Thing is filled with hundreds and hundreds of books in every imaginable genre. There were classics, mysteries, travel books and so much more. There's no limit to how many you can take. Just like any used book store's inventory the quality of the books varies, but did I mention they are free?


Here's my loot. I found so many good books (about 20)! I had to contain my enthusiasm though, because I was flying home and they tend to have weight limits on the bags. So I tried to steer clear of huge tomes and hardbacks.

If you find yourself in the Baltimore area don't miss The Book Thing. Their website has all the details you need.

Photos by moi.