Unique local bookshops add an eclectic vibrancy to the central Kentucky towns lucky enough to house them. Readers looking to escape the big-box-type chains in and around Richmond, KY know Robie and Robie Fine Books, the Morris Book Shop and Joseph-Beth Booksellers are ready and willing to satiate their literary cravings.
Though Richmond itself is missing a good, locally-owned bookstore, Robie and Robie Fine Books is just a short drive south on I-75 in Berea. The physical store is located on Chestnut Street in Berea and, according to indiebound.com, features around 50,000 new, used, remaindered and specialty books at any given time. Their stock features classic literature, historical texts, academic texts... anything from gardening to science fiction. They also buy and sell books for store credit.
The Morris Book Shop is the newest independent bookshop in Lexington, KY-and only a short trip north on I-75 from Richmond. The Morris Book Shop is located on Southland Drive and, according to their website, features 20,000 new books. Though officially the "newest" bookshop in Lexington, the store has a long history on the Lexington literary scene-the first bookshop called "Morris" in Lexington was opened by Jimmy Morris in 1937. The shop is open from 10:00 AM-7:00 PM Monday through Saturday and from 11:00 AM-5:00 PM on Sunday-and, though they'd rather their customers visit their storefront and browse their selection of books, the owners are willing to ship an order. As the owners say, a person can't really appreciate a good book until it lays open in their
Growing up in Yorkshire, England, I was always an avid book reader. Obsessed with books, I would read a book a day and, if I got sick, my parents knew to buy me three or four books to make me feel better. That's why, as I grew older, I started to scour the book shops in Yorkshire for books I hadn't read, so visiting the city of York was a treat as there are so many rare and antiquarian book shops there. Many of the rare book sellers also sell second-hand books, another passion of mine. Over the years, I've visited many of the rare and antiquarian book shops in York. These, however, are the ones I think are the top York rare and antiquarian book shops.
Fossgate Books, York, Yorkshire - Fossgate Books in York has two floors of rare and antiquarian books. They also sell some second-hand books. Fossgate Books is in the Fossgate area of York, in North Yorkshire, and specializes in academic and scholarly books. They also have a fair collection of second-hand paperbacks at inexpensive prices. Fossgate Books is at 36 Fossgate and is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm. Their phone number is 1904 641389.
Lucius Book Shop, York, Yorkshire - Also in York, Lucius Books has a wonderful selection of rare and antiquarian books. They have a huge number of old children's books, many of which I grew up reading. Books include Enid Blyton, Every Boy's Hobby Annuals (that my Dad used to read as a boy growing up in England), The Chalet School series (my favorite school series books when I was a teenager), Richmal Crompton's 'Sweet William' series and more. Lucius Books also specializes in rare and antiquarian books on military history, crime and detective series and literature. With many first editions to choose from, don't miss stopping at Lucius Books in York. Lucius Books is at 50 Fossgate, so you can visit here and then also trot down the street and look at Fossgate Books too. If you're unable to go to Lucius Books, check out
