Patrick’s Comments (group member since Jan 10, 2008)

Patrick’s comments from the Best Bookstores! group.

A sad topic, but I have loved some bookstores that are no longer around anymore. Two personal favorites:

- THE AVENUE VICTOR HUGO on Newbury Street in Boston. A delightful and very warm place with a friendly cat and a great selection, equidistant between Boston University and the Boston Public Library, where I spent many a pleasant winter afternoon back in the early 90's.

- The BOOK BARON in Anaheim. Done in by rent increases. Located in a beat up neighborhood but it had plenty of parking and a massive amount of books...it may have even rivaled Acres of Books. Just closed in Dec 2007.

I love Powell's City of Books and their Hawthorne store, but that's in a class by itself.

West Coast, my favorite in Wahrenbock's in downtown San Diego, where I always find new books on the shelves.

East Coast, it's either Second Story Books in Washington DC near Georgetown or the Book Barn of the Finger Lakes in Dryden near Ithaca, NY.

Too many great bookstores in this country to choose from! My favorite in the LA area is Brand Bookstore in Glendale.

I find Acres of Books in Long Beach to be very cramped. Ton of books but narrow aisles and some really high shelves. Plus the building looks like it will fall down any day now.