LOOK!BOOK!

Julie's back with January's Look!Book!:

This month I’m enjoying Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom, but rather than go on about one of the most talked about books of 2010, I thought I’d mention some of my favourite sources of reading material - secondhand bookshops. Seeking out the top used bookshops is a fun adventure at home and away (for Bre too) and we’d love to know the best ones in your city.

Here in Toronto my favourites are (feel free to add to this list!):

Balfour Books (settling into its new location at 468 College St.).

Pandemonium (the best of many excellent second hand bookshops in the Junction).

She Said Boom (plenty of new titles though I am consistently drawn to its cookery section).

Monkey’s Paw (the city’s top spot for unique, conversation-starting tomes).

Zoinks (good quality books in great condition).

My Dad taught me to choose a slightly obscure but beloved book and to look for it in any secondhand bookshop you visit to see if it is up to snuff (it can also hint to the store’s pricing strategy). My choice isn’t obscure at all but did once lead me to find this irresistible limited edition of Brideshead Revisited in Vancouver.

More than the smell and even the feel of old books, I love the designs from different eras. If you too have a thing for book cover design bookmark: Book Worship, Monkey’s Paw blog and The Book Cover Archive for inspiration.

~ Julie