Book Binge November 2022: I Read Five Books in a Week

As an avid reader I would devour tomes in hours simultaneously desiring the conclusion while adoring the present reality I've learned about on that literary journey. I have returned to this endeavor. By the end of the month I had completed eight books and a few zines.

Not having much money to spend last month, I walked around town to get my steps in. This involved walking past local bookshops I haven't visited in awhile and stopping by ones I haven't fallen in love with yet.

There are many bookstores in Boston and Cambridge and I totally justify supporting small book businesses over Amazon. I find riveting books and I exchange monopoly money for the good will of keeping local folks employed by wonderful bookstores.

Here's a brief description of the bookstores I visited last month:

Porter Square Books

Residing in the plaza across the street from the Porter Square MBTA stop lays  Porter Square Books. Not only do they sell, books, they also sell warm and cold beverages at Café Zing, located at the left front of the store. A modest sized store with loads of knick knacks and journals to buy for yourself or as a gift. It is next door to my favorite local natural foods shops, Cambridge Naturals. I don't often head out there, but when I do it is always worth it. They do have outdoor seating as a result of covid and because there's not much space indoors.

Commonwealth Books

Commonwealth is located in an alleyway off of Washington Street near Downtown Crossing. This shop is exclusively used and rare books as well as maps and other antiques goods. Categories includes, U.S. History and subsections, fiction, mystery, poetry, and more. The first time visited I sitting in a deep squat for at least five minutes at a time scanning the floor level shelves for books that might feed my fancy. A coworker recently found a book there that they had not read by their favorite author and it was an autographed edition! Cool find at a cool place.

Brattle Street Books

Located near the old part of Boston in a street perpendicular to the Boston Common, Brattle Street Books has a selection inside and outside in a lot next door year round. In the lot there are shelves of books for one to five dollars so you do need to spend some time searching if you would like a gem. Inside books are organized by topic. Occasionally a shelf to the right of the stairs to the second floor hold interesting things depending on the time of year. During pride month there were many Queers books and that is how I found Jesus in Love as well as an older queer novel that was super groundbreaking but then forgotten for a bit. Brattle also sells rare and more expensive books on their third floor.

Harvard Bookstore

Not affiliated with Harvard University, Harvard Bookstore is an independent book shop since 1932. It is jam packed with books. The shelves tower over me a short god with ladders hanging off the sides for employee use only. They have a lower level full of an ever rotating shift of new books at discounted prices on a large table and surrounding shelves. They will be opening a second location in the prudential center in 2023. In the same spot where a Barnes & Nobles Booksellers was before it closed this year. I definitely recall stopping by there for something last year? Any thats a win for local bookstore supremacy.

Trident Booksellers

As you walk or drive west towards the end of Newbury Street, you'll see many folks dining outdoors before having to fight your way through the store when it is as its busiest. Trident Booksellers is a book lover's dream. Not only do  they sell books they sell food, alcohol, and are open 'til late most nights. Additionally they host multiple events such as game night, queer speed friending, movie nights, and trivia.

If you ever visit the Boston area know that you have many places to visit to grab a book. I still have more places to share with you all.

I'm planning to use story graph to log my reading in 2023 because it is not owned by Amazon. Check it out.