The Indie Bob Spot: The Book Deal

The Book Deal, Madison, WI

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Follow the arrows.

This was way more than a bookstore experience, it was an adventure. Set your GPS, dear readers, to lead you to this hidden gem and that is just the beginning of your adventure. When you arrive trust the arrows and follow them through the maze of long and short hallways until finally, your trek is rewarded when you turn left into the front room of The Book Deal. But the adventure isn't over yet. As I browsed through the four smallish rooms after the front room I started to become concerned. Where was the fiction? Historical fiction? What about children's? Then the co-owner Josh D. said, do you want to go across the hall and see the rest? Ahh! The adventure bloomed into the technicolor portion of "The Wizard of Oz." Or the deep end of the water after the kiddie pool. No worries, reader, this place will have EVERY genre covered and then some.

The Book Deal began selling books online years ago with brothers Rick and Jim J. Fast forward to this month and the brick and mortar is celebrating its 5th birthday with owners Rick, Jim, and Josh. The store stocks all used books along with some collectible editions. Customers often donate their books but they can receive store credit if they choose. They also offer a customer incentive program where you can become a VIB (Very Important Booklover) and earn 10 pages for every $1 spent and then cash your pages in for free books. I love this! Other than stickers, this indie is mostly about the books. Remember, if you can't visit in-person you can always support this indie by purchasing online through bookshop.org.

I must tell you that these observations about the store have an expiration date. Over the next few months, The Book Deal will begin a new chapter moving to their own building, one they will own. A more visible location and much closer to the vibrant and large University of Wisconsin campus. In my opinion, this wonderful indie will become even better and I expect its customer base to explode. So before you visit, make sure you check the address. Congratulations to The Book Deal and don't miss this one no matter where its located. Go to an indie and buy a book. Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED: Fathers, Sons, and the Holy Ghosts of Baseball, Tommy Murray. A story about small town life, the Catholic church, and the local high school baseball team and their three senior citizen coaches. Year after year, Cottage Park is one of the best baseball teams in the state but they continue to chase the dream of winning a state championship. Its the same dream for their elderly coaches who are determined to do it in their final season or die trying.

CURRENTLY READING: West With Giraffes, Lynda Rutledge.

RECENTLY PURCHASED: Ramage, Dudley Pope.