Harvard Book Store - Cambridge, MA

Harvard Book Store - Cambridge, MA

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I just love going to places or events where I know that I'm close to the dumbest hick there.  I love it when I'm surrounded by smart, forward-thinking, academia types and I'm the one at the bottom of the food chain.  The Harvard Book Store in Cambridge exudes that kind of atmosphere, historical and academic.  I can almost hear Brahm's Academic Festival Overture playing in the background.  This is a fantastic bookstore located across from Harvard Square and you should definitely check this place out.  Even if you don't buy a book, go in and browse for while and tack a few points on your IQ.

The Harvard Book Store is not affiliated with the university so they don't handle text books or other classroom materials.  The store stands successfully on its own merit since 1932.  Many indies enjoy tourists as an important part of their customer base and that is true here as well but here they are often referred to as academic tourists.  This is especially true during the summer months.  Aside from tourists there is a strong community of local support, no surprise at all.  There are a few sidelines here, no cats, and no café.  There is however, a great inventory of books, new and used.  The entire lower level is used books and they have an active but discriminating book buy-back program where you can earn cash or store credits.  But your book better be in darn good shape and needed or they won't take it.  Tell Aunt Myrtle to keep her romance novels and tell Uncle Lester to keep his westerns, they don't buy back those genres.  There is also a very active event series and most of these are held right in the store.  Many times, multiple events are scheduled per day so over the course of a year this can average out to one per day.

Carole H., has been the general manager here for 40 years and even though her office is not in the store (the rent is too high), she came over to meet me and talk about Harvard Books, its history, and its ownership.  There's lots of continuity here and I'm sure that's partially responsible for the success.  Carole was wonderful to talk to as were a couple of staffers I chatted with, Rachel and Spencer.  That's the constant when I go to these places, so many great people who willingly talk to me about indies and books.  And I probably wouldn't have even met Carole if it hadn't been for Bill at Broadside Books in Northampton who told me to find her when I made it to Harvard Books.  A true brotherhood and sisterhood among these indies.

So the next time you're feeling a little "dull," or "slow," or just want to seem smarter, go into the Harvard Book Store and take a couple of deep breaths.  Raise that IQ.  You'll be all the smarter for visiting this great independent bookstore.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

CURRENTLY READING:  Dad Is Fat, James Gaffigan.  If you've ever seen a Jim Gaffigan show you'll want to read this book.  Hilarious.

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  The Case For Books, Robert Darnton.  Seems appropriate, yes?  Fire Shut Up In My Bones, Charles M. Blow.

Another view outside the store.  

Great window displays on both sides of the entrance.  

Another exterior view.  

Looking directly inside from the front door.  The store continues to the left of this view.  

And here's the view to the left.  

A great display of staff picks.  

Touristy postcards.  Appropriate for this store.  

Proceed downstairs for some great buys or to sell your used books for store credit or cash.  

T-shirts, book bags, and new fiction.  

Long aisles with lots of subjects.  

This is the room to the far left after entering.  They also hold author events here.  

Local and regional interests.  

A great incentive to get a book.  Or two.  

Lots of famous politicians attended Harvard.  Maybe one of them sat in this chair?    

Sell your books at these days and times.  

Dogs allowed.  I saw one!

Congratulations to Carole H. and her years of work at this fine independent bookstore.  

Porter Square Books - Cambridge, MA

Porter Square Books - Cambridge, MA

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When you visit Cambridge, MA in the Boston area you quickly realize this is a major book area.  Bookstore lovers and book lovers would be strongly encouraged to visit this community, a mecca of literature.  Porter Square Books will be near the top of your list and it seemed to me every aspect of this place is top notch, starting with the owners David and Dina, and the staff who work there.

The day of my visit felt very harried but this is a good thing because things were so darn busy.  David told me a lot about the store and the business and did so patiently while helping customers, taking calls, and conducting transactions.  Business was great on this day and business is going great all the time.  This one-level store features a nice mix of sidelines with a great book inventory, including a super children's section.  There is a wonderful café in the front of the store who shares the rent with Porter Square Books, a great partnership.  David thinks that a café is important for any independent and from my observations I agree.  The store is extremely active with author events and hosts most of them on site.  The customer base is largely local and very devoted.  When you combine all of these characteristics with a loyal staff you have one terrific independent bookstore.

The people I met here couldn't have been nicer.  Porter Square Books has been here for 10 years but only recently under the ownership of David and Dina.  Julie does a great job with the sidelines and Dale was one of the previous owners and is still here as one of the book buyers.  There is a lot of talent working here at Porter Square Books and it shows.  These people really know their stuff and it's not surprising they're successful.  They're all also very encouraged by the trend independent bookstores are experiencing and are optimistic about the future.  I'm finding on my journeys many other indie people who are in agreement with this.

Compared to other metropolitan bookstores this place is pretty accessible.  If you drive there is a large parking lot where you can park for free.  I would discourage driving however in this area and suggest taking the train, orange line to the Porter stop.

The only thing they don't have here is an independent bookstore cat.  But Maxie the dog is here and I think this is who really runs the show.  If you're in a funk, what could be better than coming to Porter Square Books, finding a great book, and petting one friendly dog?  Dismal day be gone!  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

RECENTLY FINISHED:  End Of Days, James L. Swanson.  One of the best non-fiction books I've read.  Outstanding.  Story of the days leading up to and after the JFK assassination.  An absolutely gripping account of this American tragedy.

CURRENTLY READING:  My Dad Is Fat, James Gaffigan.  Needed to read something totally different after End Of Days.  This is it.  Hilarious!

Have a window seat at the café inside Porter Square Books.  

Just inside the front door the café is located directly to the left.  

View looking straight back through the store from the front door.  

View to the right upon entering.  

20% off the staff picks.  A great display.  

Julie does a great job here with her variety and mixture of sidelines.  

Greeting cards.  

Many indies have goofy socks and I love how they're displayed here.  Like hanging laundry!  

A place to discuss your next book club buy.  

From the rear of the store looking toward the front entrance.  

Low on money?  No problem, you can still get a book!  

Lots of magazines to choose from.  

Part of the super children's section and lots of stuffed animals.  

More sidelines, including games.  

David & Dina, the owners, with the CEO, Maxie. Maxie was very busy on the day I visited and it took us awhile to get him to stop in order to pose for this picture.   I love this picture!

Julie checks in with Maxie and you'll notice she's getting ready to submit her monthly reports for his review.  

Owners David & Dina, with yours truly.  Thanks for a great visit to another outstanding indie.  

Broadside Bookshop - Northampton, MA

Broadside Bookshop - Northampton, MA

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One of the goals of my journey (besides selfishly having a whole lot of fun) is to bring to light the struggles and challenges that independent bookstores face for survival.  Broadside Bookshop is no different from all the others but it has endured and succeeded for 40 years.  I had a great visit with Bill, one of the owners, and I asked him if he can feel the pendulum swinging back toward indies.  What he told me was not a short answer.  If I'd had a tape recorder I could better relate to you all that he said in regards to the issues caused by Amazon.  I like what he told me and continue to try and educate myself about the problem.  The short version of what he said was, yes, the pendulum may be swinging slightly back toward independents as people become more aware of the unethical behaviors at Amazon and yes, there may be light at the end of the tunnel for independent bookstores.  As for Broadside Bookshop in Northampton, another super indie to visit on your trip to New England.

This is a small, one-level, two room store and this place is jam packed with inventory.  Books and sidelines are as plentiful as they can be given the small space.  Bill said the sidelines are huge for this store and if they had more space would definitely include more of them.  They would love to expand their business but are unable to do so because of surrounding businesses.  Logistics and space also prevent Broadside from offering used books however they can be obtained for customers by special order.  It is hard to imagine after being here how they host author events at this store but host them they do by rolling shelves and tables away to open up space on the left side of the store.  This place does more with little than about any other indie.

In addition to Bill, I also had the great pleasure of meeting and talking to the other co-owners, Roxie and Nancy.  Like so many others I've met, they are the spirit and energy at these places and the success at these stores falls directly on their shoulders.  I couldn't have asked for friendlier hosts to talk to on my visit.  They shared their enthusiasm with me and then they shared their book recommendations with me.

If you're anywhere near Northampton you have to go to Broadside Bookshop.  The rest of us will visit when we vacation in New England.  And when you go, ask Bill, Roxie, or Nancy for a book recommendation and then brace yourself.  There's no way you're leaving this great indie without buying a book.  In fact, you won't be able to get just one.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

CURRENTLY READING:  End Of Days, James L. Swanson.  Historical reaccounting of the days leading up to and after the JFK assassination.  Gripping and fascinating.

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  Being Mortal, Atul Gawande.  The Riddle Of The Compass, Amir D. Aczel.  Los Alamos, Joseph Kanon.

Sidewalk view of Broadside Bookshop.  

One of the great window displays.  

The view when you enter the front door looking toward the rear of the store.  Take a left half way back and you'll enter the other room of Broadside.  

Many indies offer these great classic book editions for $10.  

Good selection of greeting cards.  

A great sentiment not only here at Broadside but for indies everywhere.  

Great places to sit and try out a book or have a seat here and chat with Bill, one of the fine co-owners.  

More sidelines.  

In addition to these t-shirts you can also get a Broadside Bookshop t-shirt.  

Need a magazine?  Of course you do!  Get it here!

A few of the staff picks.  

Bestsellers at Broadside.  

The co-owners and three super people you must visit at Broadside.  L-R, Bill, Roxie, and Nancy.  

Pick out the one who isn't a co-owner.