I’m a book junkie, and I don’t mean reading junkie (sorry kindle, but I need to hold the paper in my hand and smell the fragrance of the ink and paper).  A testament to this would be that I have a new email address with my new last name (getting married in, oh wow, 10 days.) and the very first place I changed my email address was Amazon, not my bank account, not facebook, not with my family, but the place I buy most of my books.

I’m not sure which if any of the Borders are closing in the St. Louis area and, quite frankly, I don’t really care.  If I want to go to a book store, independent booksellers are the way to go for me.  Luckily for me St. Louis has a fantastic selection of independent book stores.  Alas, I have only visited a hand full.  It is my summer mission to visit as many of them as I can, get a feel for them and share the details so that others will hopefully spend a rainy afternoon exploring these great treasures of the city.

A great way to start off is my favorite book store, The Book House, located on Manchester Rd.  It is an old house that has been turned into basically a giant quirky book shelf.  They have a HUGE selection of books tucked into every nook and cranny of the house.  It really is a crazy place.  I could spend hours checking this place out……wait, I have spent hours here.  They have a store cat, Blake, so be warned if you are severely allergic.  They also don’t really have any comfy seating to sit and read but they don’t try and hurry you along.  The staff is not pretentious and is very willing to help even the novice reader find that special book.  If you are seeking to thrill the reader who is close to your heart with, I don’t know, say a first edition copy of their favorite book or just an early print book this is the place to go.  Did I mention the winding staircase? No? Well there is one.

Memorial day weekend they are having a HUGE SALE!!!  It’s a benefit sale to help out Second Chapter Life Center.  This would be the perfect oppertunity to stock up on books (yes, it is an item that requires stocking up) check out one of the coolest bookstores in St. Louis, donate to a great cause and you will be patronizing a local small business.  Wins all around!!!

9719 Manchester Rd. St. Louis, MO 63119

Melissa Jensen

Melissa is a native of the Greater St. Louis region. She is addicted to anything Google, and cannot understand why motion activated paper towel dispensers never see her hands.

More Posts - Website

Follow Me: