Comments on: Books: Rare, Medium, Well Done

By: aristos

aristos — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:49:06 +0000

Lenny Nero (#24) On re-reading the posts I find you had got there before me.

By: aristos

aristos — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:45:23 +0000

the original shot of the window has no comma between the words "rare" & "medium". I take this to mean that the shop owner(s) are calling attention to the "rare medium" of books which are "well done"

By: Scooter

Scooter — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:28:10 +0000

I work in a Special collections at a College. If I want to see rows and rows of rare books I'd just walk in the closed stacks for a while. There is a book store near my house that is similar inside. Over flowing stacks and stacks of books.

By: Dignam

Dignam — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:39:35 +0000

I lived down the block from that place a few years ago. The owner is amusing and a bit mad and sometimes smells like he hasn't showered in a week. It's on Clark St., a few blocks north of Fullerton, near (as others have said) the Duke of Perth, La Creperie, and the Century 10 Movies. Not reeeeally Lincoln Park -- more like on the border between Lincoln Park, the Belmont/Clark district (which really is its own world) and Wrigleyville. The history, art and poetry sections are absolutely brilliant. Fiction is a little spotty. There are two other excellent used bookstores in the neighborhood -- one on Belmont between Clark and Sheffield (tremendous classics, science fiction and literary criticism sections); and another on Clark further north, near on the western side of the street, about halfway between Belmont and Wrigley Field. It has an excellent collection of art books and antiquarian editions.

By: smallerdemon

smallerdemon — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:29:59 +0000

I think I recognize Rumo as one of the books in one of the pile on the floor.

By: stormie24

stormie24 — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:48:30 +0000

I love this kind of book store! it's so cool and you never know what you'll find!

By: Maureen

Maureen — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:08:41 +0000

I talked to the owner about a year ago and he said he was trying to get out of his lease. He has been giving away books lately and I think he wants to get out of the business. So if you want to go, go soon!

Personally, I love used book stores and I have bought books there, the prices are great. However, don't try it if you're clautrophobic. I've had to step out a couple times because I had a sudden fear of death in there.

By: noran

noran — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:45:26 +0000

interstellaroverdrive --try Powell books-Near univ of chicago. They also have another location. Also Myoptic books. Yelp.com--pick chicago, and it will help you find most anything you want in the city. Aslo if you like strange new books and magazines-Quimby's is cool and shocking too. Not for the delicate person. They have a website too, so you can google them. They carry the largest selection Zines in the city.

By: noran

noran — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:40:04 +0000

It is one of my favorites! I have mentioned it on my goodreads profile several times. It is closed on wednesday, and he does not sell you books, if you plan to cut them up for art projects! He told me last month, he is looking to sell the place, due to age--he is a WWII vet. He is chatty, if you sow some respect, and smile. No, he does not know his stock, for it is free flowing --in and out all the time. Prices are good to great. Dusty and no A/C! Ladder usage at your own risk sign is here and there. Prices are good--I love hunting. Last itme i forgot my hubby at the car for 3 hours! Metered parking along Clark--2 hours at a time. Duke of Perth --Scottish pub and eatry down the street ablock or so--Great fish and chips!! Salad with poppy seed dressing from scratch. Soups are wonderful too.
I live in NW IN, but dated my hubby up there. Bookleggers is on Broadway-nice clean shop-little higher prices, but I find things there all the time too. You just walk wellington or is it webster to Broadway, and you should see them across the street. Both shops buy/sell.
Thanks for posting this-It gave me a huge smile today!

By: Lenny Nero

Lenny Nero — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:36:32 +0000

Shouldn't the title of this blog post be "Rare medium, well done" not "Rare, Medium, Well done?" The commas change the whole meaning of the store's name.

By: Leylairoyale

Leylairoyale — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:17:04 +0000

I live a few blocks from there. I passed by the store today.

I love to see Chicago things on Neato!

By: renderanything

renderanything — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:59:04 +0000

Now added to my list of places to visit if/when I make it to Chicago. My luggage would be a bit heavy for the return flight though.
One of my favorite local used book stores is a four bedroom house furnished only with books and bookcases.

By: garbonzo

garbonzo — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:24:39 +0000

What an awesome place to spend a rainy afternoon!!!

By: Lenka

Lenka — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:04:12 +0000

I've been there numerous times, and can vouch that you'll need several hours at a time to fully enjoy this bookstore. As an earlier commenter said, it's not a very well-organized shop but it's filled with unusual title - that just adds to the pleasure of finding a rare book! The name of the shop is "Bookman's Corner" - googlemaps link here: http://tinyurl.com/65u59k

By: Ceda

Ceda — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:03:48 +0000

I think that this bookstore is on Webster and Clark. My favorite memories in here were finding a huge stack of books about schooners and then sitting on a pile of Voltaire.

By: Mo

Mo — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:20:06 +0000

Looks exactly like the isles in the dollar bookstore here in Edmond OK

By: Frau

Frau — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:14:19 +0000

Looks like my Russian friends apartment. While I am not a neat freak, I used to be a librarian and it drives me up the wall to see books like that.

By: noahstrickland

noahstrickland — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:38:55 +0000

I love stuff like this, it is such a rarity to find a good used book store like this these days.

By: MENLOHEAVYWEIGHT

MENLOHEAVYWEIGHT — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:31:25 +0000

what a mess, i would never shop there

By: dimestore

dimestore — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:30:05 +0000

Interstellar,
It's at Clark and Wellington.

By: Rocky Rook

Rocky Rook — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:05:19 +0000

I love these type of bookstores ... so cool.

By: RubenCovex

RubenCovex — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:12:28 +0000

Ahhh...I'm sure with a little patience & perservance, anyone could find a book in there that they never knew that they wanted.

By: ted

ted — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:55:38 +0000

Reminds me of the old people who have stacks and stacks of newspapers in the house.

By: Woogie

Woogie — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:17:14 +0000

Person who runs it isn't called Bernard by any chance are they?

By: Polx

Polx — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:33:49 +0000

Good Gravy!

It's Voltaire and Rousseau book shop, Otago St, Glasgow.

I love the name "rare medium well done"

By: SenorMysterioso

SenorMysterioso — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:08:09 +0000

There is a book store like this in my neighbourhood. It is an unorganized mess of books to everyone except for the owner who, if you ask him for a book, knows if he has it and its location in store.

By: field

field — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:41:16 +0000

welcome?

By: qwhacker

qwhacker — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:08:48 +0000

I love stores that are willing to be unique like this. Some of my best purchases were made at yard sales/flea markets, and having a store set up (or, not set up I should say) makes me more interested in finding the hidden gems

By: interstellaroverdrive

interstellaroverdrive — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:53:25 +0000

Does anyone know the address to this place?

I'm in Chicago but I'm new to the city and have to google maps everything before i venture out.

By: Adventurous Wench women tours

Adventurous Wench women tours — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:24:26 +0000

Good thing I live faraway from these bookstores! Else I might have bought tons of rare books that my small house can barely fill.

Adventurous Wench women tours