Great Escape: Escape with a Good Book(store)

The ultimate luxury for many people doesn’t include paraffin wax, appetizers or cocktails. Many found their favorite diversion as a child and no other indulgence can truly compare. The go-to gratification that doesn’t depend on the weather or time of year can be experienced the moment someone steps into a cozy bookstore. 

What Gig Harbor lacks in quantity of bookstores, it definitely makes up for it in quality and character. With the looming at the end of April, now seems like an ideal time to showcase many of the local independent bookstores that have served this community with pride for years. 

Nestled in the heart of Gig Harbor’s downtown, offers a treasure trove of interesting finds for any book lover. As a facet of Gig Harbor’s waterfront for 14 years, No Dearth of Books is adored by locals and visitors alike for its towering stacks of books and personalized customer service. Harry Dearth, founder and owner, said the store specializes in Northwest history, nautical tales, biographies, military history, classics and children’s stories.  

Perusing the heaps of used and out-of-print books transports the patron into another world. Visiting Dearth’s cozy one-room shop, which is insulated from all directions with beautiful publications, makes the customers feel like they have been given a behind-the-scenes pass into their favorite uncle or grandfather’s magnificent study. When asked for advice for first-time visitors, Dearth kindly recommends to “take your time.” Shopping at this unique gem, located in the same complex as El Pueblito, is definitely not an experience to miss or rush through.

Walking just a block down Harborview Drive will uncover another hidden shop brimming with reading treasures. Mostly Books, which was actually founded by No Dearth of Books owners Harry and Shirley Dearth, has been serving Gig Harbor since 1969. Jo Graffe, the current owner, has been running the shop for 14 years. She lauds the many features that make her local store such an asset to the community including keeping money in the Pierce County economy, nurturing a reading community here in Gig Harbor and the presence of honest reviews from salespeople who are not pushed to promote anything more than “books that we like.” Graffe identifies with the tagline “Independent Booksellers = Independent Ideas.” 

Mostly Books carries a wide variety of new books with some selection of used titles. It specializes in Northwest regional and nautical and boating titles. The store also contains roughly half of its stock in children’s books. The genuine book recommendations written on cards under many of the latest novels feel like guidance from a dear friend about the latest book on their nightstand. The personal touch at Mostly Books is hard to beat.

The next time you are looking for a sanctuary outside of a spa, consider sneaking into one of Gig Harbor’s independent bookstores to enjoy the calming atmosphere, friendly service and wonderful collections of new and used finds. No Dearth of Books and Mostly Books both have the ability to place the world on hold while you lose yourself in their colorful aisles. The fact that these peace-filled retreats happen to contain books that can help you escape the daily grind seems like an added bonus.