What's a Book Lover to Do Now?

If appearances are anything to go by, at Redmond Town Center will be open perhaps another week or so. They've closed the top floor, and inventory, predictably, is low—and low-priced!  If you're a book lover, you'll be wondering where to buy books in Redmond now.

The list of local options is a short one. I visited both of them to see what choices we'll have, and I was pleased at what I found.

, on Leary Way, is an inviting store. For one thing—and I can't explain this—it smells delightful, as if the stacks and stacks of books have their own perfume!  It also boasts a helpful and knowledgeable staff, a wide variety of things to buy, and an impressively organized inventory. I was searching for a specific map, and found it within five minutes. The store has a very nice children's section, with a tiny reading table, as well as a substantial section for young adults.  There are CDs of various kinds, and DVDs as well. I found stationery, gift items, and lots and lots of books in many genres. The selection won't be complete, of course, but it's still substantial. Half Price Books also buys used books, paying cash.

The second bookstore left in Redmond is the venerable I hadn't been in their store for years, and I spent a happy half hour browsing through stacks of paperbacks, trade paperbacks, and hardcovers. They also carry a few magazines, some collectible books (a fine science fiction collection), and some sewing patterns. It looks like a great place for readers of romance, although they carry lots of different genres. Romance readers devour books by the dozen, and there were long shelves full of novels in that genre. The title of the store includes "exchange," and they mean it. They issue store credit for books brought in by customers. The prices can't be beat, only fractions of the cover prices on the books, particularly with credit given for books exchanged. They also have a terrific staff, pleasant, well-informed and helpful.

Further afield, Redmond residents could drive to Kirkland, where the wonderful—but struggling—Parkplace Books still maintains its store in Kirkland Parkplace. Parkplace is independently owned, a full-service bookstore specially noted for catering to book clubs and hosting literary events for people throughout the region. It's worth the 20-minute drive to Kirkland to pay them a visit, and Ruth and Mary, the owners, are among the best booksellers in the area.

In Bellevue, also probably a 20 minute drive, there is a branch of the University Bookstore. The University Bookstore, despite its affiliation with the University of Washington, is an independent business, and it's a favorite for visiting authors to do readings and signings, although such events usually take place at the University Avenue location in Seattle. All locations are great for art supplies and nonfiction, and usually have a complete inventory of recent fiction.

In Woodinville, there's a large Barnes & Noble Bookstore. This store probably has the biggest selection of books, magazines, gifts, stationery and other items for readers. It also has a coffee shop, and parking is easy. Again, 20 minutes driving will probably get you there, depending on traffic. 

Of course, there is Amazon.com. No driving, easy purchasing, an exhaustive inventory. There's just that bit of a wait for the mail carrier to deliver the books. 

The is a popular place, too. In fact, the King County Library System is one of the busiest in the nation, and a visit to the Redmond branch will show you why. Readers can borrow books, music, movies, audio books, periodicals . . . just about anything you might need, though there may be a waiting list for a popular title.

In the meantime, we all wait eagerly to see who will move into the soon-to-be-empty space at Town Center! In the east, the chain called Books-a-Million has taken over a dozen or so locations, but that's the only news that's been made public—yet. Stay tuned!