When visiting Boston, it may seem a little cliche to go to certain tourist locations. Mainstream bookstores for example, possibly aren't at the top of your to-do list. However there is a certain significance of visiting a bookstore and finding yourself exposed to literature you previously didn't think about exploring, or just reading in general. Here are two mainstream bookstores that are well-known in Boston that are worth checking out.
1. Brookline Booksmith has been around since 1961 when it started out as Paperback Booksmith. For the past 50+ years, the store has turned into a main component of the surrounding community. What makes this bookstore exceptional is its constant offering of book signings, and the publicity it gives to authors that sometimes go unnoticed. I visited BB once three years ago and didn’t realize how valuable the place was back then. However, since this was the last store I reviewed this time around, I was able to come to the conclusion that this is probably my second favorite location behind the independent Brattle Bookstore.
The place is authentic. Out of all the bookstores I have visited, I felt the most at ease and intrigued by this one. It’s neatly divided, and you don’t leave without the desire to go back. One thing I’ve noticed about bookstores is that they can be nice to visit once, but if there isn’t a resonating feature or environment they offer, then it becomes easy to not see the need to return again. This wasn’t the case here.
2. Harvard Bookstore is of Boston’s most well-known bookstores located at Harvard Square in Cambridge. Established in 1932, it prides itself as Harvard Square’s Independent Bookstore. Locally owned, the Harvard Book Store provides the option to navigate through its staff recommendations and sale items on harvard.com. Although Cambridge is somewhat out of the way, it is one of the most exciting areas Boston has to offer.
A common misconception about the Harvard Book Store is that it is strictly affiliated with Harvard University and therefore, you’re only going to see Harvard students inside. Although the store is obviously closely related to the school, you definitely get a strong sense of the independent bookstore vibe more so than it just being mainly a Harvard-only location. Out of all the bookstores I’ve been to so far, this one is the best-looking. When you walk in, you get the impression you’re in one of those unrealistic bookstores you see in the movies. The shelves brim with books from floor to ceiling, displaying a relatively relaxed environment. My favorite part about the layout in general is the old-fashioned ladders that are attached to the shelves.
Harvard also holds the best book selection I’ve seen so far, which isn’t entirely all that surprising. The upstairs level is very impressive, however the basement level stood out the most. Upstairs features all the latest editions from every genre ranging from politics to cooking to Western theology. Currently, all books related to Hillary Clinton seem to be the leading theme of the main display table. Downstairs presents a more vintage selection, and its cluttered exhibit reflects the mood of what is on display, which is refreshing in a way.
The Harvard Book Store is undoubtedly one of most significant attractions in Cambridge, and I encountered a lot of tourists in the store while visiting. It does live up to its reputation, and you don’t get the feeling that you’re in a mainstream book store even though it is so well-known.
