Bark at the Ghouls

More than I realized, apparently.

While I was on my little hiatus from the reading and internet world last week, I went out into the real world and did something I hadn't done in years. I visited a brick and mortar independent bookstore and spent hours browsing. I looked at every used title and realized I owned many of them (oops) and then I went over to the new section and tried to touch them all.

It was heavenly.

You all need to do it at least once a week if you don't already, even if you don't buy anything (I didn't, I really wish I had but tbr guilt stayed my hand). Go, look, touch, smell (well, maybe don't smell if they look anything like this!) and savor the bliss that washes over your soul. There is nothing quite like it. I used to do this when I was young and free and had all the time in the world. I worked next door to a used bookstore and the employees all knew me by name and usually had a stack waiting just for me. I hadn't realized how much enjoyment and peace those weekly (sometimes daily) trips brought into my life.

It's only been a week and I am dying to go back to relive that feeling and buy some books I do not need but must have. How ever did I let this kind of joy leave my life?! Wait, I know. Non-reading visitors to my home began to comment on the number of books I had lying about and I began to feel indulgent, wasteful, greedy. I started hiding my books from sight and from the unwanted comments that would wound them. Don't let it happen to you. I don't care if you own all the books in the world on your e-reader or in your home, do yourself a favor and visit a real bookstore if you're lucky enough to have a good one nearby.

If you're road-tripping it to the northeast of the US may I recommend the lovely independent  The Toadstool Bookstore? They have three locations and two have cafes. I don't know about the third as I haven't made it there yet. The Peterborough location has an enormous selection of used and new books that you can lose yourself in for a day or two and, best of all, no one bugged me the entire time I was there!

Do you have a favorite spot to buy "real" books? Do you ever browse a physical bookstore without a list in hand? And, because I'm super nosy, do outsiders give your love of books the side-eye too?