I only came for one book!

HTML Source EditorWord wrap

The tag line for New England Mobile Book Fair, “I only came for one book…” is perfect.  Since I was little and got my first library card I couldn’t get enough books to read. I love to read and a trip to the bookstore is my way of taking care of myself. It is better than taking a nap! I can never leave the Book Fair with just one book and I always get a bargain.

The Book Fair is one of the largest discount bookstores in New England. All books are at least 20% off every day, New York Times bestsellers are 30% off. The cookbook section is hard to resist especially when you see a best seller available at 40% off.

The Book Fair has a unique layout. The front of the store has best sellers, best selling cookbooks and other featured books. The remainders section is full of out of print treasures. The tricky part is that each section is then organized by publisher which can be a little tricky. However, the excellent customer service is cheerfully available to help you navigate the store to find what you want. The ambiance is very practical with rows and rows of books. It reminds me of my home town library where I worked in the stacks for several years during high school and college. Once I get into the store, no matter how expedient I had hoped to be, I usually end up pulling up a stool somewhere with several books to browse in order to narrow down my selection.

While living in Cambridge for over 10 years, I grew to love independent bookstores. Harvard Square has two of my favorites. I love browsing the “staff picks” and I enjoy evaluating the “culture” of the particular shop. I love them for their differences and their uniqueness. Even when two major bookstore chains opened up shop in Newton in 1995, the Book Fair’s profits grew 10 percent that year.” (And they don’t even sell coffee!) Read more about the history of the New England Mobile Bookfair.