Love this place.Love independent/or mom and pop type shops and 2. love culturally unique stores that support community and uncommon interests. They had a cool talk about anime and other related literature when we rolled through. Kinda stuffy when the sun is blazing, but the books that they had on display were unique, some colletion of art books that were definitely up my alley. I would love to roll through another time if I get a chance!
Bad: The store is a little cluttered. This is to be expected for a place with so much stock rotating stock, but it did make navigation a little difficult. There are piles of books in most aisles, but they were never too problematic. The owner was present when I was there, and while he was helpful I found him to be a little rough around the edges and a little suspicious of me as I was inspecting some of the more antique fare. I certainly can't hold that against him, but it did leave a poor taste in my mouth.
I have been going to this bookstore for over 25 years. Jim is one of the friendliest and knowledgeable experts in the field of great books. He has taught me many things about literary autographs, first editions, and books in general. I recommend visiting his store and tapping his brain. You'll be glad you did. Sincerely, Tom Weber - satisfied customer.
Good: The book selection here is phenomenal. I looked around for close to two hours and didn't feel like I even scratched the surface. It is a simple feat to find a first edition or pre-release edition of many books, though often at a healthy markup. These editions make for very unique and thoughtful - albeit a little pricey - gifts.
The motherlode of bookstores. Exhaustive inventory in breadth and depth. Not a neatnik's haven but well organized and logical. Plan on lingering a while. You'll find treasure after treasure; come up for air and then dive in deep once more.
Other: There is always a $5 book rack just outside the store. The merchandise is varied, but there's bound to be something of interest to most people in there. In addition there are lots of vinyl records and maps in the store. I haven't gotten around to inspecting those, but if that's something you're interested in I have no doubt you will be satisfied with the stock.
It's a fantastic place to browse or find vintage books. The bookseller I met was curmudgeonly but also friendly, and obviously loved books. Stacks of books and art in the rows between shelves. If you're looking for a cheap used book shop, or somewhere that will have the bestsellers list in stock however, this isn't it.
Overall, this is a must visit for any book-lover or friend of a book lover. The prices felt a little high, but not outrageous, and there were many unique books you will have trouble finding anywhere else.
For what it is, it's a fantastic little bookshop. I stayed mainly in the nonfiction area, and the browsing material was wonderful. All kinds of little gems, like a small but fat embroidery encyclopedia, which had DMC-patterned paper between the covers and the pages. Most of the books were first editions or vintage/collector's items. I walked out with a book from the 60's cataloguing pre-ancient Greek artifacts in black and white photography. It reminds me of something I'd find in my academic grandparents' house.
James Mary Laurie Bookseller is a US Book Store based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. James Mary Laurie Bookseller is located at 250 3rd Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55401, USA.
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