The book selection is limited but they had a lot of games to choose from. The D&D miniatures…read moreselection was alphabetized which was much appreciated.

You don't come to The Book Garden expecting Powell's City of Books or the endless aisle of Strand…read more No, this is a small, magical space that's tucked away in a cozy space in the center of Montpelier, Vermont. You'll open the door, and instead be greeted with the playful chime of the front door's bells that will accompany a simple "Welcome", and the presence of Brad. He will confidently preside over the space with the gentle guardian energy of a wise, ancient custodian, ensuring all who enter are assured that they do - in fact - belong here nowhere else more than they do here. You'll look to your right and muse over the selection of Tarot decks, and books on ancient mysticism. You'll find your interest growing as you land on Claire Saffitz's latest cookbook. Electic, you'll think. Then you'll turn around, and displayed proudly at the front will be troves of literature extolling the beauty and depth of the Green Mountain State. Then you'll take your next steps inside. Your eyes will sweep over rows and rows of graphic novels, and a bold fantasy/sci-fi book case that has all of the reverent classics and hot new entries in the genre. Brad will be watching you quietly with a smile, his counter containing select Magic the Gathering cards, each of which enshrined protectively, as if containing the power of these rare relics. And the beating heart of the store, a robust selection of some tabletop games for all interests and ages. The Book Garden has been the much-needed local shop for all of the nerdy and geeky literary and gaming needs of those residing in the greater Montpelier area. I have been picking up my graphic novels from the store for years, and find myself becoming more attached to the place over time. Brad has been more than the new owner of a Montpelier fixture - he has given this place the unyielding amount of love and respect that both it, and our community, deserves. If you find yourself about to step past this special nook as you walk down the capitol's main street, you'd do well to pause and take a look around.

Wonderful book shop in walkable downtown Burlington. Nice curation. Comfy chairs. Used and new…read morebooks.

Always love a bookshop to peruse. Most of the books did seem to be new and reflect that pricing.read more

This used bookstore occupies the entire first floor of an old home in downtown Plainfield. It…read morefeatures every subject imaginable and has one of the most impressive selections of books that I've seen this side of Powell's. Case in point: for the last two years, I've been searching for the English translation of the autobiography of composer, Richard Wagner, a book that has been out of print practically since before it was printed. I looked in bookstores in NYC, in Portland, OR, in Maine, in Massachusetts, and all over Vermont. The Country Bookshop was the only place that had a copy. Finding it, and finding it reasonably-priced and in great condition (especially for a 100+ year old book) helped justify yet another road trip to Plainfield. The store is a maze of bookshelf-filled old rooms. You could easily spend an entire afternoon in here. The books are, for the most part, organized on these shelves. The hardcover fiction section (my personal favorite) has disappointed me on repeated visits simply because the owner has stacked boxes in front of the bottom two shelves and the last thing I want to do while browsing for books is have to move around boxes. Nevertheless, I typically leave the store with a smile on my face and a book or two in hand, so I can't complain too much. The store is out of the way (I only make it out there once or twice a year) so I understand if anyone is hesitant to make the trip; but if you do, I think you'll find it a worthwhile trek.

This place is actually kind of enchanting. A place you'd half expect to take a wrong step and…read moreaccidentally knock over a thousand-year-old translation of the Voynich Manuscript. Well okay maybe not THAT crazy but still... I've made some pretty wild finds in this place. A little pricy but definitely has that "Vermont used bookstore" magic going on. I just wish they were open later!

This store has everything for everyone. Books and quirky gifts for all ages and I mean ALL ages…read more Great kids selections of art,crafts, books and toys. Friendly owner and very helpful.

It's a bookstore, but only just barely. 90 percent of the store is kids toys and gifty items and…read morethe rest are books for small children. You won't find much of anything for anyone over the age of 8 and navigating it feels like a cluttered mess. The employees also leave a lot to be desired. I felt like I was bothering them just by being there and the responses to my questions were borderline rude. Simply put, it all left me with very little desire to go back...

Excellent prices and selection. Not as many science and math, but plenty in other areas of…read moreinterest. Knowledgeable and helpful staff pointed us in the right direction.

I drove by here early in the day. I was heading North and knew Id be passing back by on my way…read moreback South. When I passed by in the morning it wasn't open, but even then there were books outside just calling out to be perused. So upon my return, some 7 hours later, I stopped in. Easy parking out front. It's huge. Books for days. These are used books, and many are in great shape, and priced accordingly. This isn't the cheapest used bookstore I've come across, but I think it's the most extensive. I wasn't looking for anything specific so didn't ask for anything. But I spent time in the cookbook and travel book sections. Huge. So many to choose from. Many decades of choices, including recent, especially important in the travel book section. I found the pricing a little higher than I expected, but I picked up some books anyway. Used bookstores keep books relevant and out of landfills both. Gotta love that.

This is the best book store I've been to in the United States!! I'm a big fan of local curated…read morebooks store compared to the bigger ones and this place seems curated to me. I just went for a casual browse and ended up leaving with maybe 5 books? I kept seeing great ones on my TBR list! They suggest Rabbits to me and it was a very fun read. Good board game selection as well!

The owners of this gem of a book store know so much about books and give the best recommendations,…read moreand the bread is fabulous

You're immersed in the sweet perfume of books as soon as you walk in. There are piles upon piles,…read morean improbably large number crammed into this small bookstore, the cacophony recalling a wild, lushly overgrown garden -- or perhaps a cheerier version of the bookstore in "The Neverending Story." It's just (dis)organized enough to maximize your browsing enjoyment. You stumble across unexpected delights in the many nooks and crannies! But if you're looking for a specific something, the kind owners are immediately there to assist... and expound upon similar reads you might enjoy. They're like living, breathing Spotify playlist curators for books. Good ones. Tempest also carries puzzles and a massive selection of movies on DVD. What's on display in the store is only the tip of the iceberg. The rest of the iceberg lives in the owners' garage, we're told -- but they're happy to dig out whatever you request. Sadly, we're only in the area for a few weeks of the year. Most of our time is devoted to skiing and on the days when skiing isn't ideal, seeing friends. But next December, I vow to (1) set aside a full day for a proper browse and chat with the fascinating, brilliant, and well-read owners; and (2) do all our holiday shopping here. This store is a true treasure, clearly a labor of love.

I brought my turntable to Speaking Volumes for turntable speed adjustment. Spoke with a very nice…read moreyoung man. Came back when it was finished. Brought it home and found the tone arm lifter had a part broken off. They replace it with a cheap piece that doesn't work. So I phoned Speaking Volumes. The store owner got on the phone and started yelling at me. I was stunned. He told me to go to hell if I didn't like what he did. Nice. He told me to never come back. My advice is to go anywhere else to have your audio equipment repaired. You'll be glad you did.

Rude & careless staff and management every step of the way. Incompetent. Burlington deserves better.read more

This has been a wonderful staple of Lyndonville for many years. New and used books. If you can't…read morefind it they would be happy to order it for you. Great service. Wonderful value on must have books!

Quick update eight years later: it's still a delightful used bookstore, with crowded shelves…read morecrowded with hundreds and hundreds of volumes on all sorts of topics. We're fond of cookbooks, and they have a bunch. It feels cozy like we think a used store ought to feel, and we were very pleased to make our reacquaintance with it recently. And yes, it is open during the pandemic, at least as of the time of our review.