I can't say I buy a lot of adult books from here (unless the Brisbane Writers Festival is on when…read morethe Library Shop spills out into the Breezeway selling all the books of the festival) but I do really enjoy the range of children's books on offer. I came here to do my Christmas shopping for my niece and nephew last year and found so many lovely, original kids books that I wanted to buy. I also like their range of wrapping paper, which could be cut up nicely to make cards, however, it's very expensive! I took a piece up to the counter with another purchase recently and had to tell the cashier I didn't want it when the price came up on the scanner. I can't remember exactly how much it was, but it was enough to stop me from buying it and the cashier agreed that it was very expensive. If you want to splash out on wrapping and cards here, do so with monetary caution. I'll be sticking to buying books here.

Oh how I love this bookstore. It's beautifully laid out, the range is extremely carefully curated…read more(which you'd expect considering it's the State Library) and the range of add on products are just enchanting. You can grab a takeaway coffee from the adjoining cafe and wander through the stacks to your hearts content. I usually find something I just can't do without, and as my husband is a writer it's a great place to pick up a new Moleskin for him. This place definitely doesn't rest on any State Library laurels, it's a thriving business and destination in its own right and well worth visiting.

Walked past here during a tour and circled back after the tour ended…read more Well laid out bookstore. Books are new condition but not necessarily new books. Prices are the same as the other bookstores. Didn't interact with staff and I browsed to see what they had. Love the large selection but prices a bit higher for me.

The best Bookstore in Brisbane !! If you want any book just ask the helpful staff will find it for…read moreyou !

The best and worst thing you could ever give me is a Folio books voucher…read more I will be elated for days greedily thinking about all the books I have had my eye on, but when the time comes to pick the one book that gets to come home with me I start to panic. Will it be the limited edition Graphic Novel? the book on the history of Swiss Design? the vintage tattoo encyclopedia? the hilarious cat flip-up book?? Of course Folio books has such offerings and a whole load more. It's shelves are groaning with fat glossy art books on show and a large range of fiction to boot. to make matters worse for my wallet, I have recently discovered their online store (+ $9 postage anywhere in australia!) Goodbye money! Hello GREAT RAILWAY MAPS OF THE WORLD (Mark Ovenden, 2010)

If you walk near Albert Street or you're a QUT student, you'll no doubt have fallen across Folio…read moreBooks, but have you gone inside? This guy is just a place with wall-to-wall books on everything from design to art, fashion, food, photography, poetry, design, and just about every topic that's ever been written about. They also have a pretty sweet collection of fiction and some truly fantastic journals and diaries bound to look like antique books. So good. The trouble is picking a section in which to start browsing, because you get turned around and dazed with so many book and category choices. A kind of strange thing that stands out about Folio Books for me is that everything is shiny and new. I like a little bit of history to my books but this isn't an antique store, I must remind myself, so I shouldn't be too judgmental. This place has a ridiculously extensive range of books to delight and inspire.

Great location in downtown and easy to find. Store is well laid out but selection of books seem…read morelimited. I wandered around for a bit and wasn't approached by any sales clerks. Unlike in the US where they have someone positioned in the front and others walking around the floor. Pricing seems on par for Australia but much higher than what we'd pay in the States. Found a few books I would have loved to buy but even with the favorable exchange rate I can't justify spending hard bank prices for a paperback.

The worm has turned. For years, Dymocks cowered in the shadow cast by the golden tome Borders. Who…read morewould have foreseen Dymocks rising from the ashes of their enemy's burial ground? (NB: I'm taking literary license here. In reality, Dymocks sprung up diagonally across the road.) The re-vamped Dymocks on Albert Street is pretty popular these days. There are always people browsing the new releases or specials near the door. On the second level, books are arranged in categories such as art, computer, cook books and gardening. They have an impressive variety of specialist books, though it's hardly surprising given their shop space. Also, keep your eye out for book signings. Admittedly, the last time I went, it was Ray Martin signing his latest book 'Ray Martin's Favourites' but some of my favourite authors are bound to show up eventually.

Only recently have I begun to be consumed by the world of comic books and graphic novels. I have…read morealways had a interest in them but never to any deep extent. I loved the cartoon adaptations of comics when I was a kid (like X-Men, Spiderman, and Fantastic Four), I bought the figurines, but I never actually read the comics. It was not until later in life that I started on a few graphic novels and comics. Now I am hooked. Ace Comics and Games is the perfect spot to indulge my new found love of comics. They do tend to stock more graphic novels and don't have the biggest range in their Queen Street store but the staff are awesomely knowledgeable and friendly and if they don't have something in stock they happily source it for you. You might not even notice Ace Comics unless you were specifically observant or were looking for it on purpose. From the Queen Street Mall all you see is a sign near a doorway next to Wallace Bishop. Walk up a few steps and you make your way into the kind of old looking shop but who really is looking at the paint work when the walls are lined with comics anyway. Ace comics really is a good shop to browse, buy or just generally stand in awe of the awesomeness that surrounds you.

Ace Comics have been around for years and they have greatfully served the gaming community, they…read moreare old school and abit behind here and there but overall very happy to see them doing well and continue to serve the gamers of Brisbane faithfully and wonderfully as they have. Also great place to host DnD games night!

I'm pretty sure the owner here is intelligent enough to know how to spell the word 'eclectica', so…read moreI can only assume the misspelling in the shop's name is deliberate. Maybe it's a cunning ploy to get word-nerds to come running in from the street shouting "Hey, you've got an extra c in your sign. We need to remove it immediately!" Then one said grammarian is inside he/she notices all the cool stuff they have: a human skeleton, a full suit of armour complete with sword, mounted deer skull and vertebrae trophies (the owner explained that her friend has a deer farm and she gleans the bones from the slaughtering process... creepy cool ;) and walls full of exotic and esoteric literature. Mainly non-fiction, notable titles include: * "Energy Vampires: a Guide to Psychic Self Protection" * "Does it Rain in Other Dimensions?" -- a book about alien encounters, featuring a creepy looking alien face on the front. and my personal fave * "Kids who see Ghosts: How to Guide them through Fear" (the kid from 'The Sixth Sense' should have checked this out). I was tempted to buy some incense; not because I really needed/wanted any but because the owner was very nice and I dig their whole vibe. But I didn't have any change and I'm pretty sure the EFTPOS minimum was more than the $1 a box of Patchouli sticks cost. Having only opened in January 2012, these guys are the new(age) kids on the block. I hope people actually buy their stuff because I'd like to see them hang around.

Ecclectica is an enchanting store. It's a bookstore that specialises in literature on a large…read morevariety of esoteric subjects. You can treat it like a normal bookstore and look for things by category. Subjects include: animal guides, native american, earth guardians and so on. You'll find books like "DMT: the Spirit Molecule", art by Alex Grey, and books regarding the relationship between psilocybin and the mind. I laughed out loud while reading a chapter in "Conscious Gardening" devoted to televisions being toxic to plants. The staff have long, wild white hair and like to wear black goth dresses. It's that kind of shop. It's got velvet curtains and you feel like you're walking around in the book shop in Neverending Story II (tell me others remember this film, it was amazing). Go in and have a look around. You might find out interesting things about yourself like what your totem animal is, or what you were in a past life.

Junky is a pint size comic book store with a huge heart!…read more These guys don't do weekly issues. Stocking only volume collections and one off compilations, there is something here for everyone. The lovely staff are more than happy to share their knowledge and help you decide what you are after. And what they don't have they can order in. Current faves in store include the Saga series and Black Hole by Charles Burns.

Clicking "Buy Now" on Amazon or Book Depository seems like the easiest way to have the latest best…read moreseller, adult colouring in book or animals giving high five thank you cards (yes, these are a thing and you can buy them at Mary Ryan's) in your hot little hands, but really, who wants to wait for them to arrive. We live in an age of instant gratification. And that, my friends, is what you get walking into Mary Ryan's in New Farm Village. Instant gratification from the well thought out books that line the shelves. Just the right mix of new, niche and even a grand selection for kids. As other Yelpers have noted, they know their target audience well with a brilliant range of travel, fashion, fiction and gift-items. Instant gratification that you can take your book home with you then and there. If you've timed your visit right you can then proceed to spend the afternoon, with a cup of tea, devouring your new book. Instant gratification that you've helped a local businesses. If we live in an era of instant gratification then this is the kind I want. Not the momentary rush of hitting "buy now" and waiting for it to arrive. Damon and his team have kept this little book shop humming when many haven't survived and I hope it stays that way.

It's pretty telling when a wee little chain like Mary Ryan's is still going strong when mega stores…read moresuch as Borders have closed. Mary Ryan's is really good at knowing their market. For instance the New Farm store is a great mix of food, travel, fiction and fantasy and I've ALWAYS found what I needed (or didn't quite know I needed but now need DESPERATELY) when I've visited. The staff are cool and very helpful, there's no judgement if you ask for the latest fantasy novel (we all have guilty secrets OK) and they now sell gourmet chocolates in store. Yes, gourmet chocolates. Way to buy my vote guys!

Lets start by saying if I could leave 0 stars I would. This was by far the worst experience of…read morebuying comics I have ever had in 30 years of collecting comics. Out of the 7 Marvel comics that I purchased 3 of the where damaged. 1 was folded on one side and had spine ticks, 2nd had the top of the cover torn and a spine tick, 3rd had spine ticks. When I requested new copies be sent I was told: "Unfortunately the paper that marvel uses for their covers isn't the best and imperfections like the ones you've encountered are very common. Any that we supply you are going to be in the same condition. I have never had any order of marvel comics turn up with so much damage. I believe that these comics were not brand new and that I was sent used comics. I will add that I did return the comics and they were fully refunded and the return postage paid for by the shop. Just very disappointed with the service and the dishonesty of the staff trying to pull the wool over my eyes and blaming Marvels bad paper for the shops mishandling of their comics (Or selling used comics). Will never purchase from there again.

Solid little comic shop off of Elizabeth street and behind Queen Street Mall. They've got the…read morewidest selection that I've seen in Brisbane. The store is kind of hidden back in a building so you've got to keep your eye open if you're driving around for it; there's a big sign well in front of the store however. The shop itself is well stocked with good selection of new and back issues. Plenty of graphic novels to be had as well. The place is clean, very well organized and well lit, which is always nice for a comic shop and the staff are very friendly. All their graphic novels are priced on a dollar for dollar conversion which is very nice indeed. They also carry a small assortment of geek T-shirts, action figures and other tchotchkes like bobbleheads and the like.

You could blink a miss this tiny music store located up a set of stairs off Boundary Street in West…read moreEnd. The store is very small but filled to the brim with sheet music, instruments and music paraphernalia. Guitars and ukuleles seem to be the specialty of Browning Street Music but the shop attendants are also very knowledgeable on the best places to go in Brisbane for lessons. I'm certain you could throw any music trivia question at them and they'd answer with ease. Unfortunately due to the size of the store there's not a great deal of stock in Browning Street Music, which would make it hard for them to compete with the likes of Billy Hyde and Allan's, but if you're starting out and need some advice it's a great place to start.