I love books. Ergo, I love bookstores. In an age of mass media consumption, the neighborhood…read morebookstore is a welcomed respite. The Buchladen Neusser fills that role admirably in Nippes. Let's start with the positives. It is a wonderful book shopping atmosphere with a very friendly and knowledgeable staff. The shop has its own personality in the middle of downtown Nippes. If you're sole looking for atmosphere and nostalgia, then this business is an important landmark. For some people, supporting local business is their primary value. If that's the case, then the Buchladen is a must-shop. However, in terms of convenience and price, the shop is lacking. The selection is limited and the prices are not competitive compared to the larger stores. If your priority is immediate selection, your better off at a larger store. If price is your thing, no store can compete with the Internet.

If only I could read German I would spend here days. Unfortunately I can only read their English…read moreand French sections (the only original language sections they have). Both the English and the French sections are small but the selection is very nice. The English one has lots of current issues; the French one seems to be more dedicated to classics than to new books (but I would need to go back to confirm). The nice thing is that you're free to roam around for hours and no one bothers you (and there are sofas). The philosophy section is just fantastic (for German speakers). The owners (?) seem rather helpful, even if a bit brusque (might be a cultural difference) but I suspect they do not speak much English (or any other language beside German) (to confirm). (They also have Gallimard notebooks! (no more than a couple of euros more expensive than in France)).