Look, even though I love second-hand bookshops, this place wasn't as good as some that I have…read morevisited. I guess it has something to do with it being more for second-hand books as opposed to antiquarian books as well. I guess it also has something to do with the difficulty I had in finding any really good books that would grab my attention. Still, places like these aren't places where you visit once because they tend to be the type of places where you will always find something new.

I absolutely love this book shop. About every 2 weeks I pop in and there's always new stuff in…read morethere. It's got absolutely great second hand books in there. Lovely service and lovely people.

The book grocer is the perfect little book shop. They have getting people back reading strongly on…read morethe agenda. With a good range of books spanning from Penguin classics right the way through to self-help books such as 'Sexercise'. But what makes The Book Grocer truly great is the fact that they serve up coffee and muffins and have plenty of couches and seats for the avid browser to sit upon, sip their coffee and ponder what to buy. And perhaps an even better thing is the fact that (bar a few exceptions) every book in the shop costs under $10. I don't know how they manage to be so cheap, but if you ask me $10 is a perfectly great price to pay for an entertaining book.

A visit to The Book Grocer is like falling down a rabbit hole into a bibliophile's heaven…read more A beautifully airy and modern bookshop replete with lots of seating and even a coffee machine, Northcote's Book Grocer sells an incredible range of books ranging from fiction to biography, art to the social sciences and all for incredible prices. Seemingly every time I visit The Book Grocer there are scores of people engrossed in a selection of this gorgeous little shop's tomes and this behaviour isn't just accepted, it's encouraged. The Book Grocer's staff are friendly and welcoming and there are so many incredible books within this awesome book shop's four walls that you can easily spend a good hour here giving each section no more than a cursory glance. Prices tend to be around $6 for paperback fiction and as little as $15 for a gorgeous hardcover, coffee table type book or cookbook. I was looking for some art and design reference books today and the selection was nothing short of intimidating. As a guide to the kind of discounts on offer, I found a beautifully put together book about legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland for $10 reduced from $40 and all stock is new and in impeccable condition. An incredible shop.

I was dismayed at the recent demise of bookstores Angus and Robertson and Borders. It was sadly…read moresignaling the end of the paperback era and a glimpse of how technology has the power to change the way we will read and communicate in the future. Feeling the need to support the publishing industry, I recently came across All Books for Less. I guess the point of difference is the $5 price of all books for sale which gives them some hope of remaining viable in the foreseeable future. But if you're like me and prefer the smell and feel of a book made of paper rather than reading from an avatar from Amazon.com, go to All Books for Less and support our bookstores! They've got an immense and varied selection available. I came across sections for gardening, history, crime, romance, biographies and drama. Not being up to date on the current best sellers list and unsure of what to get, I chose the prequel to SATC (Sex and the City), and a true story of a talented writer's battle with anorexia which resulted in her death, titled 'Daddy's Little Girl'. It's not a bad read but I probably wouldn't recommend it, and the SATC prequel is a big fat flop and will be a box office disaster should it make it to the big screen. But the point is there is now another player out there with the buying power to stock a great variety of new and best sellers. Lets get behind them and support a store that could save the paperback from extinction.

I must warn you. You should not come here if you are saving money. You should not come here if you…read moreare trying to live light. You should not come here if you're about to go overseas, or if you're about to move house. Because as soon as you step through the doors, you will fall into a hypnotic book-trance as over 8000 titles try to lure you over to them, all words and tongues, and you won't leave until you have a brown-paper lunch-bag full of the most delicious literary treats you could hope for! Warren and Kirsty have created the most beautiful inner-city shrine to literature, a land of teak and glass artifacts, tempting sit-spots and a plenty titles that are guaranteed to fill you with a sense of wonderment and inspiration! They also have an array of in-store events and appearances, and are just some of the most lovely people you'll meet! Moving to Melbourne from a small country town, I was warned you'd be hard pressed to come by a sense of community and caring in the big, cold city. But spending a little time in the store you'll see there's a heartbeat and lifeblood flowing though our beautiful Melbourne - and the soulful brain is at Embiggen. Go get lost there for a little while - you'll likely end up finding yourself on the shelves there somewhere!

I LOVE this swanky little book shop. There's a sweet open window front display of the whole store…read morewhich really feasts the eyes. When en-route to a meeting a friend for coffee i received a text that said she was going to be running late and lucky enough i was walking past Embiggen when this happened. Embiggen was actually closed up until mid October due to flooding (I'm sure it had something to do with that massive storm in August), now open Embiggen is a book store to be reckoned with. They have a large range of titles all spread across a wooden interior (both floor and shelving), genres range from anything Art & Design, Sciences, Fiction, Economics, Politics, Poetry, Travel and more, there's a epic range for you to procrastinate through.

Perimeter Books feels more like a gallery than a bookstore, with the strong presence of natural…read morelight, polished wooden floors and white walls; but that's because it is. An independent bookstore that only stocks books on art, design and architecture, along with a few independent journals and the odd novelty, Perimeter is all about the meshing of visual arts and publishing. It also hosts exhibits from local artists in the shop. There's a very calm, inspired vibe about the shop, and the staff demonstrate the perfect combination of being informative, friendly, professional and not too in your face. It sits comfortably in the space between being not too cheap and not overly expensive, and there are some really interesting art and literature finds. I particularly enjoyed a small book near the counter that was a collection of hilarious warning signs in Japan that are mostly themed along the line of 'don't fall and hit your head anywhere'. Definitely worth a regular browse.

Independent bookstores, risky business venture or optimistic book barn antidote? A recent addition…read moreto the revitalisation of High st Thornbury, Perimeter is a specialist bookstore focusing on local and international architecture and design, photography and art publications and exhibit contemporary artists within their space. The shop is light, contemporary and selective of their stock. I don't profess to know a great deal about art publishing but I do enjoy a good coffee table flick and these high quality publications provided serious visual stimulation. It can be quite daunting walking into a small gallery like space but there's a relaxed vibe that makes you feel more interested in niche art publications. There are some interesting paperback zine styled mags under $20 or the more expensive "nice gift" hardback books.

Stepping into this shop is like stepping into the scene of an important turning point in a…read morescreenplay; there's just so much to discover amongst its dusty and seemingly haphazard shelves of goods that it just feels rich with opportunity. It looks as though it could have been the stand in for the shop the boy hides in at the beginning of 'The Neverending Story'. It's main specialty is in selling second hand and niche academic, political and specialty books, some of which it sells online (presumably through ebay, because I can't find an actual website). The shelves are so dense with books it's almost intimidating to browse, but anyone who likes the feeling of hunting for a bargain will enjoy the process. There's also a lot of second hand vinyl records, CDs, knick knacks and even the odd board game, including somewhat hilariously the 'Home and Away' game. You can also find stuff like old cuff links and other retro junk, a rocking horse and other old toys from bygone eras. The guy behind the counter, Noel, is friendly and it's worthwhile having a good conversation with him. Although the shop's been where it is for a while now, the lease is only month by month, so its' future existence is a little tenuous. Definitely worth the effort of checking out before it disappears at the end price hike in shop rent.

There are a couple of things that I have noticed about 2nd Hand bookshops. Firstly if we are…read moredealing with popular books (or authors) then the chances of you finding any of their works in a second hand book shop are going to be slim at best. On the other hand they can be pretty hit or miss, depending one when you go, and also depending on the tastes of the owner - they don't necessarily buy every book that comes their way, not are they prescient enough to know that you want a particular book. This particular one was okay, and as I have mentioned before, there is always something hidden away that is going to catch my attention. While not huge as some are, it still is rather quaint.

This little bookstore is a fantastic place to waste time and pick up a bargain…read more Almost like stepping into a fairy tale the small space is exaggerated by the piles and shelves packed full with books. As you walk between the valleys of winding piles of paperbacks keep your eyes out for some bargains or collectables. Sections have been roughly organised, but the store plan is a bit hard to decipher. Just ask the owner or one of the members of staff to point you in the right direction. They are always friendly and up for a chat. The Merchant of Fairness can also help you track down a book that you haven't been able to locate. This is a service that is free of charge, and that the owner Rod is particularly proud of. The only section that is clearly separated from the rest is the children's. This is a brilliant little corner out the back where you can reminisce and look at copies of books that you may not have seen for 20 or so years. Stocking second hand books and rare first additions from various warehouses there is always a chance to find a copy of a childhood novel you treasured, or to purchase some large anthologies at a fraction of the price as new.

This bookstore near Fairfield Station is well stocked and a pleasure to browse…read more They have a carefully selected children's literature selection with toys, games and puzzles as well as books. Popular fiction, mystery and travel and a range of non-fiction can be found here too. Now that Borders has bit the dust why not support independent book stores or they too may go the way of the dinosaurs. Speaking of dinosaurs Im sure you could find books on them here too! Need help with your selection? Speak to ex-librarian Heather and she will be happy to help you out.

From a teacher's perspective, the customer service at Fairfield Books is as good as it gets. I…read moreoften stop by to browse through their selection of children's books, and am always so pleased to see an abundance of quality children's literature in stock. If you are looking for a book that they don't have, the staff are knowledgeable enough to suggest alternatives. I appreciate them taking the time to get to know how you intend to use the book in class, and to suggest other books that compliment the same theme. This would be a great place to pick up a book as a gift for a child. They also have a wide selection of fiction and non-fiction books, small gifts, stationary, and toys/games.