It's no secret that I've got a thing for independent bookstores. They remind me of a time gone by…read more(which is strange because I am still in my 20's), when people weren't glued to their phones or the television every night but instead conversed or read books in happy solitude. Perhaps this is why I find it hard to go into a bookstore, like Timeout and not walk out with a book. Seriously, every time I find some excuse for buying a book. I also just love hearing the staff's recommendations. More often that not they lead to the discovery of a brilliant new author or reading a book you would've otherwise never picked up. Timeout seems to have more fiction than say, Novel in Herne Bay but they do also have a good number of design/architecture coffee table books as well. If you can't find what you're looking for, don't despair, although it's jam packed - floor to ceiling with books - the staff seem to miraculously know where everything is.

So first of all I'll confess that I am friends with the manager here. Her name is Jenna Todd and…read morewhen she's not in this very cool independent bookstore, she is being a very talented photographer and doing many other fabulous things. Really. Sometimes I want to BE her. Timeout though, even before Jenna, is its own legend. Battling in an industry where the littlies were mostly squashed a long time ago, this place is still here and I think that's so important. It is the antithesis of the big faceless corporate-owned bookstore; Timeout is small, perfectly formed, filled with personality and personalities. It has its own most awesomely cool cat Lucinda (I love you just the way I am) and the owner's dog often hangs out here too. Even the Facebook posts are actually funny and informative which is a real achievement when most social media is just CRAP (not Yelp of course, we're critics providing a service. Big difference.) These are no doubt just some of the reasons Timeout is constantly winning awards. The back room is given over entirely to children's books and the staff (all of them) are knowledgeable and can recommend something for every age group. I think that Timeout is one of Mt Eden village's key assets and one of the primary reasons the place actually feels like a village. It's bustling, buzzing and bursting with character and I find such a strange and profound pleasure in going in there and fondling the pile of brand new books stacked on the table. Does that make me weird?

This is Auckland's best (and probably biggest) second hand bookstore. It's musty in a good "old…read morebooks" kind of way, and sprawling and welcoming at the same time. Set over two floors of one of Onehunga's old buildings, it's like a house full of books. Most rooms have a comfy old chair or two for reading, and visitors are encouraged to sit and do just that. The subject range is huge and varied, and the prices are of course, excellent. The staff are knowledgeable and will point you in the right direction if you are after something in particular. Which is helpful because if you haven't been here before you could get lost and never come back out. Sadly Onehunga has been on the decline in the last few years despite there being a number of really great businesses here. I would recommend coming for lunch at Luscious, followed by a fossick at the Hard to Find and then checking out Look Sharp Discount Store. This historic Auckland suburb has suffered from mismanagement for too long now but as while these unique places cling on, it's still worth a visit - there is so much character and potential.

What do you buy for the person who has everything? Something fun, interesting or ridiculous;…read moresomething they've never seen before. Hard To Find Bookstore is the place to go for the person who has everything - spend enough time in amongst the weird little nooks and crannies and you're bound to find something for that awkward person who requires a gift. Ohe of my most lovely memories of Hard To Find Bookstore was a Christmas morning, when the small family of academics I was sharing breakfast with handed out presents. All three of them had bought each other gifts from Hard To Find, and all were so appreciative of their gifts. Some of the books still had their HTF price tags pencilled inside but nobody cared - gift-giving isn't always about how much it costs, but how much it means. And to these bookworms, the gifts were priceless.

I love bookstores: the smell, the colors, and the possibilities for adventure and escape. Where I…read morelive there aren't many left, so it's exciting to visit as wonderful as Unity Books. In Auckland there are quite a few places to go, but this one is independent and probably the best. Unity Books has its main store and children's book separate on the same street; both are fun to browse through. I came here both to browse and with a mission. I wanted to purchase the complete Lord of the Rings and Hobbit filming locations books. They're printed in New Zealand and cover places we visited, and others we'd love to return to. Their prices were what I expected; with the exchange rate, I was happy. The store was organized and they were easy to find, but one of the books' spine was broken. I asked a friendly clerk and they quickly went to the back and got another copy. It made buying them there easy. They had so many happy customers, it's easy to see they're doing well. I will definitely stop here on our next visit.

Service was fast and friendly, called to put a book on hold and showed up about 35 minutes later…read more They had it ready to go and were very nice.

Yes. This is what secondhand book shops are. Dominion Books is stellar. A marvelous and outstanding…read moreexemplar. The shop is incredibly cramped. It's brilliant. You're forced to kind of tilt your body around and really exercise your joints in order to navigate the walls and aisles covered in shelves covered in books. The books are cheap. Dirt cheap. I got a near new copy of Jonathan Franzen's Freedom of $4. $4! It was daylight robbery. Most importantly, the whole operation is overseen by the most timid, aging woman of all time. She's bloody magnificent. So surprised whenever anyone comes up to her to buy a book. That's absolutely magic.

Never have I been in a book shop like Dominion Books that requires the flexibility of a gymnast to…read morenavigate between the packed shelves. It reminds me of something from Harry Potter but surrounded by yummy mummy's out for coffee with the pram. In the age of electronic book downloads it is satisfying to hold and flick through a tome of imagination and inspiration. It's also nice to but something on a whim, without reading 100 online reviews from around the globe. That said, what Dominion Books offer me over it's competitors downtown is that beautiful aroma of literature, the smell is addictive.

In my opinion, the single greatest bookshop in Auckland and I'm loath to tell anyone about it…read more Brazzers jokes will not be tolerated. I'm secretly happy this place isn't open often and it used to be the highlight of my morning run, where I could disappear for an hour in unkempt literature luxury. Leather bound books with gilded edges and embossed titles everywhere. That musty, bookish smell. This shop is the epitome of the TV series Black Books. If you have seen the show you, will know the chaotic, wonderful displays and service to expect. If you haven't seen it, you don't deserve to know and will never fully appreciate this place. (This store is opened sporadically on the whims of the owner.)

Apparently Braziers sells art as well as books. Most people would never know, because it seems to…read morenever be open. I once rang up to see if they had a book I needed in stock, and luckily enough they did. So I said I would come round about 1 to pick it up - 'sure thing, the shop will be open!' I go there at 12.45 and the shop is closed. An hour later of wandering around Balmoral, I go back - the shop is still closed. There's a number on a little card saying to ring if the shop needs attention. So I ring it - it goes to voice mail. Back in my car I get and head home to hop on the internet and order the book online. I recently found the secret of how to get to Brazier's books. You have to go to Jack's bar around the back of the warehouse, where he will be sitting out the front lecturing the bar about something. I'm all for over the top drinking, but I really wish Brazier's would hire some minimum wage flunky to , y'know - run the store.

I am all about independent bookstores these days and this one is an absolute gem! Doris, who owns…read morethe store is kind, knowledgable and most importantly passionate about books. When I last went in they didn't have the book I was after (City of Thieves by David Benioff - if you haven't already, you should read it - it's fantastic!) but were happy to order it in. They are also happy to host other people's book clubs after-hours complete with wine and sweet treats for FREE, which I think is pretty cool! Doris goes through some of the new and interesting books they have in-store and then you share with you B.C comrades what you have been reading of late. Book swaps are also allowed! I think it's important that we support small independant stores like this and am happy to make the extra trip over the bridge to do so!

I'm into a lot of historical books, so this book store isn't one of my favourites. However, I do…read moreadmire all independent bookshops like this one that still operate, especially when it's so easy to get stuff online. This bookshop in particular has a great selection of cookbooks and children's books, which means it's perfect for gifts. They seem to keep pretty up to date with all the latest new releases, and they can also order something in for you if they don't have it in stock. One of the bonuses of coming to a bookstore like this one is that you get good service and advice from the person who knows a lot about the products that she sells. Definitely ask if you are stuck for gift ideas.

I love giving books as presents and Novel is definitely top the list when a gift-giving occasion…read morerolls around. It's been on Jervois Road for what seems like forever and has the most wonderful range of glossy coffee table books. Of course, they stock fiction too and in my experience have always been happy to make recommendations if you get stuck. I know kindles are supposedly cool these days but for me, you can beat a good ol' fashioned paperback! If you're lucky you may even run into the store dog - a wee Sheltie. He's not the friendliest of pups but I reckon that adds to his charm!

Novel is a good place to extend your reading repertoire - the owner is very knowledgeable about…read moregood reads especially if you want to vary from the usual David Baldacchi or Lee Child offering. In addition there is a very wide range of "coffee table" books that will satisfy ones craving for the best in interior design, fashion, music or Photography. A definite must for the bookophile (if that's a word!)

Yesterday I got copies of Welcome to the Monkey House, Don Quixote, and Sombrero Fallout from…read moreClassics and Suchlike for $26. I searched the same books on Book Depository and the total came to $42. That's $16 worth of massive savings. Add on extra bonus discount value that I'll add because the old ladies who work there and 'man the desk' and deliciously meek and wonderful and it becomes $20 worth of massive savings. Deduct a small amount of discount for the fact that you have to leave your bag at the front counter and the obvious drawback of second-hand book shops (you can only get what they have). You've still got $18 worth of powerful discount. Add in one bonus dollar for the fact that they have about seven rooms full of books and you have a grand total of $19 worth of discount over Book Depository. So, Classics and Suchlike is $19 better than Book Depository. Also potentially the only second-hand bookshop in Ponsonby?

You know when you see houses converted into business and you're more than a little apprehensive to…read moreenter? For example you see a sign in someones yard advertising a dentist, or a vet clinic, or a podiatrist, and you're sure if you enter you will see a family sitting down to dinner. That's what Classics & Suchlike Books remind me of, but do not be put off! Inside this converted Ponsonby villa you will find a labyrinth of rooms with section upon section of alphabetized books. Honestly, you may need a ball of yarn to lay a trail behing you like Theseus. Twice I found myself back in the entrance, so engrossed was I in the endless titles. It doesn't have any café charade or try to masquerade the fact that it is anything but an immense supply of books. Get lost in a plethora of literature.