Happen to be driving through the Blue Mountains on Easter Sunday and found the shop was open. For…read moresuch a small shop it is packed with books. I also was amazed when the nice shop keeper was able to help me find a hard to find book in their large Sci-Fi / Fantasy section. They had it and I was impressed. They also had Fighting Fantasy game books and a few how-to draw books, which I've not seen anywhere else in Australia. Will be going back here again.

Cream of the crop…read more Blue Dragon Books only opened three years ago but has become, in my humble, one of the best secondhand bookshops in the local area. Small, but perfectly formed, the Dragon (as I think I now dub it) seems to go for quality rather than quanitity of mindless trash you can pick up elsewhere. Not that mindless trash doesn't have its place. Just not here. They've a well-organised and clear layout, making it possible to instantly lay your hand on something you were looking for, or stumble across something unexpected. Diane, the owner, is a delight, and knows her stock well, chatting knowledgably about a wide range of books, and stocking an extensive selection of children's books, I think the largest sci-fi fantasy range in the Blue Mountains, a big crime section, as well as general Lit and the other usual suspects. They run a generous store credit system, not paying a pittance for books in cash as most secondhand bookstores do, but offering a larger chunk of change in credit you can use at the time, or record for later. Not that I've ever had the slightest difficulty in finding something to blow the credit on. And did I mention their prices are some of the most reasonable around? This week I dropped off 4 books, and came out with some classic spinster crime, a history book about Queen Caroline, wronged wife of the Prince Regent, a Russian murder mystery and a novel about art theft and mysticism. Am happy.

There was a rumbling back in 2007, when local institution - the appallingly named 'Kevin's Book…read moreNook' - was up for sale. We all breathed a sigh of relief when Christine took over, revamped the store and named it Brown Books. Jam packed with delights including a large selection of children's books, lots of Australian fiction, a big sci-fi/fantasy section, as well as a well-stocked classics section, history, science; well, you get the idea. While there's an emphasis on recent releases there are also plenty of quirky gems to fossick through and I'm loathe to think how much I've spent here over the years. The store is decorated by making use of the art of vintage bookcovers, especially of the endearingly schlocky kind, giving it that warm feel so beloved of the book obsessed. Easily one of my favorite book local book haunts and a vast improvement upon its earlier incarnation. Shopping online doesn't hold a candle to a really good bookshop. I'm off to the collectibles section to look for something unexpected...

Brown Books is everything I long for in a second hand book shop. It's packed floor to ceiling with…read moretitles, you can get lost amongst the shelves and the prices are great! I can't go to Springwood without visiting, and I can't visit without buying something!

JimmyD's has just had a makeover and is looking shiny and just a little bit glam. With a new coat…read moreof paint and some extra styling, this great local bookshop is coming into its own. Stocking a range of secondhand books covering all the bases including an unusually large crime section, balanced by an unusually small children's one, JimmyD's offers fantastic service and an ever increasing range of eco-gifts. You can pick up a couple of envirosax (stylish shopping bags you can keep in your handbag to avoid ever having to use plastic ones), keep cups (reusable takeaway coffecups) water bottles and funky stationery. The staff are friendly and love their books, and they offer a loyalty program with a free book up to $20 after 8 book purchases over $8. They've got a quirky collector's corner too and I've had a lovely time swapping recommendations with other customers and discussing odd book titles with the staff. 'Contemplating Adultery' anyone? It's a 19th social history book not a howto manual, I swear...

There are a few second-hand bookshops in Springwood, and they're all great. Alas, Jimmy D's ain't…read morecheap; we're talking ~$15 for most of the newer popular titles. But how can you not love a bookshop that's warm, cozy and friendly in the cold cold Blue Mountains? Ya can't.

Basement Books is a dangerous place on many levels…read more Danger number one: It's in Central. It is right in Central. Central is a place you meet people, so you might say, meet you in central at 4pm and then you get there at 3.30pm and you have to wait. So what do you do? You go to Basement Books and peruse their countless books with bright yellow stickers advertising their low and affordable price. Danger number two: Because these books that you're perusing are cheap, you can justify the price even if you're not sure whether you even need the book. 'Oh, a history of Physics' I've always been interested in Physics, and it's only $9.95 I should probably buy this and learn about Physics. Danger number three: Their range is gigantic! I almost said 'ginormous', but that's not a word. What I meant was Hugantic! There are literally thousands upon thousands of books and they're always receiving new stock. They have art sections, computer sections, history, film, personal growth, science fiction, literature, even books like the dictionary, which, had I purchased a copy last I was in, would have saved me the embarrassment of using a non-word like 'ginormous'. So beware of Basement Books. You have been warned. The bookshop is in a great location, the titles are cheap and the range extraordinary. I have a pile of books in my room almost as tall as I am that I have yet to read, opportune purchases that came at me as I strolled amidst the aisles killing time. A book on deadly diseases for $4.95, I'm not going to find that bargain again. Buy! Buy! Buy!

In this day and age of Kindle and Kobo and Nook, a solid read (and I mean one that you can…read moreliterally hold and turn pages beneath your fingers) comes pretty cheap. You really do need to head in to see what they've got because I find their online catalogue lacking and sometimes the staff don't even know what they're stocking. The outside disguises how big this place really is, as it has sections for anything from classic fiction to travel books and bios. It has a pretty decent selection of art supplies as well (I'm no art student, but it does cater for scrapbooking hobbies or the amateur artist if you're after it). Right in the back corner they have a little children's section which I found perfect for my six year old sister who's going through her first reading phase. I bought her a collection of these tiny Winnie the Pooh classics, and a special anniversary edition of Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit and Friends stories which averaged around $4 and $12 respectively. They have tons of different hard cover books (some of which are pop up!) which were surprisingly cheap, but more importantly, were invaluable in keeping kids (of all ages) entertained for hours.

This is one of those places that Sydney is famous for, at least in my mind - secondhand bookshops…read moreand coffee shops. Honestly, why can't they introduce a concept like this in Melbourne because it will make the secondhand bookshops so much better when you can sit on a comfy chair and drink a coffee (or a tea) while perusing a book. Not only that, but it is just across the road from the railway station, another awesome aspect with Sydney because you honestly don't have such convenience in Melbourne. Okay, I didn't stay for a coffee, but I did browse the books, and even found a couple that caught my attention. We certainly need something like this in Melbourne.

With bookshops continually disappearing, it is sad to think that the bookshop/coffee shop may no…read morelonger be a thing any more. The book station is a lovely little reminder of how nice it is to take yourself away from home, away from work and enjoy a coffee and a book. The book station at Caringbah is essentially a secondhand book shop with a coffee shop which oozes community spirit and a love for books (and coffee). The shop is split level with an array of eclectic furniture, where you are encouraged to browse and read at you leisure. The books are very well organised in sections according to interest, and the people who work there will do what they can to assist you in finding what you need.

'Land of Hope and Glory' blasted at me as I walked through the door. This be odd, I thought. At the…read moreback of a tiny arcade way off the beaten track is this little secondhand bookshop. The couple running it were kind, and the book selection, although a little mainstream for me was cheap. Really cheap. They have an exchange credit system and the gentleman at the counter encouraged me to bring my book back for credit for another purchase. While I love this system in principle, in practice I find parting with books somewhat akin to voluntary amputation. He mentioned that they had about 1200 books at home, and then tried to mask his horror at my estimated book ownership. I know, I gotta learn to let go.

Yep, this place certainly lives up to its name, though I'm not sure if they are just referring to…read morethe Shire, or they are actually referring to all of Sydney. Anyway, this place doubles as a new and a second-hand bookshop, as they should, since the gems are usually found in the second-hand part. In fact they also have a pretty decent collection to explore as well. Oh, and helpful and friendly staff, which is always a good thing.

Service was quick. There was a large variety of books on sale for your selection, two words Amazing…read morework!

The ABC shop in Castle Hill has moved, it's now in a much more convenient location where it will be…read moreseen by a lot more customers. It is much more open with lots more room so there's less of a chance of missing anything. There are DVDs of TV series, CDs of music and books - I'm addicted to them. They have things for all ages. They also have select pieces of merchandise so buying a gift is easy. They also do gift cards and they will order in for you.