This was a quaint find on a beautiful Stirling afternoon, tucked down the back of the small outdoor…read morearcade lane. It's a family run second hand book business by two passionate book worms, who care about the appearance and quality of all the books they accept into their collection. They respect the average person likes to have a browse and will gladly help with any query they may have about the collection and assist in finding a title. You could be forgiven for thinking the majority of books are new, because they are scrutinised so well before being presented. No ordinary run of the mill second hand book store as you may have gathered but they also have some rare, out of print and highly valuable books also, like the Arthur Boyd Drawings book, autographed by him and handsomely priced at $350. And yes there are others in this price range all kept under glass, lock and key as expected. I noticed a few keys placements and even though I'm not into Japanese gardening, I felt like I wanted to buy the book...very persuasive. They certainly know their stuff and it shows.

This is an excellent second hand bookstore and although erring on the small and claustrophobic side…read moreof display cases, taking the time to peruse each shelf is well rewarded. Prices are reasonable with most books around the $10 mark and going up and down from there based on the books condition and its prevalence in the current second hand market. Staff here know their stuff and all the books are in tip top condition except for some of the rarer older hardbacks, in which case their may be a tiny rip in the dust jacket. Popular authors are well covered here, as are the classics, but expect the unexpected as you'll find yourself walking out with some little known book where the blurb is simply tantalising. If you have your eye out for something in particular staff will help you find it in the shop or will promise to keep an eye out for it when purchasing goods. Although petite Chapter Two delivers.

I am not sure whether too many people know about this store. Which is such a damn shame…read more Unfortunately when ever I go there it is not busy. This really sucks! Maybe it is the position of the store, it is set up in a small complex off Main Road in Blackwood. The signage could be better. I actually stumbled across the store when I was stopping in the pet supplies store next door. I absolutely love books so much and I am constantly looking for cool book destinations. In particular, I prefer second hand books. There are so many classics out there that I love to add to my book collection. What will you find here? Well, actually everything! Classics, educational, fiction, children's, history, building, etc... You name it, you will probably find the book you need here. The shop is seriously jam-packed. All of the walls and shelving are covered. So, be prepared to spend a little time here having a good look. Also, if you are having troubles locating what you are after, be sure to speak to the lovely owner. He is such a gentleman and happy to help you find what you need! There are two types of books I am constantly looking for: Philosophy and classic children's books. Weird mix, I know. But, these are two types of books I love. I have found some great titles here including David Hume (Philosopher) and The Magic Faraway Tree (Classic Children's). Please do go out of your way to find this store, you will not regret it!

Blackwood Book Exchange is like a dream come true - one of those bookshops where it's OK to browse…read moreto your heart's content, for hours if you like, without being interrupted by someone wanting to 'help'. On the other hand, if you happen to want help it's there for the asking and the people offering it actually know what they are talking about which makes a refreshing change. There are books there on any topic the average book buyer could want and then some. It's a place best visited when you have time to browse and wallow in the offerings on display; it takes time as just when you think you've seen it all you turn a corner and find more bookcases. It's a book lovers wonderland. Prices are better than in any other bookshop I've visited. I realise the above probably sounds over effusive, but if you visit BBE I guarantee you'll leave with great books and a big smile on your face. I know, I've done it! LV

Honestly, books aren't the biggest sellers anymore, and I often don't have time to read them. And…read moreit is hard to come by a bookstore that isn't a large chain like Dymocks, QBD etc, but St George's is a little bookstore run from an old house in Stoneyfell next to my partner's old work in a cafe. I'm really into cook books, sports biographies and travels books at the moment and this store has heaps of variety, well priced. They have different books other than Jamie Oliver and Lonely Planet, and are very informative about their prized stock. The staff ...

From the owner: 35 Years experience in Educational Resourcesread more

I did not like the way the presented the food. The rice was overdone, the meat was borderline still…read morealive (thought i heard a moo x) and the potatoes were stale af. Never going back!

incredibly rude staff. older woman with black hair and glasses yelled at my daughter for reading a…read morebook instead of buying it. took our business right to QBD books. never had a problem there.

I love the magill book exchange the lovely Lady knows exactly what I want she knows me greets me…read morewith a smile and shows me books mags that interest me excite me. I can return them when I'm finished and swap or buy back etc. great fun browsing Top shop top staff 10/10

The lovely man who runs this store was kind enough to relieve me of all my two-decade old chick lit…read morein exchange for a huge pile of old Goosebumps and Enid Blyton's for my daughter. I love the fact I've walked in here numerous times with a stack of books I hate, and walked out 10 minutes later with a stack of books I love. The opening hours are unpredictable but can you blame them? I'm just amazed stores like this are still around. They're like the Tasmanian Devil of the retail world: it's hard to believe they still exist. And this is a legitimate old school book exchange: creaky floors, sad neglected shop front, weird collection of comics and cookbooks from the 1970's, and also, if you have the time to look, the most fantastic finds! As new Peter Carey and Jonathan Franzen: yes please! Don't ever change, book exchange.

It's a big call saying that I would actually prefer shopping at Dymocks than at Booked... And I'm…read morenot a big Dymocks person due to the ridiculous pricing. I'm definitely a used book buyer, so I don't find myself liking proper stores much. The thing with Booked was, some of the books really looked like used books... Though I'm pretty certain they aren't. They are very misleading with some really cheap books out the front for about $10-$15, but then the prices inside are nothing like that. Hence why I would rather get a used book or buy online (which makes me sad because I really enjoy bookstores and I don't want them to be extinct). They have a decent selection, but again, I wouldn't make my way back here again.

Now it is a shame that most people walk straight past this store when going walking down Twin…read moreStreet. I was a culprit for many years, but one day I was in search for something new to read. One of my good friends recommended that I go check out this store. This store is actually a lot bigger than I expected. There is also an amazing selection here in all different genres. It is almost like a mini library. What I was particularly impressed with was the collection of well-priced classics and rare books. My mum read to me a lot when I was little, it always excites me when I find the books that she had read to me. I generally end up buying those books and giving them to my friends with children. Like the Magic Faraway Tree and the Wishing Chair - you will find a lot of Enid Blyton books here. And the older versions too! Check out the glass cabinet display at the back, you will see some very rare books. Including a couple of very limited edition JRR Tolkien classics! Damn I wish I could afford those! I should also mention that the staff here are ever so friendly. I got into an amazing conversation about the books my mum used to read to me as a child with one of the storeowners. If you are looking for a gift or just something different to read, I really do recommend you have a look at some of the books in this store. You will be sure to find something. Also, if you cannot find what you are after, speak to the owner and they will try and help you source it. Now that is great customer services!

Mary and Colin love books, particularly antiquarian books, that's old books basically; and if you…read morelike books you'll love their store in the city. It's large, full of old books and easy to spend a great deal of time browsing down there. If you don't like stairs there is an elevator to take you down the one flight/floor so it is accessible for folk in a wheelchair and the aisles are wide enough to negotiate same. The range of books is extensive and they are mostly in very good condition. There really are some great books to look at as well; everything from old annuals that will set off memories for some and guffaws for others, through to history books that are written in a way that will make you cringe, and appreciate how the times were once a changing, and my aren't we glad they did! They are proudly linked in with The Australian and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers Limited; so if you are looking for other booksellers who may have what you are searching for - they can offer you some insights and introductions. One thing to keep in mind is that they also buy out of print, second hand and rare books - so if you are dealing with a deceased estate and a lot of books it may be worth having a chat with them before you get rid of stuff that could be worth more than you realise - just a thought.

This place has slightly odd opening hours - but it's understandable as it's run by volunteers. The…read morealtruistic reasons to shop here are quite obvious - the proceeds go to Oxfam's projects and you're reducing waste by buying second-hand copies of books instead of new editions. The practical reasons are fairly self-explanatory too: you get a much larger and weird range of books to browse at a second-hand store, and they are cheaper! I do feel the store might do a little better if it was within a shopping strip of some kind, but it isn't entirely out of the way. The books here are well-sorted and there is a wide variety of new and old. Some secondhand bookshops lie on the pricey side, but this one is very reasonable. I would rate this as one of the best second-hand bookstores in Adelaide.

They sell VHS tapes here! And cassettes: that's where my Roxette tape got to! They have CD'S for…read more$1.50 and a whole shelf devoted to Australian Literature. There's even a separate section for new Australian Literature: at two bucks a pop who wouldn't? Oxfam have an extensive memoir and biography section with creepy titles such as 'How I survived Being Left to Die in a Closet' and 'Letters from a Christian Citizen.' Fun browsing to be had. Considering how cheap everything is, the store is impressively organised with very specific sections of Non-Fiction and everything in Author A-Z. The short story section is one of the biggest in Adelaide and the kids and classics areas have seats so you can sit next to the wall of books and crane your neck all afternoon. I walked out of here with nine books at the price of fourteen dollars. Oxfam makes me so happy I want to sing.

The name of this shop really reveals nothing about it. When I went into it I had never heard of it…read moreor seen anything like it. I think it is even going to be a struggle to explain. Walk in and you see what looks and smells like a block of chocolate. Next to it, a tin of biscuits. Around the room there are cakes, bottles of wines, soccer balls etc. However, they are all books. Yes books that are made to look like what they are discussing. Inside each of the books it discusses the history of each item, including photos and quotes. I can't decide if this is tacky or cool? Mum and I decided that they would be a lot better if they were notepads or diaries. How good would it be to have a diary that looked and smelt like chocolate? You can't really use a history book too much, but it could be a good dining table book. The lady working there told us that the books were great for presents. Hilarious giving someone a bottle of wine and it actually being a book (I for one would be extremely disappointed). However, it is a good idea for children. They would think it was fun, whilst also learning about their chosen item!

Toots Books is a truly creative concept of a book store and I can't say I've ever seen anything…read morelike it before. They sell books that come in shapes of actual objects such as a chocolate bar, a football, a shoe or a CD. At first glance I didn't even know what it was until the friendly lady behind the counter explained what it's all about. Take for example the book that looks like a bottle of wine: they sell it in a cardboard box that looks like a box with real wine. The book inside then tells the story of wine with plenty of pictures and trivia. I really like the idea of the shop and it's certainly fun to look at all their things. Would I buy it for myself? Probably not, but it can be a great gift idea!