Following Borders's demise, Dymocks is, as far as I am aware of, the only remaining bookstore on…read moreBurke Road, Camberwell. Based in the Well, it could not be more conveniently located in the heart of Camberwell shopping. I really like this store. It's got a broad range of books to suit all needs and wants. The staff are great, really great in fact. Borders Camberwell were good, bigger however you were never able to find someone to give you a hand and assist you in finding what you were after. Dymocks, on the other hand, offers more (in my view) of that personalised service that I like. Oh and yes there's an ABC store in there as well.

Having recently moved to the area, I have been in search of a good quality book shop with helpful…read moreand knowledgable staff for myself and family. We buy a lot of books. I have visited most other local book shops with very mixed results. I was so pleasantly surprised with the service that this will now become my local bookshop.

You seriously got to love a shop with it's own pet cat, especially when the cat is really, really…read morefriendly (such as this one). Okay, I don't get to go down to Prahran a huge amount, and it had been a while since I stepped in here (especially since I have way too many books to read anyway), but I decided that when I was here I would duck in and look around. I also remembered that there was a cat here, and I wanted to say hello. Well, like any good second-hand bookshop there are plenty of books to browse through, including my favourites - old and dusty hardcovers. However it is the cat (and the fact that the owner is lovely and more than happy to help you out) that makes me want to give it five stars.

Kindles and Ipads kind of scare me, im what a marketing lecturer would call a "slow technological…read moreadopter". Im not anti technology just happy knowing I can throw a book in my bag and not stress about recharging or breaking it. Sybers Secondhand books has an extensive 'Bernard Black' like collection. There is a large science fiction/fantasy selection as well as general non/fiction. Prices are above op shop prices and vary depending upon the quality/antiquity/rarity of the book. The average price for a book is around $7 though you can pick up some cheaper generic novels. I went through an illustrated bird book phase and Sybers stocked a nice range of old "Australiana" books. If you are wandering along the Windsor end of Chapel and appreciate a pre read book drop in and pat one of the store owners cats while you browse.

Avenue bookstore is my go to place for books. They always have what I'm looking for and if I don't…read morethey order the book that I need and it's there within a week. On top of that the place is always very clean and well organized and they always have cool new books coming in for me to check out. Staff have always been extremely helpful and excepting when you ask him for any kind of book. I recommend Avenue bookstore to any of my friends that asked me about book recommendations.

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.

I generally don't go into bookshops very often nowadays. I tend to download my books from kindle…read more Having said that, Berkelouw Books is an awesome place to browse. They have a huge varitey of books, and if they don't have what you are looking for, chances are they can get it in. The store itself is lovely, big and light, and the staff are super friendly and obviously love their books. This place makes you want to put in the effort and go in to a bookstore.

By far the biggest dymocks I've been to and the most expansive in titles of the 2 I was thoroughly…read moreimpressed by the breath of titles over the levels as well as the helpful staff always around periodically. For my preferred subjects: sci-fi, history, media and sports this is a treasure trove of books I've been looking for(some for over 6 years). I appreciated their accommodation of me coming in relatively late and the book they had was in impressive condition compared to bookstores where I'm from. Overall I can't wait to call this shop home and eventually delve deep into their contents. Can't wait to come back again!

Books, games, toys, a café Intensive thousands of books fill the shop. It appeared to be well…read moreorganized and there were some information from him. An author was on hand signing his books and there was a story time in the children's section.This is the largest bookstore in Melbourne and the second largest in Australia.

Located beneath Glenferrie station is a book shop like no other in the area…read more Behind the glass you feast your eyes upon the novels and bound volumes that await you. Open the door and the smell hits you, the kind of smell that knowledge seeps from. Printed pages a plenty, this book shop is known for it's rare and hard to find pieces, both in quality and in quantity. The staff, when you can find them (often found amongst the books) are helpful and knowledgeable on most questions regarding the shop's contents, though on a few occasions I've discovered a book they didn't know was there. What this really means is it's worth having a good look yourself.

This is a beautiful store, and I adore the fact that it is tucked away and secluded from the busy…read moremain street. The books spill out onto the walkway in boxes on tables and include classics and more contemporary literature. The inside of the store is the perfect balance between antique library and organized and clean shop front. The atmosphere is more on the library side, and you can take as long as you want just walking around and either flipping through beautiful editions of classics or staring into the cabinets at the antique and collectables within. The sales assistants are really helpful and don't make a fuss about you touching the books or taking your time. It is all about enjoying the books and having a read. Alley Tunes is next door and you'll be able to grab a great coffee, then you can browse the book collections outside that are a little less expensive.

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.

In a world where bookstores are disappearing at an alarming rate, Albert Park's Avenue Bookstore…read morestands strong. A haven for those resisting the onslaught of the e-book and all that comes with it, Avenue has been extremely clever in ensuring that it remains current. From author visits to a complementary reading guide, this is worlds away from the soulless department stores that masquerade as bookshops. Most importantly there is an absolutely amazing selection on offer. Whether you're looking for Dostoevsky or Warnie's latest memoir, no stone is left unturned and the staff really know their stuff. Ask them even the most obscure of questions, and chances are they'll know exactly what it is that you're looking for. They carry an extensive range of select local and imported books as well as air-freighted magazine and specialist children's books. And on the off chance that you can't find what you're looking for they offer special orders, with regular air-freights from US and UK suppliers. Especially beautiful is the art and design mezzanine that shelves works on art, architecture, design, photography and fashion. Long considered to be one of Australia's leading independent bookstores, Avenue is celebrating its 25th birthday this year.

I sometimes wonder if the Avenue typifies the bookstore of the future. Not because they're…read moreparticularly sci-fi, but because it's focused more on the boutique experience than on efficient shopping. If the collapse of Borders signifies the downfall of mass retail bookselling and the rise of digital publishing, then I feel that stores like the Avenue are much better positioned to survive in a post-digital world. And it is very much a boutique. Of books. A booktique, if you will. You won't? I understand completely. But they've got a frequently changing window display, where the books seem to be selected on aesthetics (colour, design, etc) rather than market position or content. Their shelves are well-stocked and sorted alphabetically, but there's no signage to indicate which section is which genre. If you want to find, say, a crime novel or an art book, then you'll need to search for it. Given how far back the store stretches, it might take you a little longer than you'd have thought standing outside. Ultimately, I'm not so sure that I like the boutique experience. Browsing's fine on a Sunday afternoon, but there's something to be said for going straight to the right book, paying, and leaving. It's a good-looking store, though, and I'm shallow enought that that's enough for me to ovelook some of the other flaws.

Readings is a renowned independent Melbourne book store. They now have six locations around town,…read morebut each has its own intentionally unique character - the Hawthorn store is no exception. These guys know books. But they also 'get' social media and emerging tech; and their range of stocked titles is excellent. In a world of downloadable books and the resultant impact on 'bricks and mortar' stores, they're doing a lot right to keep pace both on and offline. That being said, their in-store staff are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable in a way that I don't feel an online shopping cart could ever be. The store location itself was moved a couple of years ago from across the road to its current, bigger location. There's now a dedicated events space that plays host to several groups (a knitting collective!), and through a door at the back is the delightful 'Bread and Jam for Frances' Cafe. A great place for those of us that occasionally like to indulge in the tactile delight of the bound, printed word. Also the place most responsible for the ever-growing reading pile next to my bed.

Book shops rock. I want to work in one. I spend way too much time in them, buy too many books and…read morecan't keep up with reading between work and study. This Readings is the closest one to my day job and I spend way too much time in here. I still haven't gotten in the Kindle yet. I like flicking through hard copy pages. I sound like Forrest Gump in this review, don't I?