Don't judge me too much, but the last time I actually read a physical book -- like, held it in my hands and sat there and turned pages -- was at least several months ago. I know! I'm a monster. That time is seared in my brain, though, because one of my children, when he saw me sitting on the couch reading, commented that he had never seen me reading in his life. (I tried to explain to him that I do lots of listening to audio books and reading digital books on my phone, and I also do a lot of reading for work, but he wasn't giving me any credit.)
As much as I don't hold books in my hands, I do love bookstores, and they hold a special place in my heart. The Paradox Book Store is West Virginia's oldest bookstore, and it's truly a gem. It has all of the things you want in an old bookstore: that musty smell, the cramped and crowded feeling of spines all around you, hand-lettered signs, soft jazz playing from a radio, a warm feeling emanating from dim lamps set up strategically around the store. This is a bookstore-bookstore.
You will mostly find old used books here. I didn't see too many new titles. But if you're looking for some seedy pulp paperbacks or a book on fresco painting from the 1980s, you're freaking in luck. One of my children was excited to find and purchase a three-inch-thick German dictionary, because ... reasons? He doesn't speak German, has never showed interest in the German language or Germany, but he read that book all day. OK! That's the magic of bookstores, though -- you never know what you'll find, and sometimes the most random things will spark your interest.
The prices are extremely fair for used books. The German dictionary we got was $4, and most of the books I saw were under $5. They have a little nook on the porch with ultra-discounted books (5 for $2), with a sign that says you can even just borrow them. They also have a sign welcoming everyone in, no matter if they have money or not.
The children's section is small, but they have lots of books and toys to play with, plus a bench for adults to sit and watch as their kids play. read more
