Love this place. Great place to shop for new and used book and even a good selection of records. The variety of books is really good and what I would expect in a good used/new bookstore. Nice to find a little something for all interests. Prices on used books seemed to be reasonable and records were hit and miss for price, some seemed a bit high but I could also be a little out of touch. read more

Tsunami Books - Bookstores Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

Independent book store with the right vibe incorporating used books. Went bc of a community event with leaders speaking on a vision for supporting unhoused youth in the area. Selling local earthen ware, beeswax candles, records, with a grand piano on hand. Chairs are set in places for people to "pick up and read," and has that magical "the right book will find you today," feel. Prices are so reasonable. A must for book lovers. read more

See all

Trivia: What major event in Alaska in 1964 had a tremendous impact on the coast of Oregon? Wonderful service. Delightful selection. I could spend hours perusing the excellent collection of books. I've sort of created this new trend in bookstores where I pull out my Goodreads list and peruse the shelves and list until I locate at least one book on my list. Didn't take long before I had three books in hand. The downside was the stack of "Beyond the Cerulean Sea" sitting off to the side behind some stacks. They weren't yet available to be purchased. Booooo. But I get it! If I lived in Eugene, I would be a frequent bibliophile of this delicious collection. read more

Tsunami Books - Used books and a piano - Bookstores Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

See all

After having the worst experience at Smith Family Books, I decided I needed to go on the hunt for another small local bookstore that I could love. That's how I found Tsunami Books. My husband and I went in earlier to check it out. It is small, but there are soooo many books packed into such a tiny space. My favorite part of the store is the part where they showcase both Oregon authors and Oregon history. They have a bunch of events going on after closing, and we were given a flyer to attend an upcoming event. We fully plan on doing so in the near future. The employees are kind, welcoming, and helpful. Compared to Smith Family Books, they were nothing short of amazing. I was impressed! I am also looking forward to returning. Right now I'm kind of annoyed that I hadn't been in here before, but I'll totally be back. read more

Nice little shop, well lit clean and a million books it seemed like. All organized by topics, quirky atmosphere but not snobbish at all. Staff let us wonder and we didn't feel pressured at all. Place hosts live music apparently we just went on a Thursday morning was none. Parking was easy in dedicated parking lot, 2 restrooms available if you need them. Overall an excellent experience and fits the theme that we see in Eugene, quirky , unique, eclectic and welcoming. Well done Eugene on cultivating this atmosphere read more

If they don't have it, they will get it for you! Huge book selection and absolutely great, no strings attached service. Why would you buy from one of those big box chain stores? Shop locally. In addition, Tsunami has frequent readings by local authors and poets. Check them out!!! read more

Do you like books? I sure hope you do, it is one of the best things about civilization. They're up there with clean water and sewer's. This place is not just a bookstore, it's a community hub. One of the last bastions of the bulletin board outside has flowers from all of the idiosyncratic, Eugene, centric, activities, and the inside matches. And this is a bookstore's bookstore: They have new books. They have used books. They are helpful staff. They have a HUGE selection of topics. They have art They have musical instruments They have tchotchkes. They even have parking and a bathroom. read more

Tsunami Books - Bookstores Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

beloved burrow - a trove of stillness respite from the inundation of modern stores, so much beautiful local art, cozy meaningful events, signed copies, fair prices. read more

I've never reviewed tsunami books? What is wrong with me? I love this place. The people who work here are fabulous, and Scott the owner is intrepid in every way. The community rallied behind tsunami books a few years back, allowing them to renew their lease, and this was no accident. This is a treasured resource in our community. Its function as a bookstore is solid. It often serves as a small scale community meeting place. poetry slams? You bet. Some of the best acoustic musicians traveling the country drop by for shows at tsunami books, including Billy Strings, three times. if you love books and community, surf the wave. Hang 12. read more

Tsunami Books is a classic landmark for Eugene readers. I love wandering into this funky place walls filled with new and used books. They even have a rare book room, art from local artists, and some gift items like cool notebooks. It's fun to come in here and browse their shelves for a good book to take home or you can come in and sell your books to them if you're looking to make some space on your shelves. I think they have events here too as I saw a little stage area in the back. The staff is friendly and knowledgable and can even order some books for you if they don't have what you are looking for. The books here may not be as cheap as a thrift store or something but they are in great condition and have a great variety. I also appreciated seeing books highlighted from local artists. A great rainy day activity! read more

I don't live in Eugene, but needed to pick up some children's books while i was in town. I love to support independent booksellers, so i was thrilled to find Tsunami! The store is so wonderful to walk into and wander around- i wish i lived closer. The nice young man who was working that day helped me so much and gave me great recommendations! Oh, and we also bought a couple of books for us adults! read more

Very impressive used book store. Collections are well represented in every genre. I especially appreciated the Sci-Fi collection. Good selection of SF classics that are out of print. Depth and breadth of selection is so great you could spend hours here! read more

What a cool and unique space! And what's more, they also happen sell things, like new and used books, used vinyl, artwork, journals & stationary, unique cards, and more. They even double as an event space, hosting a monthly slam-poetry event, live music, and probably other things I am not aware of. The book selection is fantastic and well-organized. I like how there's a lot of used stuff and really good prices. There's a selection specific to Oregon, including lots of nature stuff. There's also plenty of displays of books the store has arranged in case you want to browse things that are new and/or popular. One time I came in to get a new-ish book, they didn't have it but were able to order it and it arrived the day after next, and they gave a 15% discount. I paid about the same price it would have been on Amazon (plus shipping) but got to support a local business. Win-win! There's a pretty large used vinyl record collection. I saw some good stuff and the prices were reasonable. The store has a nice open layout and lots of places to sit and read. There's even free water & tea, so stick around and get comfortable. Everyone I've dealt with here has been extremely nice & helpful. Along with being a store, Tsunami also hosts lots of events like open-mics, book signings, arts & crafts shows, women-specific events...the list keeps going. That's why it's sad to report that the store is struggling to stay open, since their rent has recently skyrocketed. I hope more people come in here and see what an asset this store is to Eugene. The holidays aren't over yet, so stop in and buy stuff and know your money is going to a good place! Check out their fb page to see what's going on -- http://www.facebook.com/tsunamibookseugene/ read more

See all

Amazing murals outside. Great book selection and friendly staff. Mix of new and used books. Excellent graphic novels but geared more towards younger audience. Art by Emily Poole is wonderful. read more

I didn't realize how much I missed independent book stores like this. The nostalgia. Tsunami books, thank you. From the well organization, friendly staff, and the awesome staff picks. I had to drag myself out, because I was picking up title after title after title. I hope this gem continues for years to come. There's chairs throughout the store for you to sit and preview before buying. Right outside there's beautiful flowers to greet you and say good bye as you leave. Even if you're not a big reader, stop by, see if this place may change your mind or a new topic or book may leap out at you. Thanks again! read more

See all

They had an amazing selection of books, staff was friendly, I truly felt like I could spend an entire day just browsing the selection they had read more

This store is so fun! My mother in law was in town and her and my husband are big readers, and they both wanted to come here to visit. We all loved it! They have Tsunami Books tshirts and later that night they were having a live music show. This place does it all! They have a section for every kind of read, every subject, anything and more. Local authors, well known authors, not well known, everything! Their prices are reasonable too. Especially if you're into Christian books (I am) their C.S. Lewis books are super cheap and just any of those books in general, which was awesome for me! I hope you will go and check it out. There are plenty of places to sit and look and read and just enjoy! read more

Love having a local bookstore in the neighborhood. Always helpful, they engage with customers even if they are kiddos. I appreciate all the additional events they host as it broadens my exposure of local talent as well as hosting established musicians/authors etc. read more

Wonderful selection of (majority) used and new books. There were especially large selections of the following categories compared to what I typically find in other used bookstores (and I've been to a lot. A bit of an obsession): poetry, nature, cheap pocket books, horticulture/plant design, holistic medicine, and children's books. There is literature in translation for folx who are interested in writing from overseas. For collectors of vinyl -- a huge section dedicated to records as well. Staff and store also practice COVID precautions and thoughtfully provide gloves and hand sanitizer if needed. read more

This is a charming bookstore that has a lot of events in the large back room. I especially like the Our Bodies, Our Voices open mic nights. It's also a great place to get (mostly used) books. It's a local, not corporate, bookstore. They also buy used books. read more

Love how they are practicing safe COVID procedures, hand sanitizer available, and social distancing practiced. Inside has a great selection of new and used books and records. Friendly service at checkout and great music while browsing. Definitely worth checking out anytime you are in town. read more

I love that places like Tsunami Books are still kicking. In a world of smart phones, texting, and facebook it is refreshing to find a place like Tsunami Books. Biggest strength is the events they put on. I went to a Ken Kesey story night one evening that was eclectic and poignant. Lots of other events going on worth checking at and would love to tap into more. As for the books, you might find more selection in the chaotic beauty of Smiths or organized greatest in J Michaels, but here it is a solid selection of local authors and lot of variety. Lots of cool art around the store and signs. You don't come here to just find a book and leave, but rather feel the place. It is in the feeling you find yourself in a time warp where values aren't lost and you might even find a book that you didn't know you were looking for in the first place. Tsunami Books is a treasure in Eugene and glad that it is a timeless as a worn pair of jeans that still feel great years latter!! read more

Nice store and easy to find location. Unfortunately, they do not buy textbooks from you so don't bother.

Explored Tsunami Books, on our last trip to Eugene. It was a sunny day with the jazz music streaming through the speakers and the sun streaming through the windows, we were lulled into a trance as we walked the shelves and lost track of time. This place feels comfy and classic. There is a wide variety of books both new and used. Plenty of little benches & seats throughout, as well as, a small stage for their special events. In the back room there was coffee and water available and a couple of conveniently located restrooms. We spent an hour browsing the shelves and each found some books to take away. The owner was the one at the cash register and was very helpful in locating books and with recommendations, he even gave me a discount on a book I had found that was a bit worse for the wear. I love that this place is here, it was a great place to spend the afternoon. read more

Good for books both new and used, and a good music venue with frequent shows. I try to catch Halie Loren every time.

Best locally-owned bookstore in Eugene. Helpful staff, variety of quality books, and cool community events and concerts all year long.

If you like bookstores, don't miss Tsunami Books. This is one of the few local bookstores that survived the corporate invasion. Personally, I don't care much for the book selection, it seems really limited for some reason, or perhaps "curtailed" to a specific target customer base. I have browsed around in there many times, without finding anything to interest me, sometimes partly due to the prices seeming a little high. However, I have found good books I could buy there and they have special ordered some for me in the past. They are also happy to buy books so I am grateful to Tsunami for that as well. They have open mic nights and poetry slams, etc, which is great! Although I haven't enjoyed them very much unfortunately. Seemed kind of stuffy. Perhaps these events are also curtailed to a certain niche group. The folks participating seemed very confined, like into a small thought-bubble. If I were rating it solely on how much I like to go there it would be a lower rating, but as a bookstore I think Tsunami definitely deserves 4 stars at least and I would recommend it to anyone new to the area. read more

Love this great bookstore. Great books and super friendly vibe. There are lots of places to sit and enjoy a book. Must go if you are a book lover. read more

Tsunami has a good selection of eclectic, antiquarian books at very affordable prices. The discount section holds a lot of treasures that do not pop up cheaply anywhere else. I've found some beloved books in this store that I will never give up. Though the store is small and the selection thus limited, it makes an afternoon of browsing easy and enjoyable. The store also holds all kinds of events- concerts, book signings, poetry slams and talks. The owner is a nice guy to talk to; he'll be more than happy to offer you interesting opinions and suggestions. Definitely stop by if you wish to support a local business while helping yourself to a good deal. =) Bottom Line: A great place for finding $1 books to add to your Discount Criterion Collection. read more

One of the top three used bookstores in Eugene, with a nice selection of paperback mysteries, good local section (from gardening to eco-politics), and extensive literature array. I was pleased to recently find two Eudora Welty books that I've been searching for - an unexpected bonus! The quality compares with Black Sun Books; for sheer mass of selection, go to Smith Family. Supporting independent booksellers is always a smart move - they're the ones who buy houses here, shop here, and live here. read more

I'm not sure why this store has so few books in such a very large space, except for the meetings and readings and such that are often held in the back room. Although prices are somewhat lower here, there needs to be a happy median between Tsunami and Smith Family. Tsunami's main redeeming feature is the great antiquarian room next door which has a large number of books being consigned for online sale (at typical online prices), and a very large and cool assortment of postcards, advertisements and ephemera. Make sure you ask the owner to let you in, it makes the visit worthwhile. read more

This has become my favorite bookstore in town. I'm embarrassed that it took me a few years before I finally made a visit. I had been on the hunt for a very silly out-of-print book for about a year. I decided to stop in and take a look for it. I asked if they had heard of it, and they just so happened to have it sitting right there behind the counter. Now, they had the chance to gouge me given my giddy response, but instead they sold it to me for $3. That was all it took to make me a lifetime customer which is saying a lot. I have a pretty serious book habit. Since then I've been back many times to buy as well as sell/trade books. I prefer to trade. They are picky about what they will take; however, they give good credit for those books. I'm a fan of their cheap reads section. I tend to buy a stack of books priced under $5each, and this section always has lots to offer. I also suggest their section of translated books. Just FYI, this section is separate from their general literature. I usually buy kids books here at xmas too. They will order it if they don't have it so always ask if you are looking for something specific. read more

I majored in English in college. My intention is to teach it. This place engenders us readers towards love of it. Besides, their record collection in the back, it's slim in comparison to some places, but oh, so select. Frank the Zappa ex. I love the smell of your store, Tsunami. I love your mural, and vines. The classics section lets me be reminded of what is classic. What do I need to engage with? Classics. Cookbooks. Botany. Thank you! read more

I've always passed this little bookstore when running errands (the giant Great Wave mural above the store was what intrigued me in the first place!) and thought that I would spend my Sunday adventuring throughout Eugene to check out a few spots that I hadn't yet explored, and I am SO glad I stopped by Tsunami Books! This place is every book-lovers dream; there are new and used books from floor to ceiling (literally), relaxing music playing on the speakers, and an overall cozy and welcoming atmosphere. I usually don't like prolonging my time too much in bookstores, especially if I'm not going to purchase anything, but with there being plenty of seating, it was almost as if the owners really advocated for customers to linger around and read, which I was quite fond of - there was even free tea at the back of the store to sip on. Along with carrying nearly every book under the sun, there were also records, posters, and journals available for purchase as well. The owner behind the desk was busy, but he was very nice and knowledgable when customers asked him where they could find something, or if a particular book was available. Before I knew it, I had completely lost track of time and had spent two hours inside of the store. This is one of those hidden gems in Eugene that you HAVE to check out. If you every find yourself in the mood to sit down and read a good book or two, I highly recommend Tsunami Books. read more

What a fun little bookstore! This is one of those places that you can find only in Oregon. It feels very homey in there and it is very easy to spend hours just browsing all the stuff they got in here. I was able to find the book I wanted with the direction of the staff. What really set this place apart for me, though, was their vinyl collection! They had some real gems in there and classics that are hard to find most places! Since I couldn't buy them all, I ended up walking away with an incredible Dizzy Gillespie and Bob Dylan record that I'm super psyched about. read more

Five stars with a caveat: It only gets five if you care about poetry. This place has an amazing poetry section, and supports the local poetry community with readings and meetups. It also has a good,cheap kids book section that's easy to navigate. Other than that...you're out of luck. But if you are in the market for poetry or kids stuff (which I always am) this is the place. read more

33rdDoes anyone NOT love this place? It's truly the coolest! I'm so glad they've been able to stick it out over all these years despite uncaring landlords and evil developers giving their best shots at taking this beloved and very much needed community epicenter away from us. Incredibly diverse selection of new and used titles and subjects, plus consistently awesome community events and performances of art and music. Treat yourself! read more

LOVED this store, I think we could have spent all day perusing the extensive shelves. The gal at the register was very friendly and helpful, we felt welcome and left with an armful of books. There was an especially good selection of children's books. A must-stop! read more

Tsunami Books is a community gem! The selection is great with a wide depth and breadth, the service is always friendly and thoughtful, and the community events totally rock! This place knows how to keep customers coming back for more. Always a great place to stop in for a look around. Supportive of local authors, artists, and musicians. And poetry slam is not to be missed! read more

This is "my" used bookstore in Eugene. I love this place. I came here about a month after I moved here, and have been coming back ever since. Scott, the owner, is such a friendly, great guy. (Someone else mentioned in their review that the guy was raving about kerouac. This was definitely Scott. The last time I bought a kerouac book he was giving me all kinds of background information, too.) The staff are all professionals. People with some kind of literary degree, generally a masters and above. They're happy to special order books for you, and will give you 10% off anything new, whether ordered or in the store. (Such a great deal!) The book selection is great. They have some really off the path selections. My favorite areas are the "Good Cheap Reads" which is a huge shelf of popular paperbacks for 1-3 dollars, and the vintage sci-fi section. They also have a great cooking section, with lots of diet-specific options for a town with lots of vegans, vegetarians, raw-food enthusiasts, and people with celiac disease. I love this place! read more