I know I’m a walking ad for Brattle Book Shop these days – I’ve rhapsodized about it on the blog, taken Jeremiah and Abi there, even coaxed my parents there on their visit this week. And nearly every time, I find a treasure I simply can’t live without, or a deal too good to pass up. So here, in all their glory, are my finds so far:
Most of these cost me $5 or less (oh, how I love the outdoor bargain carts/shelves). And the others were just too delicious not to take home. I love anything by L.M. Montgomery, so this copy of Mistress Pat charmed me, and The Bean and the Scene is a collection of delightful, whimsical drawings of Boston and Cambridge. I’d been hankering to read Russian Winter, so was glad to snag a review copy, and the 20th Century Psalter came with a letter tucked inside, from an English soldier in 1944 who couldn’t get home for Christmas, but wrote a cheerful message to the friend who was the book’s recipient.
I’ve devoured a few of these right after bringing them home, and the others are piling up nicely on the coffee table, just waiting for me to dip into them. And the best part is, I can always go hunting for more treasures, and bring them home for little more than the price of a round-trip T ticket, or a cup of hot cocoa at a cafe.
What are your favorite places to hunt for hidden treasure? (If you have any Boston spots to suggest, I’d be most grateful. And if any of you, dear readers, ever come to Boston, I shall be happy to show you around Brattle, and hunt for treasures with you.)
cakes, tea and dreams 
Hmmmm… you know I love treasure hunting. It’s the best part of being a pirate.
My favorites are Oxfams…I’ve recently discovered the glory of Bicester. Bicester High St has 4 charity shops – in 1 I found a hard-backed Nancy Drew and Anne of the Island…both 1940’s editions. Score.
I also love the fairtrade shop on St. Michael’s, the giftshop at Chatsworth, and Burford.
Jacque, you are hilarious with your pirateness and your Nancy Drew scoring.
And Katie, this makes me excited to move back to the US!!! Although I will be so sad to miss my favorite treasure spot, my favorite outdoor market I’ve ever been to, Yerevan’s Vernassage (http://breadtobeeaten.wordpress.com/2010/03/23/iranian-mexican-tegan-and-sara-in-the-city/). I SOOO want to do some book finding when I get home! Huzzah!
We still plan on coming to Boston this July and going to that book shop is EXACTLY the kid of thing we want to do! We can’t wait.
[…] was nicer, I could find more excuses to spend afternoons downtown, poking around the shelves at the Brattle or browsing the clothes racks at Second Time Around, or sitting on Boston Common, book and camera […]
[…] a lot lately), and I am, if not jaded, not always so attuned to the daily wonders of browsing at the Brattle or walking across the Common on my way to work. Sometimes the days can start to seem rather […]
That letter must have been a phenomenal surprise.
I once found a signed first edition of Isaac Asimov’s Mysteries…8 bucks. Great stuff.