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| - The Great Escape Book Store is a quaint little bookstore in an older neighbourhood north of The Beaches. It reminds me of those old bookstores that used to be downtown around U of T that have mostly closed now. Because it's only open during the daytime, I usually go there on Sundays, but this makes for a nice Sunday stroll too. The bright-coloured front always makes me think of a children's bookstore, and this is the first section you come to when you enter - a large front room with lots of children's books and usually a few children browsing with parents in tow. The other two rooms are more like what I expect in a used bookstore, tight aisles with wooden shelves filled with books. The middle room has philosophy and various social studies, so I usually only take a quick look through, and then head to the back room where they have conveniently located most of the books that interest me.
One wall has a decent literature collection, with always a few lesser known works amongst the standard fare. Another wall has a variety of history and military books, leading into a biography section and a small but varied selection for the sciences. In the middle there is a shelving unit filled with sports books, and above the door there is a single shelf with some local history volumes. A few times, I have found something interesting but completely unexpected, such as an old guidebook of historic downtown sites, or a small volume of Russian artwork.
Most of the books are in good condition or better, and usually less than $10. The gentleman that I always see there generally leaves you alone to browse, but is also helpful when people ask for something. The only drawback is the short business hours, closing at 5pm everyday, and only 2-5pm on Sundays. But overall, not only a good place to browse and to buy, but also a nice place to visit.
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