rev:text
| - BMV is a wonderful and large bookstore. Has a significant selection of fiction (new, remainders, and used), so you might find what you need, particularly if you're not looking for the very latest. They can't and don't compete on fresh: you need to go to Book City, Indigo, etc. for the current stuff. You're coming here for classics, overstock, and used. You come here to get your C.S Lewis, Dickens, Sartre, George R. R. Martin, a cook book, used pulp fiction, etc. You come in here an walk out with great, cheap books you didn't plan to buy.
The non-fiction is a bit skimpy. As an academic I come up well short of what I would need or want, but that's to be expected. The clearance tables are hugely rewarding to look over: it's almost too easy to wind up with great, discounted books in many genres.
The atmosphere is well-lit and warm. It's inviting and inspiring: you feel a burning desire to read. There's almost no seating--so you'll probably need to take that inspiration elsewhere.
I love the children's section, particularly for gifts. BMV carries a big selection of kids books (all ages), and has a lot of games, puzzles, mixed media that make really affordable and desirable birthday gifts. Kids also enjoy being in this section: bring 'em, especially if you're prepared to hear them beg for a few books. :)
The music dept.--in the basement--is worth a visit, as is the comic dept up in the attic. Both of these areas are marginalized, spatially and in terms of volume: neither is what BMV is really offering, but each is a nice bonus.
In sum, a marvelous bookstore: a real treasure.
|