Paperback Exchange

If you need a book in English, in Florence, this is THE place to get it. Yes, the ONLY one. The large Italian chains hold a few copies of a few bestsellers, but Papex specializes in used and new paperbacks. There’s an interesting variety, with a bit too much of a «set in Italy» bias, but the prices are much better than new. It’s a good place to sell back books you don’t want to keep, too. They also have a long-​running fidelity card system (stickers on a paper card) so you can eventually get a free book.

They’ve got a great selection of books. Great location and close to city center. The staff was especially friendly and offered some great recommendations of special pockets of the city to see for more authentic experience around town.

Paperbacks. Not hardbacks. Not a Barnes and Noble, but interestingly complete in terms of a decent selection of most print works. Fair prices, not a penny paperback joint. Some fun selections, and overall both reasonable and refreshing.

I was thrilled to be in this shop filled with books in English language.
I love bookstores. And here was a shop with new and used books.
English speaking staff help out.
Students studying in Firenze come to the shop to get books for their classes.
Beautiful art, history, visual displays… tutti belli cosi!

When my husband and I travel, we always try to visit a bookstore because we are avid readers. In Florence, this was our stop. The shop is quite comprehensive in the variety of sections it offers, and they offer both new and used titles. We exchanged a book during the visit to receive credit for a new one. It was easy to find a new book I wanted to read.
The experience was overall pleasant, but the woman at the register who helped us with our exchange was not friendly. I tried to engage in conversation with her about where in American she was originally from and what brought her to Italy, only to be brushed off with «it’s a long story» and that’s it. Thankfully I like books more than people, so her snub did not ruin the experience.

How lovely to find an English language book store close by in Firenze when we had finished the books brought with us. Much preferable to browse a real store than downloading. The mystery section is small but several Italian authors in translation that are new to me.

A very comprehensive English language bookshop with a view of the Duomo. well, sorta! The Duomo is around the corner: P In addition to brand spanking new books, they also buy and sell used books and they are able to order anything you may request if it is not already on the shelfs. FANTASTIC cookbook selection! drool.

The Paperback exchange is a little bookshop in the center of florence. I like book shops soo much better than the big bookstore chains because I like being able to walk in a bookstore and being able to say «yes, I smell book.»
And I get «book smell» in this store. Don’t you love it when you pull a book off the shelf, open it up and you smell that musty distinct book smell. It reminds me of when I was in primary/​secondary school and was constantly reading fiction books for school. .. when I was reading tons of books. I still love reading, but I don’t tend to shop for books that much anymore. I have AUDIBLE (
), it’s about the same price as a book, but I can put it on my iphone and listen while I am running, cleaning, or walking about town. Can’t read a book then.. . It makes me a little sad though when I think we are losing the physical book more and more. The book exchange means that you can bring in any english paperback and they will buy it from you for 30%of the original price depending on the condition of the book or 40% store credit. I just bought «the periodic table» by italian author Primo Levi, which I am very excited to start.
This bookshop only sells books in English. Fiction, Nonfiction, guidebooks, kids books and a section of Italian authors translated in English.
I agree with Arianna L. when she expresses her loathing for the english, heard, read and seen all over Florence. Even I feel a bit of English nausea now and then. For example today when I was on the bus, a young American girl stepped on and in a loud overwhelming cheerleader voice asked the bus driver «WHERE IS THE BANK!, UP THERE … TO THE LEFT. . OK «i put all these words in capital letters to describe the loudness and firmness in her voice… I dug my head into my lap until I arrived at my stop. Maybe you just had to be there. I felt embarrassed. But it’s true, most people working in Florence can speak basic English. We don’t even need to ask first anymore (if they can speak english). or do we?
I think about that english joke. .. that as long as you speak english loud enough and slow enough then everyone in the world will understand you …
;)
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Lo Paperback Exchange è una piccola libreria inglese nel centro di Firenze. Mi piacciono le librerie specializzate molto di più’ delle grandi librerie, perché mi piace camminare in una libreria ed essere in grado di poter dire «sì, sento odore di libro».
E ho sentito «odore di libro» in questo negozio. Non trovate anche voi piacevole quando prendete un libro dallo scaffale, e nell’aprirlo sentire quell’odore tipico di un libro che non e’ appena uscito dalla tipografia e che invece ha un odore, quell’odore che non so come dire. .. stantio? Ricordo quando andavo a scuola e leggevo i libri di narrativa della bibblioteca, sentivo quell’odore. Amo ancora leggere, ma non aquisto più molti libri. Adesso ascolto i libri (
) che alle fine, scaricarli, costa quasi quanto comprare il libro, ma potendoli mettere sul mio iphone e li posso ascoltare mentre sto correndo, mentre faccio pulizia, o cammino per la città, cosa che con un libro tradizionale non sarebbe posibbile.. Quando penso pero a questa cosa la mia sensazione e’ un misto di tristezza e preoccupazione perche’ sento che stiamo perdendo il libro fisico. The Paperback Exchange, e’ un negozio dove puoi vendere il tuo libro che verra’ valutato 30% della prezzo della copertina o altrimenti puoi ricevere un buono aquisto pari al 40% della valore del tuo libro. Ho appena comprato di Primo Levi, «tavola periodica», e sono molto eccitata all’idea di iniziarlo.
Sono d’accordo con Arianna L. quando lei esprime la non spiccata simpatia per l’onnipresente prezenza della lingua anglosassone sentita, letta e vista dappertutto a Firenze. Anche io sento un po ‘di nausea dell’inglese di tanto in tanto. Per esempio oggi, quando ero sul bus, una giovane ragazza americana salita e ad alta voce come fosse una cheerleader ha chiesto all’autista «WHERE IS THE BANK?! UP THERE. .. TO THE LEFT, OK!» (dove e’ la banca, lassu’, a sinistra, ok !!) ho messo tutto queste parole in lettere maiuscole per descrivere il volume e la fermezza della sua voce … Ho nascosto la mia testa in grembo fino a quando sono arrivata alla mia fermata. Forse, avreste devuto essere lì. Mi sentivo in imbarazzo. Ma è vero, la maggior parte delle persone che lavorano a Firenze può parlare un inglese essenziale. Non abbiamo nemmeno bisogno più’ di chiedere prima ‘do you speak english?‘
Penso a quello scherzo inglese.. . che finché tu parli in ingese a voce alta e abbastanza lento, tutti in tutto il mondo ti capisce …