The Book Place

Absolutely the best i have seen. Used yes. Sorted and alphabetized and easy to see and read. Lovely ladies owning and running this place. Thank you.

How have I NOT reviewed this place already? I have been shopping at The Book Place for just about forever! Well, better late than never, right?
The Book Place is my first stop when I clean out my paperback shelves to make room for new stuff, or when I need to replace a reading copy of an old favorite. They don’t do hardbacks, so this is more of a store for omnivorous readers, not for collectors.
What do they have? Well, really, what DON’T they have? There’s a lot of romance and pop fiction (think Harlequin, Danielle Steele, James Patterson), but there are also quite a lot of the older, more esoteric authors in the mystery and sci-​fi genres (think Marsh, James, McCaffrey). There’s a well-​stocked section of classics and literature (such as you’d be required to read in a high school or college course), a very good section of Christian romance (all those Western and Amish girls!), and a very nice children’s/youth section (with FAR more than Twilight and Harry Potter. I’ve found some SWEET favourites there!). Pretty sure that they have the paranormal, western, and chick-​lit sections covered, too … though those aren’t my usual fare.
The Book Place is also my first stop for books on CD, because their used audio-​book selection is second-​to-​none in my area. I’ve scored a lot of great titles here, and I love the fact that I can try stuff out inexpensively before I invest a lot in a new book.
The ladies on staff are fabulous. Very friendly, customer-​oriented, and quite savvy with the «if you like this author, you might also like …» advice. They have directed me to several authors I had never considered but promptly fell in love with. They also know their stock. I’ve been able to find specific needs very quickly with their help.

If you’re looking for rare/​vintage/​hard back used books, this isn’t the place for you. If you’re a voracious reader and you do the whole trade/​credit read, read, read thing, this is the perfect place. Lots of titles and series, reasonably priced, and managed by friendly people who love books. Go.

I’ve already rambled on incessantly about my love of books (see the review of Burke’s if you are interested) so I was seriously excited to go to The Book Place. They have a huge selection of books on CD, which is a huge rarity. My husband is not a reader (for shame!) and much prefers his books served up CD style. This section kept him occupied long enough for me to give the store a thorough looking. I was disappointed to take note that they mainly have Danielle Steele and Harlequin Romance novels. Not my cup of tea– but they do offer a few newer titles that do not fall into these categories. They do book trading, which may explain why there are so many romance novels and «Sci –Fi romance» selections. On a side note, seriously? Sci-​Fi romance? I didn’t know there were enough of those to warrant their own section, but apparently women like the idea of falling in love with and making vampire babies. Note taken.
I will say that the staff here is simply amazing. These ladies are friendly and know books like no one I’ve ever met. As I was making my second round of the store, I happened to hear the one woman’s cell phone ringer. It happened to be Adam Lambert (he’s my gay boyfriend in my head, meaning in my head, we shop together and go see Operas and theater productions and he gives me make up tips– everyone needs a gay boyfriend in their head.) I love him. When I asked her if she was a fan, it became a 20 minute Adam Lambert love fest. She gave me TONS of info on his upcoming concert, backstage meet and greet and fan site. Which was hella awesome as a) I’ve yet to find anyone that loves him as much as me and b) I’ve yet to encounter anyone this friendly in my time here in Memphis. Miss Barbara, you are a doll!
I will definitely keep this place on my book radar, it is totally the type of used book store that you should frequent to see if they have any new additions to add to your reading list. Everything is super cheap, clean and organized. The staff can also help you find rare and out of print titles. And if you are an Adam Lambert fan and ever find yourself in here, or hell just driving in the vicinity, stop by and talk to Barbara. She literally is the queen bee of Adam Lambert knowledge.

Very good selection of all-​paperback books. I was able to seek out specific titles with the help of the staff and the prices are reasonable. Not as extensive of a title selection of some of the larger bookstores, but the personal attention, cheaper prices, and pretty decent selection brings me back.

The Book Place is my bookstore of choice when it comes to paperbacks. The ladies who work there are great. You get in-​store credit for bringing books in that they can use (no more cluttered bookshelves!!) and the prices are reasonable. They only deal in paperbacks but when you get sucked into a series and find out the Memphis Public Library doesn’t have the one you need before you continue your reading, they are a great resource. If you do have a favorite author and would like to read more of the same style, just ask! These ladies have a wealth of knowledge they can share with you!

Probably my favorite bookstore in the area. They have a great books on CD section and they have a section just for my favorite genre of books, urban fantasy. The employees are always friendly and will talk to you about the various books they have read in common with you.