A vital part of my continuing art education relies on
amazing finds discovered in used books stores: artist biographies, art history
and technique books, even art fiction (a growing genre). I love the smell of
old book stores, the textures of the books, the dark nooks that may conceal
“THE” book you have been searching for… but my resources are rapidly dwindling.
I spent several hours on Sunday wandering through yet another used book store
that was having a closing sale and although the savings are substantial, it is
depressing to know that yet another resource will be gone soon.
Sunday’s book store was the Drake Farm Books located at 148
Lafayette Road / Route 1, North Hampton, MA. We stumbled across it thanks to http://booksalefinder.com/MA.html.
Ironically, we had been driving right by this hidden gem for years, never
realizing that it was a used book store at all… we had thought that it was just
yet another antiques shop along Route 1.
Drake Farm Books will be closing its doors forever on 11
April, 2014 and all books must be liquidated. They have over 100,000 books and
they are selling them for $1.00/each – a steal in a lot of cases as many of
these books are rare and now out of print.
I urge you to dress warmly if you choose to visit. The books
are located in the barn and heating is minimal at best. There are two floors
stuffed with books, most of the fiction books can be found on the 1st
floor in the middle section of the barn. Art and biography are located on the 2nd
floor. Please watch your step as you browse – this is an actual barn and the
floors are uneven. Still, it has its charms: reading nooks scattered throughout
the barn, including a section of the 2nd floor that had been cleared
to showcase artwork form the Seacoast Artist Association in prior years and
there are some attempts at decoration: a wagon wheel chandelier, cardboard
stars hung from the rafters and even a gilded Santa Clause propped near the
entrance.
There is still plenty of stock to choose from – although I
will admit to doing significant damage to the art section :) - so if you find
yourself in the area, please check them out.
Another staple that is in the process of closing is the
Derby Square Bookstore, 215 Essex Street, Salem, MA. This wonderful, but
scarily overcrowded bookstore (most of the time I am afraid to touch anything,
knowing that one wrong move will bring a whole section down) is located in
walking distance of the Peabody Essex Museum. It will also be closing its doors
forever sometime in April. The owner is vague as to when exactly he will be closing
for good as the date depends on how much stock is leftover. Still, they should be
around for another couple of weeks.
The good news is that one of our favorite springtime staples:
the Round the Mountain Book Sale, is still going strong and will begin on 10
April and end on 13 April. The following four bookstores participate every
April and November:
· 1) Homestead Books located at 221 East Main Street
(Route 101), Marlborough, NH. 50% off all stock during the sale.
· 2) Aard Books located at 31 Russell Avenue, Troy,
NH. 50% off all books less than $25.00 and 1/3 off all books $25.00 and up.
· 3) Eagle Books located at 19 West Street, Keene,
NH. Books over $10.00 1/3 off, books $5.00 to $10.00 are 50% off and books less
than $5.00 are $1.00/each.
· 4) Bequaert Old Books located at 37 Rt 199 W,
Fitzwilliam, NH. 40% off all stock on main shop floor, 30% off all stock on 2nd
and 3rd floors and books $5.00 and under are $1.00/each.
If anyone else in New England has any suggestions for great used
book stores, especially ones that have a decent selection of art-related books,
it would be greatly appreciated. We are always willing to try out a new store.
Jenn White
White Rooster Studios
