Barely a few years ago, lower Princess St. was filled with quaint independent bookstores. But as market pressures become ever tighter, several have or are on the brink of closing up shop.
Independent bookstores have an undeniable charm and are almost always staffed by friendly individuals with more expertise than large bookstores. Here are some of Kingston’s finest bookshops, essential for any bibliophile to build their library and delve into new literary territory.
Novel Idea
156 Princess St.
Est. 1988
Perfect for: airplane novel
Well-spaced general bookstore for tots and adults alike. It’s slightly more upmarket with a preference for hardcovers and mainstream novels.
Wayfarer Books: Bought and Sold
85 Princess St.
Est. late 1987
Perfect for: buying for the hell of it but so glad you did
Second-hand store with an eclectic collection of books. There are some bestsellers, but it’s great for a more particular or unusual novel. The prices are great; there’s a whole section of paperbacks for only a buck. It’s a charming place to peruse, especially with the creative calligraphed labelling of the store’s sections and a small upstairs level fitted with classic wooden ladders. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, this is the place to expand your horizons.
As the Plot Thickens Mystery Bookshop
66 Brock St.
Est. 2004
Perfect for: a suspenseful read
Specifically for mystery book lovers, As the Plot Thickens has everything from crime, detective novels, suspense and Sherlockian fiction. The interior design depicts the ornate Victorian era. It’s smaller than some of the other bookstores in the area, but there are comfy chairs and even a fireplace with novels fitted neatly in wooden bookshelves. Check it out soon because it’s closing in late June. It will be sorely missed.
Paper Back’s Bookstore
857 Princess St.
Est. 1984
Perfect for: an easy/catchy read
Family-run, small-town second-hand business. It’s set up similarly to a movie rental store, with paperbacks lining the walls and neat shelving in the middle of Please see next page
the store. There’s a great selection for the more collectible genres such as romance novels, with a whole wall dedicated to Harlequins. There’s a modest collection of popular children’s books, magazines and comic books, but it’s unique in that it has a vast selection of cowboy/Western novels.
The Church Book Room
90 Johnson St. (entrance on Wellington St.)
Est. 1970
Perfect for: renewing your spirituality
Owned by the local Anglican Church, the Church Book Room specializes in Christian works from hymnals, Christian novels and sermons. Don’t let the word Anglican stop you, though, because there are also books focused on spirituality for healing/recovery and even more specific theologies in the scientology realm. The nice addition is the Christian background music as you browse their CDs and other Christian-related gifts.
Berry and Peterson Booksellers
348 King St Est. 1976
Perfect for: learning something new
Initially a cramped-looking space, as it’s jam-packed with any possible second-hand book you could think of, the store expands much further than expected. It feels like an exploration as you move along the neatly handwritten labels from “Nautical” to “Russian History.” There’s also a cozy upstairs section filled with books on religion, literary criticism, Native American history, sports (from chess to bass fishing) and even a tiny crate with Christian sermons at a reduced price. Booksellers is listed under the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of Canada.
Turks
281 Princess St.
Est. 1902
Perfect for: finding a great book for the coffee table—and maybe a coffee table too
An antique shop with a smaller section for second hand books, Turks has an assorted mix of books from classics like Milton, Poe and Kensey, as well as beautifully-illustrated coffee table books. Books are laid out on the fashionable antique pieces for sale.
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