"The Last Book Store" Saves LA From Amazon

Chaoscott

 

            I am so sick that bookstores keep going out of business and people now instead make their purchases over the internet, usually through Amazon, where most of the time you have to pay a $3.95 shipping charge, or worse just upload their books to a kindle or an ipad. 

            A few weeks ago in the LA Times I read an article about a new used bookstore located downtown called The Last Book Store and I finally made time to go check it out for myself.  It was great, totally awesome and the prices can’t be beat.  It’s located right at the northwest corner of Spring Street and 5^th Street (enter off of 5^th). 

            The store is beautiful.  Upon entering you walk through a room packed with books, everything on the shelves priced to go at $1.  It’s an original old “downtown” building with tiled floors and very high ceilings so there’s plenty of breathing room, no stuffy feeling at all.  Overall the store has all the different sections you’d expect to find at any normal bookstore, although some extra specific genre titles might be tough to find.  No matter, there’s a “wanted” list where you can make requests and an email bulletin you can sign up for.

            It seemed like every title I picked up only cost $5.  I’m talking $25 hard covers in perfect condition.  Of course art and design books were a little more expensive but for the most part bargains were plentiful.  And if you’re having a hard time making up your mind, take a seat on the comfortable couch or one of the few chairs scattered around to peruse your selections.

I picked up all for $5 each, Dr. Keith Black’s hard cover memoir Brain Surgeon, Lenny Bruce’s memoir How To Talk Dirty And Influence People (intro by Eric Bogosian), Thomas Wolfe’s paperback Look Homeward, Angel (intro by Maxwell Perkins), and Philip Roth’s hard cover The Plot Against America.

The store even has a section for CDs and DVDs.

Remember, The Last Book Store is a used bookstore and will be happy to consider purchasing old volumes you have in your collection should you wish to sell them, assuming they are in decent condition.  That’s the primary reason its shelves are packed with so many gems.  Take a look at its website http://www.lastbookstorela.com/ for further info.