Friday, October 7, 2011

The Biggest Bookstore in the World

Powell's City of Books in Portland doesn't look like much from the outside - even I have to admit that.




However, it is a whole city block of a bookstore, with more than one floor devoted to books. And . . . there are two other nearby satellite stores for their technical books, and their home and gardening books, because there isn't enough room in their main store for those too.

They give out free maps at the entrance. Maps, kind of like at Ikea, but bigger, better, and leading to rooms filled with books . . . the greatest treasure of all. Who needs a new couch? Books are better. (ok, now you know why my husband doesn't take me there all that often)

Just to give you an idea of the size, this is a picture of just one room - the rose room:


There are over one million books . . . just at the main store. And I get to go there today, and browse . . . and buy responsible homeschooling books, and then . . . maybe a few fun ones.

We already have books pouring off the bookshelves at home, so I really shouldn't buy too much . . .and someday we might want to buy a couch that hasn't been clawed to pieces by our cat.

Of course, I'm doing this hard work today to become a better writer . . .to inspire myself to write more . . . to . . . oh, I'll be honest, to just indulge in my love of books.


Some women love shoes, I love books. Some women love clothes, I love books. Some women love beautiful artwork and furniture, I love books. Really. I would rather shop for books than anything thing else in the world.

And we get to visit our neice too, and see Portland, and maybe I could call a cousin of mine who lives there too . . . so maybe, it won't all be about books today . . . maybe.

11 comments:

Joanne said...

I LOVE book stores! I could spend all day in one( and I have!) This looks like an awesome store. I wish I had one like this near me!
Blessings, Joanne

Golden Eagle said...

Shopping for books beats shopping for anything else. :) Or, as Erasmus said, "When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes". LOL.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That's a lot of books.
And glad my wife isn't into shoes.

Laila Knight said...

It's like being a kid in a candy store. I wish we had one of those here. With Borders closing I need a new book store. Dive in once for me. :)

Luanne G. Smith said...

I'll take books over shoes any day. :)

Pam Williams said...

I love books, too! Sounds like a cool field trip. Most likely all writers do. LOL! Is this the same Powell's as you can buy from at www.powells.com?
Hope you had a great time!
Pam

Donna Shields said...

I would never be able to leave there.

Unknown said...

We love it at Powells. Did you go to Wordstock? Powells was there, too. Anyway, I spotlighted this blog on mine, earlier yesterday. Great post.

~Draven
http://dravenames.blogspot.com/2011/10/weekend-reads-pay-it-forward-part-2.html

Tyrean Martinson said...

Joanne - Bookstores are some of the best manmade places on the planet. Hope you get to go to one soon.

Golden Eagle - I love that quote from Erasmus!

Alex - and yet, there aren't enough books there . . . just kidding. They have an awesome selection, and yet every time we go, there is a book I'm looking for that I can't find . . .

Laila - Exactly! And I browsed as many aisles as I could, but didn't get to them all. I don't think I've even been in the rare book room once . . .someday.

L.G. Smith - glad to hear that you agree!!!

Pam - Thanks! Had a great time! Still didn't see enough, but that's the way it goes, and yes, it's the same as powells.com

Donna - well, the family protests, and actually I start to get an odd eye strain from trying to browse hundreds of titles at the same time, so it is possible to leave - although they have a good coffee shop, if you want to eat your way through the day, and browse.

Draven - I didn't make it to Wordstock but it sounds like fun. Thanks for the spotlight!!!

Keena said...

I love books too. I have many that I still haven't read....

Carol Riggs said...

Oh, I hope you ENJOYED that!! I've been there, and it's simply amazing. :)