The Real Page Turners

Another Barnes & Noble has recently opened in the outer suburbs of Grand Rapids, providing new, though generally expensive, copies of the latest bound literature.

Likely to be crowded, and to contain only more of the same, Christmas book shoppers might want to think twice before making the trek out to Kentwood, or, I daresay, Grandville.

The local Rapidian need look no further for unique literary book purchases than Eastown.

Snugly tucked on the corner of Robinson and Lake rest two of Grand Rapids' most prominent used books stores, Argos Book Shop and Redux Books.



Argos, a two room shop at 1405 Robinson, offers a wide array of used and rare books, along with an extensive comic book collection. Boxes upon boxes of comics fill one half of the first room, catering to just about every superhero and series that the owner of the store, James L. Bleeker, can get his hands on. At the edge of the comics is an assortment of children books, followed by fiction and history. The adjacent room holds about everything else, from science fiction to cook books.

Anything not available in the store is capable of being ordered, and the store even has a website equipped with catalogs, news, store hours, and location (www.argosbooks.com).

But if one feels so obliged, she may also consider going next door.

Redux, antiquarian and used bookstore, located on 1349 Lake Dr., has only been in the used book business for eight years, but it has already gained quite the reputation. Filled, almost literally, to the brim with books, one is able to browse their main floor selection (containing everything from religion to fiction), or venture into their well-stocked basement, containing shelf after shelf of antique magazines, newspapers, and about every other genre of book one can imagine.

Redux also has a website where the non-local (or Christmas shopping, out-of-state parent) can peruse some of the store's selection.

Also notable, though not necessarily in Eastown, Literary Life Bookstore is located to the West on the corner of Wealthy and Eastern. Though not a holder of used books, Literary Life is nothing short of a dependable bookstore. And don't be fooled by its size. What Literary Life lacks in size, it makes up for in personality, and offers monthly in-store events for adults and children alike, as well as coffee and tea for the thirsty shopper. For more information on this charming little shop around the corner, one needs look no further than here.

So whether new or old, vintage or hot off the presses, save some gas and go to Eastown for your book needs. Bound treasures are just down the street.