Book Rack

This book store was cute. Right on one of the street corners. However compared to Jabberwocky, it’s tiny.
The store had mostly new releases, which is pretty good. The left side is fiction and the right side had new releases. The back was children’s. I liked how the new release books had index cards underneath with summaries. The café adjacent to the building connects also, which really makes the store even smaller than it actually is, since the café is more spacious.
The one staff member was very helpful and was shelving when we walked in, he seemed friendly also.
My only complaint would be the size and quantity, but they do a good job with the amount of space they have.
But for the ultimate go to bookstore experience. Go to jabberwocky.

The book rack is a great independent book store (how many towns can say they have more than one?) in Newburyport where you can find the latest releases and old classics, alongside stationary and kids books. It’s on the main drag, but Jabberwocky at the Tannery is better.

Despite a recent renovation project that enlarged the store, it is still not my first choice for most of my main stream reading choices. That said, if you are looking for the off-​beat book or author that no one else carries, they might have it. Still, their selection and variety is very limited, a shame since they are in a prime location. We stopped in two weeks ago and I got a deeply discounted cook book that was 75% off. Hubby ordered two books when he discovered that they carried an auithor he really likes (and they had the first book of a trilogy that he has wanted for a long time… and were able to order the other two in).
The clerk was very knowledgeable and carried on a lively conversation with my hubby about that author, but when I asked about one of MY favorite authors,(I had not found anything by her on the shelf, and was looking for a particular book), she looked down her nose at me… I guess it wasn’t high brow enough for her taste and I found her attitude and response to MY question so different from how she was speaking to my husband. She offered to look it up and see if she could get it, but suggested that I’d probably have better luck at Jabberwocky (another independent shop in town). I got the Kindle version instead.
I have no desire to shop here again but I gave it a 3 because they do have some books that you might not find elsewhere.

Before you read this please understand that it is a stretch for me to give this place 4 stars based on the store alone, but I love independent bookstores and we NEED to keep them around. They are such a big part of many peoples lives. It is hard to me to give them 4 because they just don’t hold a candle to Jabberwocky a couple blocks over and if you’re in town you really should just go to both stores. Book rack has the prime location between the two, but they sacrifice size. I am happy that they are owned by people who own other bookstores in small historical towns throughout Massachusetts because that means they will survive, but that same company changed The Andover Bookshop into something much more commercial and seem to have no bothered keeping any of the experienced staff there.
Pros — great location in a fantastic building
— a pretty good selection for such a small store
— they did a nice renovation that will hopefully make them concentrate more on books and less on stationary
— apparently the staff is nicer than they used to be
–decent children’s section
Cons — small store
— smaller selection than most bookstores because of this
— way too much real estate dedicated to stationary. maybe it’s their bread and butter, but it’s the book rack, not the card smart.
— it just doesn’t hold a candle to Jabberwocky
All the statements above are my opinion, and this is a nice store, or I wouldn’t have given it 4 stars, 4 is really good. So if you’re in town and don’t want to go to the tannery, the Book Rack is where it’s at. Also, their children’s section is pretty darn good. It’s not Jabberwocky’s but its the second best children’s section on the North Shore.

Far up the coast of Massachusettes, shrouded in the mists of the stormy Atlantic, there lies the small shipping town of Newburyport. Weathered wooden shops crowd the centuries-​old streets. The land upon which present day Newburyport sits is rumored to have been an ancient native american casino. Perhaps as a result, there are reports of local businesses being haunted, and on certain dark days you can almost hear the faint beating of drums and the ringing of slot machines.
I came to Newburyport for a book. The particular book I was looking for could have been found in any bookstore, but my purpose in finding this book was to utilize it’s vast spiritual power and as such I was drawn to the place that would cultivate this power with its natural atmosphere.
The sky was a heavy shade of grey as the first flakes of snow descended towards us. I pulled my collar up to shield me against the oceanic winds. I could feel I was close… the book was near!
I stepped into the Book Rack through a single wooden door. A woman behind the counter welcomed me with a silent smile. The book. Where was the book? My eyes scanned the shelves and, not finding what I was looking for, came to rest on a beautiful spider’s web hung like a ghoulish curtain from the ceiling above the cash register.
I approached and asked about the book’s whereabouts.
The woman said she could order it but she had no idea how long it would take to arrive.
I said fine and prepaid for the book.
On the way back to my car a young woman was throwing up on the sidewalk in front of a café. The patrons of the café, accosted by this untimely display of physical revulsion, were stirring from their seats. This is typically not the type of thing that small-​town café owners want to have happen on the sidewalks in front of their shops.
I didn’t make it back to Newburyport to pick up my book. It’s a long drive and hell if I have time to get up there, even for powerful spiritual books.
But luckily they were closing up the store for a few weeks to do renovations, so they sent the book to my house, free of charge.
The spirits must be looking out for me…

I love stopping by The Book Rack when I’m in Newburyport. It’s a really nice example of a great independent bookstore, which are sadly disappearing in this area. I love the variety in the books they have available. Many smaller stores do not offer harder to find authors, or books that have been translated. Perhaps based on the success of Stieg Larsen’s books, there was a table full of translated books from Sweden, Germany, and Norway. None of my favorite Norwegian author though, but he’s hard to find.
I especially like the rack that recommends books based on staff picks. It’s off the beaten path, and you can find some real gems that you might not have heard about. Yesterday, I found an autographed copy of a book that takes place next door in Ipswich. When I went to pay for it, an employee took the time to tell me how much he enjoyed the book and that he nominated it for an award. I love little touches like that; many places wouldn’t bother since I was already purchasing the book. You can tell when you around book lovers, and I get the feeling that everyone working in the store is a book lover.
They have a huge selection of children’s books. An entire room is dedicated to it. They also have a section of cards and paper, writing products that seems decently priced. And, they frequently have authors in to discuss their books and sign them.
This is a must stop if you’re a book lover. It’s unique in the downtown area, and it has a great selection of local authors, and translated European books. I can’t wait to stop in again!

The bookrack is making a nice little comeback. New leadership and a real friendly, book-​smart staff make this a nice story.