By Delores Elliott
Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer
Are you looking for the perfect bookstore? Murfreesboro is home to many different book shops. Some are large, others are small, and some are simply more online than anything.
People have hundreds of thousands of options for book buying, but what happens when they want a specific type of book and simply have no idea where to find it? What should they do when faced with the hundreds of options, and do the religious bookstores even count? Well, of course they do – in fact, they all count!
Where My Book Appreciation Began:
Throughout school, I was a part of at least two book clubs. I enjoyed reading more than anything, and I definitely knew the best places to read. I learned to read well at a young age and excelled in my English classes. In fact, until my early high school years, I could not stand learning English, but later decided to major in English when I entered college.
When I started school, my mother decided that homeschool was the best option at my age. Despite the idea that it was only temporary, she continued to home-school me and my younger siblings through high school. I grew up in a household where we bought our own curriculums from a Christian homeschool company called Sonlight. However, as we aged, my mother discovered cheaper ways to collect the books we needed and began to invest in more used books. Places like McKay’s Books in Nashville quickly won our hearts, and I continued to research the best book deals.
Local Bookstores and What They Offer:
On the topic of bookstores, a few of the local bookstores include The Grumpy Bookpeddler, Barnes & Noble, Christian Publishers Outlet, Books-A-Million, Z’s Comic Lair, Parnassus Books, Follett, Textbook Brokers, and even McKay’s in Nashville! All of these bookstores have different purposes and spotlight a specific type of book.
For example, Z’s Comic Lair implies comics, while Textbook Brokers offers textbooks, and Christian Publishers Outlet is a Christian company that supplies Christian books. Some bookstores even carry things like bookmarks and book lamps for those who totally enjoy reading.
In fact, when it comes to what a bookstore might offer, many local businesses offer new books by local authors. Just as your local Publix grocery store carries “Alley Cat Tea” for your consumption, places like The Grumpy Bookpeddler carry a few books by local authors. To learn more about this, visit thegrumpybookpeddler.com or visit their Murfreesboro location.
Barnes & Noble has also been a proud sponsor of local authors across the years. Not only does Barnes & Noble shelf books by local authors, it also hosts events and signings for those authors to help them become better known and appreciated. Events like these might include snacks, free coffee or tea, free merchandise supporting the author, signed copies of their books, an on-site meeting with the author, or even a chance to get in contact with the author and boost your own career! For more information, visit www.barnesandnoble.com.
So where can the better books be found? Where can a person find old books, cool books, or even signed books? A few bookstores around Murfreesboro have set up displays for their rare books, and while it can be hard to get a hand on them, some offer those books for sale at a high price! While some might offer one rare copy of a book, others provide their shoppers and collectors with a few, limited copies. For example, your local bookstore might offer a limited supply of collectible books.
A lot of the bookstores mentioned earlier can be found throughout the state, although some might be specific to certain cities or areas. Textbook Brokers can be found in or around colleges, and it has a location in Nashville and Murfreesboro. Follett can also be found in or around colleges, as it offers college textbooks and other college supplies. For a list of local bookstores, check out https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=bookstores&find_loc=Murfreesboro%2C+TN.
Stores like Books-A-Million and Barnes & Noble are bigger stores and are more often located by malls or shopping outlets, while others depend more on location. Barnes & Noble has a few specific locations around Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee, while Books-A-Million is more limited to Alabama and Tennessee. These two share common interests when it comes to wares. You might find spotlighted books, children’s books, adult books, games and collector’s items, and recently published books.
Other bookstores like Christian Publisher’s Outlet and Z’s Comic Lair in Murfreesboro, or Parnassus Books and McKay’s in Nashville are specific to the state of Tennessee. Many travel to the state just to visit these stores!
To conclude, there are many different bookstores around Middle Tennessee. In fact, there is a bookstore for everyone – even those who do not enjoy reading. All it takes to find the perfect bookstore is a little research and adventure!
