When it comes to book-buying, it sometimes feels like you don’t choose the book; rather, the book chooses you. In Ithaca, with a large selection of bookstores to choose from, it’s important to find the right store that fits your book-buying needs. Here’s a short preview of each of the bookstores around town.
Autumn Leaves: Located on The Commons, Autumn Leaves is a used bookstore hosting over 60,000 books. Outside the front door, there is the one dollar cart, always overflowing with books. Whenever I visit The Commons, I always try to get a look at these books. Angry Mom Records is located on the floor above Autumn leaves, so you can shop for music as well as reading materials.
Barnes & Noble: Barnes and Noble is by far the largest bookstore in Ithaca. It also sells board games, records and CDs, toys, and much more. There’s comfortable seating and a Starbucks located inside, so it’s a nice place to sit down and read. Personally, I’ve spent hours at Barnes and Noble, just reading and finishing homework. If you’re looking to buy a specific or obscure book, Barnes and Noble is your best option.
Odyssey Bookstore: The moment you walk into Odyssey bookstore, you’ll feel the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the store. Odyssey bookstore feels very personal—the shelves are lovingly curated. The staff recommendations scattered throughout the store are my favorite parts of the overall shopping experience. Odyssey also highlights local authors and stories. If you’re looking for a bookstore that has a comfortable and friendly vibe, look no further.
Buffalo Street Books: Like Odyssey, Buffalo Street Books is a comfy bookstore centered around local values. Buffalo Street Books also regularly hosts events featuring both locally and nationally acclaimed authors and artists. Buffalo Street Books is my go-to location for birthday and holiday gifts. Because Buffalo Street Books is located in the Dewitt mall, it is surrounded by other great shopping and dining options.
Comics for Collectors: If you’re looking for a comic book or graphic novel, Comics for Collectors is the place to go. There’s a wide variety of comics to choose from. Comics for Collectors has a good mix of classic and contemporary comics and graphic novels. The staff are very knowledgeable and will help you find what you need. I’ve asked for help locating specific materials, and the staff has always offered a helping hand to find what I need.