The Book Addict
May 2008 - Melissa Whittle

Marcus Tullius Cicero once said, “A room without books is like a body without a soul.” Well, I discovered the mother lode of soul at The Book Addict. This incredibly well-stocked and organized little shop offers temporary shelf space to thousands and thousands of books during their journey between homes.

There’s also something else about the store I can’t quite put my finger on, but which makes it such a unique place to visit. Maybe it’s the design and layout of the shelves that make the shop feel like it’s nine times its actual size. Maybe it’s the books stacked from floor to ceiling. Maybe it’s because, after each visit, I always feel like I’ve won the “intellectual lottery”: you know – the game you play when you wander around a book store, waiting for just the right book to jump out at you? Or maybe the feeling comes from the store’s owners, Britta Homm and her husband, Michael McArthur, who are so nice and obviously well-read.

I don’t know about you, but I love used book stores so much more than regular book stores. There’s just something special about books that have been in another person’s hands, the words having already generated thoughts and opinions in someone else’s mind. It just gives a book more weight and even more – dare I say – power.

The Book Addict also has wonderful little bits of memorabilia, including old black and white photographs, postcards, bookmarks, flyers and assorted other snippets of people’s lives that can fall right out of the books. Add to this the chairs and tables placed in exactly the right spots, and you’ve got a store with a cozy and welcoming vibe.