A Review of Willis Monie Books

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139 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY

Tucked against Blackbird Bay at the southern end of Otsego Lake is the little town everyone this side of the International Date Line equates with baseball, Cooperstown, NY. And amongst all the little downtown shops and cafes replete with signage dedicated to America’s pastime and the hall of fame, there’s a used and antiquarian bookstore called Willis Monie Books, and for what it might lack in flash and pizazz, it more than makes up for in quantity and quality.

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A Review of WM H Adams Antiquarian Books

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608 Main Street, Hobart, NY

WM H Adams was the last bookshop I explored during my trip to Hobart in the pandemic summer of 2020, but it was not at all the least of the shops I found there. The first impressing is like walking into a little slice of an ivy league library plucked out of Yale or Harvard and plunked down in a small town shop in the Catskills. The sets and collections were gorgeously bound and set the tone for a real throwback experience.

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A Review of Liberty Rock Books

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678 E Main Street, Hobart, NY

Liberty Rock Books is located in the heart of Hobart, a town in the western Catskills that features a number of bookshops. As does this building, which had signage for a few shops out front, not all of which seemed evident inside. But I’m sure the store has evolved over the years. There’s certain space enough inside for a couple, and what I did find inside kept me browsing for quite a while: a meticulously organized collection with loads of art, music, fiction, history and more.

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A Review of The Golden Notebook

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29 Tinker Street, Woodstock, NY

Woodstock might seem like it’s a quiet rural community, but in the summer and fall months it becomes a touristy hot-spot, especially in the Hudson Valley’s beautiful leaf-peeping season. And tucked away in the middle of busy cafes, music shops, antiquarians, and souvenir stores you’ll find a small literary oasis called the Golden Notebook. It may not have the size of other bookstores, but it has heart and an excellent selection of topical nonfiction, new releases, and counter-culture necessities.

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A Review of Creative Corner Books

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607 Main Street, Hobart, NY

Every bookshop has a unique angle that sets it apart. Some focus on the regional or local aspects of their town, some are housed in rustic barns, others highlight dramatic playwrights and the theater. Creative Corner Books in Hobart has two such unique angles: one I was able to explore during my visit, and one I will be eager to investigate once their sister shop next door is open and ready for book hunters.

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A Review of Blenheim Hill Books

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698 Main Street, Hobart, NY

Hobart has taken on almost mythical qualities in the bookshop hunting and bookworm circles I know. I have heard tales of the little village tucked away in the western Catskills for years now, stories of streets full of bookshops, and the shop listings I found online seem to vary depending on the source. Are there only four or five shops? Seven or more? Even after my trip I can’t quite tell, but I can say this: there are a surprising number of bookshops in Hobart, and the shops cover a wide range of literary needs. Each one has something special and unique to set it apart, and Blenheim Hill Books was one of my favorites, probably because it reminded me of a couple other shops I love.

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A Review of Briars & Brambles Books

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61 Route 296 & South Street, Windham, NY

Up in the Catskill Mountains tucked in among the ski resorts, hiking trails, and panoramic overlooks you’ll find Briars & Brambles Books in a small unassuming plaza in Windham. It may seem tucked away, but inside there’s plenty of personality, not to mention enough bestselling titles, new releases, and games to satisfy any bookworm or ski bum needing a break from the slopes.

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