Adelaide Getaway - Part 2 (Tuesday)

First stop on our continuing Adelaide getaway was a revisit to the bookshop which was closed yesterday...

6) New Morning Books, Adelaide

This second hand book store is a real treasure trove.  It's well organised, yet also sprawling for the store space, which makes book hunting that little bit more exciting.  John, the owner, greeted me as I entered, and I noticed there were plenty of other customers in the store.  One guy who was purchasing a pile of books at the counter, mentioned to John he was from Sydney, NSW.  Wonder if, like me, he'd also dropped by the day before when the store was closed?

I searched among the shelves for James Bond novels but only found a copy of John Gardner's "Cold", published by Orion Books.  It was a lovely unread copy but I decided to leave it for someone else to discover.

Despite no books for me today there were plenty more on the shelves for avid readers, book collectors and bookworms alike.  Here's their Facebook page.

7) Goodwood Books, Goodwood

Located next to the Capri Theatre, this book store specialises in second hand feminist books and books by female authors.  It's a really lovely store, well organised and very welcoming.  Sadly I found no Bond related Kim Sherwood or Kate Westbrook books on the shelves , unlike four years ago when I stupidly left a hardback copy of "The Moneypenny Diaries" on the shelf for someone else to purchase.

The owner was very friendly and checked her inventory while I crossed my fingers that the copy of "The Moneypenny Diaries" was hidden somewhere in the back room.  No luck for me today.  Here's their website.

8) Rotary Club Of Mitcham Bookshop, Daw Park

This small second hand bookshop raises money for the local Rotary Club and is run by volunteers.  The shelves are really well organised and the books are in excellent condition.  I managed to find a couple of Bond books this visit but decided not to purchase them.  Plenty here for other readers though.  Here's their Facebook page which appears to be regularly updated.

9) Colonel Light Books, Daw Park

This second hand book store is choc-a-block with quality books.  The well sorted shelves seem to go forever, reaching a little "booth" at the back of the store where Greg, the owner, sits.  Throw in some interesting book quotes featured along the walls, a couple of book spinners, and you've got a must visit store just a couple of K's (kilometres) from central Adelaide.

Plenty of good books for sale here, including the two Bond books shown below.   Greg's an interesting character too, he's very helpful and knows a thing or two about books.  Be sure to drop in.

Today was another busy day of  book hunting.  Here's some more photos from around Adelaide...

Adelaide's only tramline that runs to Glenelg

Hindmarsh Park

A white ibis, otherwise known in Australia as a "bin chicken"

A public transport double-decker bus, the only one I saw on our travels

End of this post, but stay tuned for Part 3...

Adelaide Getaway - Part 1 (Monday)

My wife and I are currently in Adelaide after driving the long trek from Melbourne last Sunday.

1) O'Connell's Bookshop, Adelaide

On our first day in Adelaide I walked up Rundle Mall, and then a little further, to O'Connell's Bookshop.  On entry, Ben (and Oscar the dog) greeted me, and after mentioning I was hunting for James Bond books he explained by strange coincidence he was just in the process of setting up a display of Bond paperbacks in his front cabinet.

A lone Pan Books “Casino Royale” movie tie-in from 1967 was already sitting on the glass shelf awaiting more books to accompany it.  Ben also said he’d just sold a Jonathan Cape “Dr. No” first edition, with others still on display in a standing glass cabinet close by.

As always, O’Connell’s Bookshop had a pile of James Bond books available.  There was also this Len Deighton “Action Cookbook” with a cover designed by Raymond Hawkey which I’d never seen in the wild before.

O’Connell’s Bookshop celebrates 70 years of business next year with Ben, a third generation of O’Connell, currently managing the store.  They have thousands of second hand titles for sale catering for many different tastes, and is a must visit if you're ever in Adelaide.

2) QBD Books

Next stop was QBD Books on Rundle Mall which only sells new titles.  They had lots of great books including “Quantum Of Menace” by Vaseem Khan.

3) Dymocks Bookstore, Glenelg

Later that morning we drove to Glenelg, a short drive from the City centre.  First we visited the Dymocks Bookstore which was full of potential customers.  Like QBD Books, they only sell new titles, and also had copies of Vaseem Khan’s novel. 

4) Mockingbird Lounge, Glenelg

A short drive from Glenelg is the Mockingbird Lounge.  I normally don’t like mixing food with books but this cafe is definitely an exception.  Every room has shelves of second hand books on the walls.  And one room is set up specifically for book club patrons who’s taste (sadly) appeared to not extend to Ian Fleming as I couldn’t see any Bond novels among the piles of same titles on the shelves.

5) Rotary Bookmart, Woodville West

On our return to Adelaide we passed this Rotary Bookmart in Woodville West.  So many second hand books for sale at bargain prices, and all really well organised by the volunteers.  No luck for me but my wife picked up a few bargains.

On our way back to the hotel we passed New Morning Books on Frome Street, however we’ll have to return as it was closed on the day we visited. 

Here's some additional photos.  Firstly a mural down a lane way near our hotel in central Adelaide

And some photos from Glenelg.

Stay tuned for Part 2...