Adelaide Getaway - Part 3 (Wednesday)

Continuing our getaway in Adelaide, we visited several more book stores this morning before continuing on our way to wine country in McClarinvale...

10) East Avenue Books, Clarence Park

This is one book store in Adelaide that everyone has to visit.  The owner, Peter, loves books.  As you enter his store you can't miss the massive collection of early green Penguins for sale.  And on the day I visited there were six James Bond paperbacks prominent in the window display.  

A glass cabinet near the front counter contains rarer titles, which on my visit included three Jonathan Cape - Ian Fleming hardbacks, one a really nice first edition of "Goldfinger" at a very reasonable price (see photo below).

The store is really well laid out with a second room of shelving full of quality books at great prices.  They had several Bond novels on the day I visited and I purchased the "Casino Royale" movie-tie-in as it was in such great condition.

Here's the store website.

11) Blackwood Books, Blackwood

A short drive from East Avenue Books is the second-hand book store.  With over 20,000 books on their shelves there's plenty of reading material available.  The books are really well priced and when I visited I couldn't go past this Coronet edition of "Role Of Honour" to add to my collection of doubles.

12) Michael Treloar Antiquarian Booksellers, Adelaide

If you're after quality out-of-print books, first editions or antiquarian books this is the place to visit.  The people behind the desks are friendly, and extremely knowledgeable.  Sadly, on the day I visited they had no Fleming hardbacks in their inventory, but they explained they still turn up pretty regularly.

 

13) Dymocks Bookshop, Adelaide

This large Dymocks store is located in the old Regent Theatre on Rundle Mall.  It's a lovely building containing thousands of new books for all types of readers.  

14) O G Book Exchange, Klemzig

While visiting this store the owner, Krell, told me he's been operating this book exchange for 37 years.  He sells everything from DVD's, BluRays, vinyl, magazines, and of course second hand books.  On our last visit in 2022 this store had many Bond titles, and this trip was no different.  I was so tempted to pick up a couple of these Coronets but decided not at the last moment, which I'll probably regret in the future!

And here's some photos from our day in McClaren Vale including the best gluten free pizza I've ever had at Down The Rabbit Hole vineyard...

Port Willunga Beach.  Walking along this beach is a lovely experience

Made it back to Adelaide for dinner...

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...