Old Books For Old Souls
Each time I enter a bookstore, I feel embarrassed if I don’t find a treasure to leave with. This feeling arises even on quick journeys where there’s time for browsing but not buying. Perhaps it’s because one fears the shopkeeper’s grimace when they catch eager readers of meager funds flipping through page after page of Fitzgerald, Hemingway and Proust.
Where Faulkner lives on.
This feeling is amplified when the bookstore specializes in rare books, first editions and out-of-print tomes. Such is the case of James and Mary Laurie Booksellers in the North Loop. A favorite of Mick Jagger’s - a fine book collector himself - when he came to town two years ago, the quiet century-old space is packed to the brim with rarities and curiosities at eye-popping prices, not because people are unwilling to plunk down $50 for a first edition but because in the day and age of eBay and Amazon, we’re keen on finding deals in lieu of the bookstore experience.
I haven’t bought anything from James and Mary Laurie yet, much to the owners’ chagrin. Part of this is due to the fact that I don’t have two hours to browse and whittle down my selections on most days. Popping into the store for 15 minutes is a must for bibliophiles, though. There’s a healthy selection of classics with dust jackets intact and in good condition. History and art books line the entry and outer wall. Much like a home with curated clutter, stacks of books lay on chairs and the floor when the shelves reach their limit. A large selection of classical and jazz records are also available, making this the thinking person’s store.
On my next trip back, I swear I will buy something and allot myself more than half an hour to browse the stacks. Paperbacks have their time and place, and they’re much easier to travel and commute with than hardcover books, but few sensations match the intent of building a library of beautiful books that stand the test of time. Just ask James and Mary Laurie, whose store looks like the home library of our dreams.
Jacket: Barbour, Jeans: Baldwin, Hat: Askov Finlayson, Scarf: Christian Dior (Vintage)
Location: James and Mary Laurie Booksellers