– by Leslie Ashburn, www.weekendnotes.com, Tuesday July 9th, 2013 –

For bibliophiles, few things make a heart beat faster than a fabulously quirky bookstore, except perhaps a fabulously quirky used bookstore.

The scent of pre-loved books is like catnip to those with more curiosity than cash, but unfortunately, while others are spoilt for choice, the North Shore has very little in the way of these eccentric bastions of scholarly entertainment.

However, just a short walk from the Hornsby station, tucked away between a noodle shop and a laneway, is a wonderful surprise, The Bookplate.

While small, it’s loved by many holdouts to the paper age. With over 35,000 books in stock, most ranging in price from $2.00 (yes, $2.00!) to $20.00, and organised by topic, you are sure not to walk away empty-handed. If you have a bit more money to burn, there are also a fair number of rare and collectable books such as a first edition collected works of Shakespeare from the early 1800’s.

If you have any questions about the books, just ask the boss-lady, Tanya Natalie. She first worked at the shop before purchasing it from the former owners four years ago. She’s slowly bringing about an online book selling presence and promises some fun events in the future.

She is also the go-see person for reselling your own books, particularly high-school texts between September and January. When you go, don’t miss the great wall of quotes in the back room. It’s hard not to love a place that cites Douglas Adams: “So Long and Thanks for All the Fish”, and Harper Lee: “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb inside his skin and walk around in it.” Then, as you are walking out of the door, it reminds you that “Not all those who wander are lost”.

– Leslie Ashburn, www.weekendnotes.com
http://www.weekendnotes.com/the-bookplate-bookstore/