A couple weeks ago, Diane and I (along with our friends Cindy and Tom) took a road trip to Cape Cod. When the rest of the group hit the shops, I’d hit the bookstores. I didn’t have much luck in Hyannis or Provincetown. However, I struck the mother lode at the Wellfleet Bookstore & Restaurant just a few miles away from our house in Truro. It’s an old time bookstore with plenty of magazines and hardcover books, not just paperbacks. I immediately found two Jack Woodford hardcovers. In the Children’s section, I found a Ken Holt novel. I grabbed a couple fistfuls of SF and mystery paperbacks. I even found an issue of MANHUNT! Unfortunately, the group was waiting for me so we could have dinner in the excellent restaurant or I might have bought many more books. If you’re in the Wellfleet area, you need to stop at the Bookstore & Restaurant (http:\\wellfleetoyster.com) and find some treasures of your own.
You should head back to that FREE bookstore in Baltimore and take Andy this time.
😉
But Andy claims he’s kicked his book addiction, Jeff! Trust me, if I’m back in Baltimore, that free bookstore is at the top of my visiting list.
As usual we have intersecting paths. We sometimes rent a cabin on the beach across the street from that place (they’re about the cheapest rentals). We go to Wellfleet about every three years. I love the diversity of beaches there. And I love their eccentric theatrical productions and all the art galleries Glad you had some finds.
I was very impressed with the Wellfleet public library, Patti. Plenty of computers for the public to use (I was teaching an online course while this Cape Cod trip was happening) and one of the largest LARGE PRINT collections I’ve ever seen for a library of that size.
My envy knows no bounds.
You can imagine my surprise when I entered the bookstore portion of the Bookstore Restaurant and spied those Woodfords right off the bat, Bill. I’m sure there are more goodies to be found there. Bookstores like this are a vanishing breed.
Most of what I know about Massachusetts comes from H.P. Lovecraft, so I was happy you folks got out before being engulfed by some cosmic horror.
I read some Jack Woodford books on the art of novel writing. They were a little odd. I think he was a little odd.
I’m glad you and your missus and your friends had a good time.
You’re right about the Massachusetts/Rhode Island creepy settings in Lovecraft’s work, Drongo. But I carefully cast spells of protection each night so keep us safe.
Nice post, George.
George said: “Bookstores like this are a vanishing breed”
They certainly are! The few used bookstores in this area of the left coast have cut stock drastically while instituting trade-in only policies so you can’t sell them used books. How they get any god stuff, I don’t know, because selection has gotten so thin, I don’t bother.
George said: ” I carefully cast spells of protection each night so keep us safe.”
There is no “safe” from the creatures of the Mythos, George. They must not have a place for you in their plans – yet.
I cast my MAZES spell, Rick. Then creatures of the Mythos wander the mazes for eternity.
Now that you’ve spilled the beans to this group the place will be picked over toot sweet.
I doubt if I’ll ever get back to Wellfleet, Bob. So I figured someone who reads this blog should have the fun of buying all those vintage books.
Like I didn’t envy you enough already….
Those treasures are waiting for you, Dan. Just jump in the car and head for Wellfleet. There are plenty of vintage books to be found there.