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Shopping District Reveals Literary Gem

I was surprised a couple of weekends ago, while traversing the narrow commodity-laden streets of Downtown Crossing, to run across the famed Brattle Bookshop!

I encountered them when I attended the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair back in November. This was the first time I had been to their location though.

Practically an entire store is housed outside the shop, partly in bookcases built into the brick of an alleyway. Antique books were to be had for cheap, I remember skimming the memoirs of a countess, published in 1809, on a $5 book rack. There were also volumes of the Everyman library, all manner of cookbooks, and a wealth of old biographies.

I didn't even really get to explore the actual premises, though centenarian books reclined on red velvet in the window display. I wanted to, but I thought it might be too tempting.

I've promised myself I will buy no new books until I have finished every single book in my room. This includes The History of God and The Theory of Everything, so I may be denying myself for a while. Fortunately, I have no restrictions against libraries.

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