Familiar Diversions in an Unfamiliar Land

Tuesday was bookstore expedition day. Our first stop was out on the range, where we visited a bookstore that occupies three rooms of the ranch house. We didn't go immediately into the bookstore, as we were initially waylaid by two charming donkeys and another customer's border collie, Cody. After Cody left, David took Sarah over to meet the donkeys and reported to me (I was in the bookstore by then) that she found them very interesting. Not as intimidating as cattle, it sounded like.

Cody watching donkeys

Such a lot of books! All new, as it turned out, every last one, none old or out-or-print or even gently used, but a huge and fascinating selection nonetheless. 

And despite the distraction of yet another charming dog, I managed to look at books and select a couple for purchase. I also took time to admire the homemade mesquite bookshelves. 

Then we went back into the town of Benson for our second visit to a wonderful gem of a bookstore we'd been tipped off to by a friend. The little pink building set back from the main street of the town is only the beginning of it, with another, larger building connected behind. The books go on and on and on!

The proprietor, Lenore, has a wonderful selection, both new and used books. Everything is very well organized and labeled (even the stacks on the floor are in front of the shelves where they would go, if only there were room for them), and her prices are great. As this was our second visit, David and I knew immediately where we wanted to head when we got inside. I was relieved that the book I'd held back on buying the last time was still there waiting for me. Such is not always the case, as I know from my experience as a bookseller. 

Do you wonder about the name of this charming establishment? Lenore calls it, very modestly, Paperback Recycler. It's her name, and she's had the bookstore for 25 years, so that's that. I do want to tell anyone visiting southeast Arizona, though, that this store has much, much more than recycled paperbacks! I can't think of a subject category that is not well represented in this bookstore, and there are a lot of hardcover books in every section.

So now, here are my purchases from our bookstore day. Can you guess which books I bought where?

Days are still short, sunset and dark coming quickly at the end of every day, but the lovely expanse of time is a great luxury we do not take for granted.