Colin Page's is a very cool bookshop in the Lanes, selling antiques as well as a couple of second…read morehand classics and the like. It's not that great for fiction, theatre or modern art books (9/10ths of my bookshelf), so I don't come here very often, but it's the sort of place I can imagine liking more as I age and the books I like start to grace its shelves. It's not young, it's certainly not hip or cool, but it is impressive to behold, and a great place to find hidden gems. What I have looked for, and enjoyed the selection of, is non-fiction here. There are a huge variety of old classics here, especially in the psychology section: all of the classics are here, and in ample quantities. I suppose this is the kind of shop to look for strange old books over looking for modern and exciting pieces, but since that really isn't me... I'd recommend it if it's you though.

This ia a bookshop above bookshops and certainly the kind of place you don't see so often these…read moredays. Don't expect trendy music, a in store coffee bar or the latest fiction or Jordan biography. What you can expect are shelves well stocked with leather bound tomes and grimoires covering most fiction and non fiction genres. I am a bit of a collector of random metaphysical texts and such like and can spend hours in here searching through the shelves for something out of the ordinary. Usually, anything I come across is in my price range also, which is always nice. The gentlemen running the store are also very nice and always patient to indulge a heavy browser like myself. Sadly, I rarely walk in here with a clear title I am hunting for, but I get the impression that if this was the case they would be very helpful in sourcing a copy for me. If you are more into your contemporary paperback, they also have a selection of reasonably priced title out the front of the store and I have picked up a few bargains here by sorting through the fruit boxes. If you are in the city and after a title, you would do well to keep this place in mind.

The problem with most bookshops these days is that they are almost entirely pointless. The largest…read moreamong them can't hope to stock more than a tiny fraction of the books on sale in the world, while their online competitors stock everything. As such, the only thing that can make a bookshop worth the space it occupies is the quality of the fraction that they select. So many bookshops - independents as well as majors - choose to stock the tiny fraction at the bulbous head of the demand curve, presumably in the hope that the public will be so in love with the idea of their businesses that they'll shun the urge to pick up their copy of The Hungry Vampire Games at Tesco or on amazon and romantically saunter into a bookshop instead. It's the kind of thinking that sees To Let signs replace Cardboard cutouts of Hogwarts in shopfronts across the world. The only thing to do, really, is to treat your choice of books as the beating artistic heart of your business. Stocking a bookshop should be an act of curation - designed to sell people books they didn't know they wanted when they walked into your building. It is in this that Much Ado excels. If you can read at secondary school level, I defy you to spend half an hour in this shop without finding something to covet. The selection of new books is a marvel of discriminatory taste - the second hand section plentiful and engrossing. Buy a gift and they will wrap it for you more efficiently and more prettily than any package you've ever seen. It looks quaint, it looks old-fashioned, it looks like the past - but it isn't. If there is to be such a thing as a future for indpendent bookshops, then this shop is it. Long may it continue.

I would like to start by expressing how I would usually only leave reviews for positive reasons…read more The world can be a sad place that focuses heavily on the negative which is why having to leave a somewhat negative review saddens me greatly. However, I feel it is appropriate in this instance. I have visited 'Much Ado Books' on a couple of occasions since discovering it last year. I enjoy the store, layout, vibe, people, and of course the well curated selection of books which I have purchased one or two of when visiting previously. I was looking forward to popping in on my way past after a dog walk. I left my partner and pup outside while I perused. I entered the store and read the blurbs of a couple of titles. I took a photo of one title which I was going to send to my mum as I thought it might be a good gift for my dad (my mum was not present with me at the time). Now I absolutely understand not photographing art and handmade works etc, and of course happy to be asked not to take photos of the books. Perhaps I should have asked prior to taking the photo, but it really didn't cross my mind in the moment and I could not see anywhere a sign that asked for no photos, just like the 'no dogs' sign. My upset comes not from being asked not to take the photo, this is of course at the stores discretion but the manner in which I was addressed by the woman at the desk. Initially telling me "We don't allow our customers to take photos of the books" To which I responded "I'm really sorry, I wasn't aware, I was taking the photo to send..." and before I could finish my sentence, I was told verbatim "We expect our customers to be SMART enough to remember what books they want to purchase". I am quite appalled by the attitude of this woman who should know better at her age. I am disgusted by how judgemental her words were and I was really quite taken aback by the insinuation that they only accept smart customers. Everyone starts somewhere, everyone has different abilities and book shops are not gatekept by academics, anyone can enjoy a book shop and reading a good book, you do not have to be 'smart' to do so. This comment shows a distinct lack of emotional intelligence and understanding of other people and the world we live in. I am truly sad to say that I walked out after less than three minutes, and did not purchase anything, having been previously excited to do so. I also did not send the photos to my mum to see if she wanted me to purchase anything on her behalf either. Please teach your staff some kindness and perhaps some training on general open mindedness.

This is the kind of shop I want to support...it's small, it's not a Border's and it doesn't have a…read moreStarbucks attached to it. I want to support it. I do. Unfortunately they just never seemed to have any of the books for my literature degree stocked! And when they were there they always seemed so expensive. But I guess I need to make my mind up...I either suck it up and pay small independent bookshop prices or I give in to the loathsome but temptingly cheap online retailers that are contributing heavily to the demise of cute little book shops. I choose cute little bookshops, and therefore, I would recommend you use John Smiths if you can. I found the collection at the Sussex library to be abysmal anyway, and there's something so much more satisfying about owning your books. Because I work on campus, I do still use this shop. It's a really useful resource for cards and stationary, as well as novels and text books. I always find pretty cards from the V&A or National Trust collections. Just one question...what ever happened to the Body shop section? Where am I supposed to buy last minute presents now?!!

It's a bookshop. They tried to hide it from you but failed miserably…read more The campus bookshop is small, but perfectly formed. There are books galore and if you're after something with a more academic leaning then this is the perfect place to go. I am also pretty sure you don't have to be a student to enjoy the benefit of this store, though it does mean a train or bus ride to Falmer if you're city based. It would therefore be useful to check with them before if they have what you are looking for. I would definitely recommend keeping this place in mind if you're searching for academic texts. I know, for example, that their book selection on Film Theory is far superior to any Waterstones I have been in. So if it's niche or Nietzsche you're after, check out the University of Sussex Bookshop.

I love Rainbow Books for the simple reason I picked up a copy of one of my favourite books here for…read more60p. Yes, that's 60p not £6.00! As the crazy window displays indicate, Rainbow Books is a second-hand bookshop that's literally packed floor to ceiling with books. New books, old books, dusty books and books that are falling apart. There's fiction, non-fiction, biographies, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, crime, true crime and strangely, quite a large selection of humour books. If you don't mind getting your hands dirty, you could probably spend an hour or two in here and emerge with a bag of books you'd like to read. In keeping with the community feel, there's a coffee machine where you can buy cheap cups of coffee and a table and chairs where you can sit and flick through potential purchases. Oh and did I mention, the books are insanely cheap? The book I bought? Ray Shell's ICED.

When you walk into this shop and see the stacks of books piled everywhere you almost expect the…read morecast of Black Books to appear from amongst the shelves. The room is literally filled with ceiling high bookshelves and books on every surface- I've been in lots of times and have never looked through the books on the floor- does anyone look at those?! There are some good second hand books here if you search through the shelves and the owner/shopkeeper seems to strangely know what stock they have despite it looking like a bookbomb exploded in there. I do wish they would maybe dust or clear some books out of there sometimes- it can be off putting if you're not in the right mood.

Adorable local bookshop with a delicious little cafe inside. The staff are absolutely lovely and I…read morereally enjoy their selection of books by local authors.

Being an avid reader of everything from American literature and short stories to crime noir, I'm…read morealways on the lookout for good book stores. Sadly, Brighton is so small it doesn't have anything on the scale of Foyles in London or The Strand in New York. It does however, have quite a lot of quirky new and secondhand bookshops dotted around including Kemp Town Bookshop. A firm favourite with locals, it's an independent bookstore spread over three small floors. There's sections devoted to everything from art and travel to sci-fi, crime and childrens books. I can see they clearly put time and energy into the stock but alas, there weren't any books in the contemporary fiction section that I loved the look of and hadn't already read. Other book lovers should note, there's a cafe on the top floor selling coffee, juices, smoothies and snacks and they run creative writing workshops and events throughout the year. Just a shame there was no new Walter Mosley or Lorrie Moore books for me!

James Ellroy or David Peace? Hunter S. Thompson or William…read moreS. Burroughs? Banana Yoshimoto or Haruki Murakami? Carson McCullers or William Faulkner? Whatever authors you're into, City Books is a brilliant independent bookshop that's head and shoulders above Borders, Waterstones and other chains in the city. It's so small a coach party would have to visit in groups of ten but they manage to pack a lot of great fiction into that wee space. There's a lot of new releases, classic and cult fiction, crime, sci-fi, horror and womens fiction as well as a small selection of childrens books, cookbooks, travel books and art and design tomes downstairs. They also sell a fantastic range of greetings cards and Moleskin notebooks. The staff are all genuine book lovers so if you want something recommending, just ask. In summer, they often have a table outside offering reduced paperbacks and throughout the year they run a series of author events and readings at The Old Market - two minutes down the road. Nick Cave read from his recent novel here a few weeks ago and they have lots of authors lined up between now and Christmas. Speaking of Santa, I could probably do all my Christmas shopping here....

Books aren't for schmucks! I have written about both of Brighton and Hove's main libraries and how…read morebooks are a fantastic way to beat the credit crunch: "Libraries are a great way to be entertained and educated in times of economic hardship. Although the credit crunch sounds like a really boring breakfast cereal, it may have actually affected the way you spend money." Yeah I just quoted myself, what of it? I am going to contradict myself somewhat by now reviewing a bookshop and describing it as a great way to beat the credit crunch when I previously stated that the BEST way to do this is to get the same books from the library for free. However, you can't get all books from the library. There are some books that are too niche or just not there, so it is therefore necessary to hunt them down elsewhere. The internet is great for this, but a) the internet isn't a place in Brighton, and b) sometimes it is nicer to go out, see real people and support local businesses. Books and records are fantastically physical. It's not the same buying downloaded books, or music: it might be quicker and easier but it is ebbing away the physical way we consume. Books are records can be kept, shared, or sold on. They also give a home a real personal quality and show others what sort of person you are. City Books is a great example of a local business that we should be supporting. Not only does it give you the chance to buy books that you might not be able to get elsewhere and keep up the great tradition of reading, but they also offer an interactive experience with regular readings and book launches by established authors. It is inexpensive, educational and inspiring.

Without doubt, there should be more shops like the The Book Nook. Located near the start of Hove in…read morethe residential First Avenue, this is an independent and friendly book shop for children of all ages. I'm came here to buy a book for my niece and was delighted to discover such a charming place, all the kids here seemed in heaven as they enjoyed the toys and colourful decor. There is also a cafe for those parents whose children can't tear themselves away from the fun of Book Nook. While small, you'll still have no trouble in taking a weight off your feet and relaxing.

This wonderful book shop has won Independant business of the year award for Brighton and…read moreHove.Children love it as well as the parents who visit, too see there little faces whilst reading to their parents or friends is magical. The enthusiasm from Vanessa and Julie shows how they love this business. The choice of books and catering up to teenage years make it a family visit special. Tea and cakes just adds to the pleasure!

I really like Waterstones as a whole but this particular one needs to work on their customer…read moreservice. It was pouring rain outside and incredibly windy so we stopped in to catch a break from the weather. We knew they had a Cafe so we picked a table and sat down for about two minutes before a woman came up and told us tables are only for Cafe customers only. Under normal circumstances I could totally understand but to be so incredibly not understanding about the weather and to assume we weren't going to buy anything was not okay.

Forget the battle between Digital Vs Print it's impossible to visit this newly extended branch of…read moreWaterstones without wanting to leave with at least a handful of books. As regular visitors will note, the ground floor used to be devoted to new releases and 2 for 3 novels whilst the fiction section was squashed into the small first floor. Not anymore, book lovers! The ground floor is now a temple to the art of storytelling with lots of spanking new tables, book shelves and display areas filled with all kinds of novels and anthologies. There's currently a whole section devoted to the Booker Prize nominees but if you explore further, you'll also find lots of fantastic books from independent British publishers like Granta, Portabello, Comma, Serpent's Tail, Myriad and Two Rivers Press. Go visit. Even better, go buy as many books as you can carry home!

One of the best shops for secondhand books in the city, Books for Amnesty is housed in an…read moreeye-catching, bright pink building at the heart of the North Laines. Spread over two floors and three rooms, it offers a brilliant selection of contemporary fiction, classic books, biographies, academic textbooks and a smaller selection of art, film, music, travel, food and history books. All of them are reasonably priced - I picked up two books by fiction writers I'd wanted to read for the bargain price of £4 - and there's also a small selection of old records and CDs. The icing on the cake is the friendliness of the staff. Everytime I've been in they have been helpful and welcoming and seem genuinely enthusiastic about both books and the causes Amnesty International draw attention to. I haven't been to any but apparently, they run occasional poetry slams and readings in the shop. They also encourage local artists to exhibit installations in the main window. My only problem is if I keep shopping there, I'll end up needing another bookshelf!

Really well organized and user friendly for a second hand book shop, Books for Amnesty is a…read morerelaxing and informative bookstore. Whether your looking for obscure books in the LGBT or the 'Old and Interesting' section, or you want to talk about Amnesties work, and get yourself involved, it's all here, and all with an inviting and inclusive vibe. The main ground floor rooms has a large selection of fiction and non-fiction books arranged A-Z by author, and unlike a classically chaotic and ramshackle second hand bookstore, there is a good and up to date selection, which is accessible as well as in good condition. The two rooms adjoining this contain, in one, an interesting selection of vinyl (The Who, Queen) and CD's, which of course contains your untouched classics (Cliff Richard) and some modern hits such as Franz Ferdinand. There is also a chance for local talent to sell their music here, and I saw a CD made by a student at Sussex called Dan Sartain, which is nice to see. In the other room, the books are split into genres such as Gender, History, Psychology, and include some interesting reads for the the hobbyist and if your lucky some invaluable literature for students and academics. Upstairs provides a more old fashioned and eclectic/crazy mix of old sporting biographies and the vague but enticingly named 'Old and Interesting', which houses books that look like they might contain some sort of medieval potion by the looks of it's cover and binding. Though as they say 'you cant judge a book...blah blah', which is so very true. The best way to judge a book is to come to this store, and whilst your at it, maybe find out about Amnesty.

This is the rival antiquarian bookshop in Lewes- the rival outfit to Bow Window Bookshop- and to be…read morehonest, it's a little disappointing. It always has fabulous window displays full of refernce books- large size hardback vintage reference books with fantastic colour images. And they often have great children's books in the window. When you actually walk in though it seems very small and out of reach, literally, in glass fronted bookcases. I suppose I always like looking of for novels, and as the windows do suggest, they specialise in reference books here. The prices seem quite high as well- but then I don't know much about vintage nature books, geography books or anthropology books.

I have to say I disagree with Emma's assessment of A & Y Cumming as I think it is just as good as…read moreBow Window Books, but in a different way. A & Y Cumming, unlike the pristine and tasteful shopfront and interior design of Bow Window, is a little more ramshackle (not much but a little more) and the books on display are of a more weird and wonderful mix. There was an old penguin copy of Conrad's seafaring novel Suspense, as well as an old leather bound copy of the darlky named The Lust of Hate, by Guy Boothby, as well as a large selection of other leather bound reference books. Very interesting I must say.