INK Book Gathering

We stopped in on a whim and spent a lot of time perusing. I found my new favorite book store. David’s recommendations were spot on and delivered with a good dose of humor/​sarcasm. Truly a gem.

This is sort of a cool, hippie-​dippie kind of a place. They have a huge selection of books here but it’s kind of on the pricey side.
I bought a book on Nancy Drew, how she was created who actually wrote the books etc. It was a great little read while I was up in the mountains, I think I read every Nancy Drew book I could get my hands on as a kid. The book was 10 bucks, kind of pricey for a used book, even one that is in excellent condition.
There is a huge, fat cat walking around. They let us bring our doggie and and we carried her around. I would have loved to spent more time in here looking around.

A great independent bookstore. The staff is knowledgable, has great off-​the-​wall suggestions, and they stock more than just the same old run of the mill books you find everywhere else!
The owner is always around, everyone is fun to talk to, and you can have awesome literary talks. There are after hours events to attend. People who work there and who are regulars are budding writers. It’s SO much more than any other book store I’ve ever been to, and I’ve been to a lot!

INK Book Gathering, a small independent bookstore in the mountain town of Idyllwild, may not be the best bookstore in all the world. It definitely is the only bookstore on «The Hill». But, I’d be damned if there was another bookstore with a staff that loves books as much as the people who work here. This place champions the written word, and even if you are at odds with the deliciously subversive vibe of some of the selected titles, there is no doubt the staff here love books.
Every time we’ve visited– okay, we’ve only been there twice– they’ve suggested some titles and we’ve never been disappointed. See, if you want the anonymity of curling up in the corner of a huge Barnes & Noble cloistering yourself in your own little mental green zone, this may not be your place. These people will be more than happy to help you pick out something.
WAIT! They also have a pet cat roaming the bookstore.
On our last visit, we learned that they are in the process of having their inventory available online, but ordering from their website would be like getting a booty call and ending the tryst by turning off the webcam and cleaning yourself off; not the same thing.
Not at all.
Yes, it may be completely and utterly mad to make a special trip up here just to visit a little ol’ book store, but making a special trip to Idyllwild without visiting INK Book Gathering? There are no words.

INK Book Gathering doesn’t just sell books. The owner and staff are full of knowledge and literary acuity. When I needed something for my 12 year old boy at Christmas-​time, I walked in to find «a» book. After a wonderful conversation about what might son might like and an exploration of several books, we narrowed it down to five. He has now read a few of them, loved them both and is working on #3. This isn’t just a book store. The folks at INK know how to «inspire new knowledge». It is is a place to become inspired to read, write, be curious, imagine, contemplate, and connect.

INK Book Gathering is the quintessential little bookstore that refuses to cow to the trends found in many big city bookstores by carrying hand-​chosen books that are actually worth reading. It’s located in mid-​town Idyllwild, just about 50 yards uphill from the center of town. The staff, as you might expect, knows books. Looking for something to read while you’re on weekend jaunt to Idy? They’ll probably have something that will appeal to you, especially if you’re looking for unique works by local authors. They hold events at INK too – weddings, poetry readings, drum circles, open mic, and a great selection of children’s books that are all in their own special room. The guy behind the counter is also an up and coming musician and you can often find him out on the porch jamming with whoever happens along.
There’s a table and covered porch out front and they’ve got free wifi so you can pull up a chair and geek out with the gang.