Black Swan Books

The manager Bonnie was incredibly helpful in my efforts to find a good book about the architectural history of the area. Also gave me other good suggestions, in addition to the main book I found.

One of the most magical book stores in the east bay, though all book stores have a kind of magic, but here you can find obscure titles you have never heard of, original Indian Art journals from the 1920s, and out of print treasures you never knew you were looking for until you found them.

One of the most interesting bookstores I have ever come across.

This is a FABULOUS bookstore, embodying the essence of «bookstore as treasure chest». I went there while doing an errand in the neighborhood, and to my delight found a trove of hard to find, fascinating books on Arabia and the Middle East.
I wish I’d discovered this bookstore years ago, but I’m so happy to have found it.
The owner is clearly passionate about books and committed to keeping a place for good books alive for our city. I miss this kind of unique, idiosyncratic small bookstore; there are too few left. In addition to books there is a collection of things from around the world to browse. Lastly, the owner was as helpful as could be. Check it out!

i’ve lived in this neighborhood for a couple years, and finally walked in here the other day. i wasn’t sure what to expect at all. it was very small and there are antiques and collectibles, in addition to the books. they had some cool stuff. not a huge bookstore with a huge selection, but i found some gems (in the occult section), which was actually quite good/​large for a small used bookstore. i really liked the feeling of this place and i’ll go back there soon when i have more time to peruse.

They’ve got some nice first editions here, but not a ton of selection. More an antique books store than a used bookstore, which isn’t terrible, but good to know ahead of time. I definitely wouldn’t take kids here. Also, most of the store is up a few steps, as an fyi to those with mobility issues. If you’re looking for a fancy gift for a bibliophile, you might find one here. For lots of stuff to read, Spectator Books is across the street.

You know … I agree with Dan on some level, as getting lost in a plethora of options and coming out of that mountainous haystack with a few brightly shining needles is indeed a beautiful thing. However (!!), I agree more with Kitty as The Black Swan is really that … a rare species that you will hardly ever come across. What I truly love about this bookstore is that you don’t have all of the popular options that you will find crammed in most bookstores, used and new, but you have the rarest materials that you could ever want to find. I could have come out of this smaller haystack with a bunch of needles, but, instead I walked out with about 5 that I am completely happy with.
They have a lot of alternative, cutting edge material that you will never find in other bookstores. They have a particular specialization (??) that allows the eclectic wanderer to happen across material that other stores may be afraid to carry as they aren’t what everyone is looking for.
Anyway … we need to support our local used bookstores before they are all pushed to the periphery by the mega-​corporate entities.
Word.

While waiting to be seated at Fentons, a couple of us decided to wander next door.
We found this quaint book store with a small, well organized selection of book. There are also a couple chairs upstairs if you decide to take a quick read. They seemed to like it well enough, but I didn’t.
Unfortunately, as nice as this place was, it just didn’t do it for me. I like a bookstore where you can get lost and not just spatially. I want to see enough books in any given section to allow my mind to wander. I want to get so caught up in finding a book that everything else around me becomes a blurry afterthought. I want more chaos and randomness. I. .. should just stop and go somewhere else.

This is a darling used bookstore on Piedmont Ave. They have beautiful old and out of print books. This is not your pulp fiction bookstore. I saw a few lovely art books from 1935 and earlier. This might be a place to go for a history buff, or someone who really likes a particular author or period. I personally find old books, with the soft, slightly musty air of old paper and glue, to be somehow comforting and much better to curl up with than something that smells too new. The book, it seems, will convey wisdom in addition to ideas and new worlds. It speaks to an appreciation of the allure and nostalgia of a beautifully and classically bound old book, lightly loved, but still calling to be read. You might find such a treasure here.