Paper Nautilus

Great «secondhand» bookstore. Big selection, well organized, and beautifully decorated. It smells like books. In the heart of Wayland Square. Pick up a book or two and head across the street to the outdoor patio at L“Artisan for coffee; or vice-​versa.

Great place for books but somewhat disorganized and clerks weren’t the most enthusiastic

Used and discount bookstores are pretty much my favorite thing and this one is a great find and easily my favorite in Providence. Awesome selection and cheap prices. I got a book about the psychology of con men, a memoir of a crack addict, autobiography of Bert Lahr, and a book about Hemingway’s favorite cocktails all for $ 20! Can’t wait to come back!

Stopped by there today for the first time and it won’t be the last. Two steps in to the place I could smell that musty odorous that only a used bookstore could produce and if on cue the floor creaked. Loved this place. It has a very wide range of topics and scattered about little non book things that were pretty interesting. It reminded me of a used bookstore on the upper end of Newbury street in Boston from back in the day whose name I’ve long forgotten but still remember spending a lot of time there. This place is a true gem in the convenient but empty world of on line shopping.

Every time I wander into this bookstore I enjoy my time and end up purchasing something. They usually set out baskets of books for $ 1 each when it’s sunny. Some of those books can feel like a real steal. Last week they were doing a sale where they were giving a percentage off of all their books, all week long. Naturally, all the books are discounted already since they are used. What I love about this bookstore though is that it’s very calming and they decorate nicely with mostly vintage items like old books or old art prints or old tea sets or old phones. You just never know what you’ll find in here but everything is available for purchase so it’s almost like you can get a lil taste of antiquing/​thrifting just by stopping in. I could easily find a gift in here for someone I know. I will admit, I’ve been tempted to buy very random things from this store. Mostly I purchase books here, occasionally I’ll buy a record or a figurine or something else. Last time I was in I scored a great deal on a few biographies. If you’re looking for a certain book you can always call ahead or email to make sure they have it before you venture out. Their selection is pretty random and the location is modest so it would be odd to expect them to just have something specific (no matter how common). I’ve also used their Art-​O-​Mat machine, so if you like inexpensive surprises you can always stop in and try that (It’s a vending machine with surprise local art inside. They have them all over the country in random locations). Mostly I just love that this bookstore exists and that the people who run it are chill and nice. It’s definitely a calming place to visit every now and then.
As a bonus, L’artisan café across the street is delicious too!
*i never have a problem finding parking nearby on the street*
If you want to know more about Art-​O-​Mat:

We absolutely love this place! It is one of our favorite gems in the city. THANK YOU for staying alive in this Amazon world!

The first time I went to Paper Nautilus it was still called Myopic Books. I was 17, in Providence for the Summer attending a Summer course at Brown. My class had asked the grad student teaching us if there were any good 2^nd hand bookstores within walking distance of the campus. Since it was a nice day he offered to take us to Paper Nautilus, which was a short walk away in Wayland Square. I fell in love immediately with the charming little bookstore.
In terms of selection and price the Nautilus may not be able to compete with huge bookstores like The Strand or The Brattle Bookstore. But pound for pound it’s hard to find a bookstore that matches it. They won’t always have the book you’re looking for, but they will have something interesting and they’ll sell it to you at a reasonable price. When I moved to the East Side of Providence I became a regular customer.
The store is well laid out, and the staff will let you browse in peace without hovering over you asking if they can help you find anything. A good place to go when you want a book but aren’t sure which particular book it is you want.

I moved to Providence from Gloucester (Mass), and while I will not sing the praises of Dogtown books in a review for a completely different book store, if you ever find yourself on the North Shore of Massachusetts, Dogtown is worth a stop. Bob Richie is by far the best purveyor of used books I have ever encountered in my short 25 years on this planet, and I don’t think I’ll ever meet anyone else like him.
I was afraid that when I moved, I wasn’t going to be able to find another used bookstore that would satisfy my bibliophile tendencies. Then, I found Paper Nautilus. Like another reviewer said, it is heaven, or what heaven would look like if it were real and a book store.
With that being said, I feel like owning a used bookstore means you probably don’t make a lot of money in your life. I can’t imagine that anyone who owns a used book store makes millions, even if they are buying and selling rare books or first eds. There is a reason that a certain kind of person opens an independent book store. It means that their love of books runs counter to their desire for money, time, and human companionship– because usually you’re there until 7 – 8:00 on Saturday and Sunday, and thats after putting in a 5 day week. After all, aren’t book stores just weird libraries that smell a little bit less like old carpets and you don’t have to bring back what you take home with you? The same type of people who would be happy being librarians are the same type of people who are happy owning used book stores, and to expect those people to be fake nice like annoying sales people at Barnes and whatever that are really only just trying to sell you a doohickey to read electronic books on is totally the wrong approach.
Come to this book store. Quietly browse. Sit in a comfy dog eared armchair (there are several) and read for a while. Buy lots of things. Ask questions about the older books at the front of the store. Admire the succulents and tchotchkes. You’ll certainly find a ton of stuff to take home. I spend at minimum 10 dollars every time I come here, and that usually gets me two books. It is also a great spot for unique little trinkets/​gifts/​postcards.
Also, don’t be a jerk if you don’t get a forced greeting from the two lovely and knowledgeable people who work here. If you’re kind to them, they will be kind to you. In fact, my partner asked if they had any field guides for trees of New England, and while they didn’t have one on the shelves, they offered to keep and eye out for him and have since mentioned it during our last visit (still looking).
I am glad that this is my neighborhood bookstore. Nothing could make this place better. Actually, except maybe a kitty who is friendly and lives at the store. But bookstore cats are a total bibliophile fantasy, amirite? Plus, nothing is perfect.

My gosh, this place is so eclectic and interesting! And the dollar book bins are FABULOUS! Inside, there is a great selection of second hand titles, little nooks and crannies to grab a chair and read in, and a surprise brick patio out back! I immediately went to the Food and Wine section, and found some very nice books, in great condition and reasonably priced! The gardening section in the back room was also impressive!
The owner, who seemed a touch reserved at first, was very conversational and pleasant at check out, and when I discovered I still had euro coins from Ireland he was so interested in them that I gave them to him. After that he asked me how I liked Ireland, and related some stories that he has heard from other travelers. I genuinely enjoyed our chat, and felt like we had a nice connection which is very refreshing in our current retail culture that often feels very impersonal and automated.
I realize we can all find second hand books for very cheap on a certain mega corporation’s website… But I don’t mind paying a bit more here, and being able to support such a lovely local business with so much to offer the community!

i am a bibliophile and love bookstores. i especially find used bookstores romantic and full of surprises.
this place has a nice selection of trade paperbacks as well as a fantastic if small selection of everything else. letters by vonnegut, or old medical textbooks, for example.
however i must warn you to beware the dour petite woman that owns and runs the place. i have never met anyone so consistently dour. whether she’s ringing me up or buying books from me or looking a book up for me… i’m sure there’s a reason she’s sullen and withdrawn, but i certainly think twice before walking in there if i know she’s around.
you’re much safer if the guy mitch is there. much friendlier, nicer, more helpful, more welcoming.

Do you ever think about what heaven is going to look like when you die? I don’t have to, I already know: it looks like the inside of Paper Nautilus. Wall to wall (to ceiling!) books, primarily used, and diverse in category and content. Old weird stuff. Little corners with chairs for enjoying said books. People speaking quietly and emphatically about books, the area, etc. Although I didn’t go all the way back, it looks like there’s a room devoted to children’s books too which is a great addition and good space since this store can feel like you’re lost in the stacks of your favorite library (and is probably an overwhelming feeling for a child not yet in touch with his or her love for all literary).
Also, Paper Nautilus has $ 1 book boxes outside on nice days. I found a handful of old lit theory books, some of which I’ve been meaning to buy forever, and I had to pinch myself and make sure I wasn’t already dead. To me, a find like that is heaven and Paper Nautilus is what’s beyond the pearly gates.

Hum, very confusing…
Recently, I was looking for local used bookstores to find some obscure books for my husband. I knew Myopic Books was in the hood, so I Unilocaled it… yuck… consistant bad reviews based on customer service. I am embarrassed to say… I went to check it out myself (not that I did not believe you guys…).
To my surprise, it is not Myopic books anymore. It is «renamed» Paper Nautilus. Per one of the other Unilocalers, and it’s own website, it is still under the same ownership. I have visited the store three times since Christmas, and all three times the same woman has been working there, and she has been very quiet and polite, listening to NPR; no heavy sighing, no pressure, no rudeness. (Maybe I just got lucky.) She let me poke around and explore without saying a word to me… and that is how I like it!
And I guess that is the meat and potatoes of it… I just really enjoyed combing the stacks, discovering cool books at my leisure. I found some really interesting books in their economics section, and religions section and their little essay’s revolving bookcase, etc. It has been hit or miss on finding what I am looking for each time I am there, but I have made some cool purchases. I felt like I got a great deal on the hardcovers I bought (50−65% off cover price), but I wish their paperbacks and kid’s books were a bit less expensive.