Welcome back to my bookstore review column! I hope my brief, semester-long hiatus gave you enough time to explore the last few stops on our book crawl and that you are now itching for your next bookstore recommendation. The good news is that I’ve returned to give you my keen evaluations of the various book-buying experiences that Boston offers us.
This column’s title is no longer a misnomer, as today’s bookshop is our first one actually located in Boston! Located near the Red Line’s Broadway stop in the South End is More Than Words. Fairly easy to find from the street, the store is spacious and airy, with a hint of that industrial aesthetic found in 2010s-era city lofts.
If you’re a person who loves to browse, then More Than Words is the perfect store for you. It functions as a thrift store serving up used records, clothes, kitchen items and — the only requirement for being included in this column — books! The store is also a nonprofit organization that strives to empower “system-involved youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business.”
Even with most of the floor space being dedicated to everything except books, the literary selection is still varied. There are cookbooks, art books, children’s books, classics, travel, antiques and standard fiction and nonfiction. There were some decent options when I was there and I’m sure the choices are ever-changing. I encountered beloved titles, some familiar ones and a bunch of unknown books waiting to be discovered. The new, list-price books seemed more curated and trendy, while the rest of the selection is like a treasure hunt. The prices are fair, with most books selling for $8 or $9. The larger, coffee table-esque books are more expensive ranging from $15 to $30.
I genuinely enjoyed browsing the store. When my eyes were strained from reading spines, I pivoted to the clothing. When I accepted that I shouldn’t buy more clothes, I shifted to looking through the ceramic dishes and trinkets. Even though I don’t have a record player, I sorted through their record collection for a moment before returning to my beloved books. If you want an extensive book-browsing experience then I wouldn’t recommend this store for you. Even while moving slowly, I looked through most of the store’s collection in about 20 minutes.
Regardless, if you need a good first date spot or a place to bring your non-bibliophile friends, then More Than Words might be the place. A 30-minute ride on the Red Line might sound long for some, but the neighborhood has other cafes and places worth exploring. On the weekends from May to November, SoWa Open Market is nearby featuring art, food and produce from local artists and farmers. I’d recommend making a day or half-day of it! From gorgeous porcelain plates for $5, to designer sweaters for $55 and books for $8, there truly is something for everyone.
My time at More Than Words didn’t end with a book purchase, but I didn’t leave empty-handed. Instead, my interest was piqued by a ceramic jar-shaped vase with a chicken on it. Like I said, something for everyone.
