Roseville Has Books Aplenty: Here's Where to Find Them

Bibliophiles felt the blow when and close their stores in coming weeks.

But fear not, fellow readers, this is a great time to boldly seek favorite new book haunts, and Roseville has several to choose from.

Beatnik Books

Check out the area’s newest bookstore, Beatnik Books, a secondhand book paradise in Old Town Roseville.  Opened in March of this year, the hidden hangout with a hippie vibe features several seating areas, including a game space and floor cushions for the kids, and a few thousand books to browse.

Engulfed in shocking peacock blue, a variety of table lamps, and bamboo ceiling covers, the store is unique.

“We’re such a different kind of store – our books are all between $1 and $4,” said storeowner Chelsea Johnson.

Though the name Beatnik implies, well, literature of the Beat Movement, Kerouac and his friends take up only a tiny portion of the store’s varied collection.

“We have a lot of regulars who come here – and classic literature has been our biggest seller so far,” Johnson said. 

Reason to shop at Beatnik: Outstanding value and funky atmosphere.  Located at: 309 Lincoln St. Hours: (“More or less”) Wed. – Fri. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat. – Sun. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Almost Perfect Bookstore

For an almost perfect selection of books, readers love the .  The store celebrated their 20th anniversary last month, and has become the go-to place for people who are searching for a title, whether it’s for a school assignment, or for pleasure.

While the store does carry some new titles, their focus is used books. 

“We carry front-list romance, paranormal, contemporary and science fiction,” said owner, Kelley Ulmer, of her new-books inventory.  The store also offers an excellent selection, both new and used, of literature found on most high school and college reading lists.  Steinbeck and Salinger have a home here, as does Austen and Auden.

“We have over a million books – I stopped counting at 1,000,009,” Ulmer said.  “We have a lot of eclectic inventory and every employee has their favorite category.  Each employee has some kind of specialization.”

Reason to shop at Almost Perfect Bookstore: Over one million books, and staff members can find each and every one of them. Located at: 1901 Douglas Blvd., 916-781-7935. Hours: Mon. – Sat. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ronald J. Ballou, Bookman Used and Rare Books

If it’s the rare, the out of print, or even the first edition, you seek, is the place to shop.  Ballou painstakingly adds to his collection of used tomes, most published mid 20th century. 

“I dabble in a few books post 1950, but I prefer older books, especially classics,” Ballou said. 

And not just any classic will do.  The bookman is always on the lookout for the rare, the interesting, the exquisite.  “I don’t want just any copy of Dante’s Inferno, but something truly special,” Ballou said, pulling a hell-fire red copy out of a black canvas case.  “I collect authors who have made important contributions to literature. Who produce belles-lettres (a French phrase meaning beautiful or fine writing).”

Reason to shop at Ronald J. Ballou, Bookman Used and Rare Books:  Beautifully bound books and great conversation with a true book master.  Located at:  124 Riverside Ave., 916-786-8219. Hours: Mon. – Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Trent’s Bookworm

Another long-time second-hand bookstore is Trent’s Bookworm.  With over 20,000 books located on easily accessible aisles, the store is a treasure trove of favorite contemporary authors – Patchett, Picoult, Lescroart and Lamott.

“Murder mysteries and romance are what a lot of our regulars are after,” said store clerk, Cameron Delemos, who has a preference for non-fiction, preferably something that involves historical figures slogging up the Amazon.

The store offers a variety of non-fiction titles, as well, including an extensive home repairs and cookbook section.

Reasons to shop at Bookworm:  Books are approximately half the price of new, and with four stores in the Sacramento area to draw from, there’s a good chance they will have what you are looking for.  Located at: 1000 Sunrise Ave., 916-789-9206. Hours:  Mon. – Sat. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Barnes & Noble

For those who must have the hottest new hardbacks – New York Times’ best sellers and titillating tell-all memoirs, is your best bet for browsing.  Community Relations Manager, Nathan Spradlin, said he will mourn , and wants to let book lovers know that Barnes & Noble offers many of the same titles.

“We have a lot of similarities to Borders, but I would say our primary focus has always been on books, whereas Borders has more non-book products.  The way our store is broken down, we have more areas of non fiction; for example, more gardening, more information on animals – this store has more for the agricultural roots in nearby areas.”

Wednesday and Saturday story times are a hit with families, and Spradlin said the staff has become well versed in helping people learn how to use their Nook eReaders, regardless of where customers purchased their devices.

The store will undergo some changes in coming months; changes that include expanding the children’s and teen sections of the store, adding games and puzzles, and more comic books.

Reasons to shop at Barnes & Noble: Best sellers, Nook eReader sales and help, Starbucks coffee, and Cheesecake Factory desserts.  The tiramisu parfait is the real reason. Located at: 1256 Galleria Blvd., Hours: Mon. – Thurs. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fri. – Sat. 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.