Friday 16 August 2013

WA's Mostly Books




Before I went on my journey north of Perth I finally checked out the latest incarnation of Mostly Books, a second-hand bookstore that has been around since the late 1980's. Mostly Books is one of those great book stores that is much more than a depository of used books. The art on the wall and the various objects laying around around are also for sale. They also add to the esoteric ambience whilst you browse the array of interesting books. 




Back when Mostly Books was in Highgate - North Perth, I would visit occasionally and chat with Don, the proprietor, and he would always have something interesting to say. Once he told me that during the London blitz he would venture up onto the rooftops to view the bombing because the terrible beauty of the destruction was too alluring to worry about safety. When Mostly Books was in Highgate Don had a bookshelf in the corner with a sign saying 'Head Section' - and yes, there were some interesting books to be found there!





These days the shop is in Bayswater - 13A King William St to be exact. As you can see from the photos there is a plethora of great books to look through. I found some seminal 1970's science fiction by the likes of Michael Moorcock and Frederic Brown. The shop also features a great literature section, if you are so inclined. Also Don is quite a character, so make sure you have your wits about you before you venture forth. 





Lastly the reason why the shop is now called WA's Mostly Books is because Don had let the license on the business name slip and someone else from another state claimed the name. Hence it became WA's Mostly Books, in other words WAS Mostly Books, geddit?






7 comments:

  1. Great to see you man (last post)! Brilliant photos, looks like an absolute goldmine!

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    1. Hey thanks! Yeah it is a goldmine. I'll have to get back there soon as it's quite close to where I live, although I have to guard against my house becoming like the shop!

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    2. Actually, I wouldn't mind at all if my house looked like that! What an amazing bookshop...

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    3. Yeah it's pretty cool! His other shop was bigger and you could really get lost in there.

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  2. Long time no see, Don! Glad that we are still around and kicking. Remember me asking for a rare Bertrand Russell book and you showing me a thimble-size collector's item {NOT for sale} with only a few words printed inside? I shall make an effort to drop in some time. From Lester Lee originally from China.

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  3. Hey unfortunately this marvellous bookshop is closing for the last time! Big closing sale to 4 April, Don's still in King William St Bayswater, still open at 12.30 daily. The end of 50 years of selling books. I have never left empty-handed. Rhonda from Fremantle

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  4. Neither have I!!! See my most recent post....

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