On my way to Cincinnati last month to hear an orchestra concert, as an afterthought, I Googled “used books Cincinnati.” Much to my delight, there was a promising looking used bookstore about three blocks from my hotel. And let me tell you, Ohio Book Store is the real deal. It is exactly the kind of bookstore I like. It’s big (five floors). It has a big general fiction section that was full of the kind of 20th century middlish brow fiction I tend to like. And the best part is, the internet doesn’t seem to exist in this place. In fact, the whole place gave off a distinct, lost in time kind of vibe. The building was old, the signs were old, the phone was old, and blessedly, the stock was old.
And the best part is that I had plenty of time on my hands. I think I spent about two and a half hours combing the shelves and absorbing the atmosphere.
The main floor had some of the rarer, pricier stock. In a first edition fiction section they had this mouthwatering display of Pyms. Those that know my blog, know that I already have all of these. Still, I almost bought the copy of Less Than Angels as my copy at home has a bit of a faded spine.
But for me, the real prize was on the top floor. The general fiction section. It was big, it was spacious, it was easy to browse, and, on a Friday afternoon, is was largely all mine.
You see that? From here to the windows. Both sides and part of the way down the side on the left edge of the photo. All general fiction. There was fair amount that was ex-library, but for someone like me who is looking for reading copies, that didn’t bother me one bit. And this was my kingdom for about two hours. I slowly went down the rows, kind of looking for familar authors, but when I began to discover the general vintage of the stock, I knew this would be an opportunity for new discoveries.
Seriously, how could I say no to this cover? Some sort of mid-century office drama. Yes, please.
This one was giving off a Nevil Shute vibe, and rightly so. I’ve already read it and quite enjoyed it, and there are many similarities with some of Shute’s work. Has a certain A Town Like Alice thing going for it. I should say, however, sometimes Shute’s choice of language was racially insensitive, but his message was generally not. Glaskin’s insensitivity seemed to go deeper than his poor choice of words. But since the man is dead and this was a used copy I didn’t feel like I was ennabling bad behavior by buying this one.
An author I know and like so I didn’t have to think too hared about picking up this great cover. You will see later in the photo of the stack of all my purchases that this wasn’t my only Jameson. And there were even more I left behind on the shelf.
Another author known to me, making an easy choice.
This one is the fictional diary (at least I think it is fictional) of a man who lives underground and whose job is to have one of the keys for the launch of a nuclear weapon.
What about this title, cover, illustrations, and opening lines makes you wonder why I put this one in my cart? Actually I didn’t have a cart, or even a basket. Made it somewhat of a challenge to get back down to the first floor with my purchases.
The whole stack. And all I had was carry-on luggage. Still, I managed to get it all home.
I didn’t buy this book, but don’t think I wasn’t tempted just for the bookplate. On the surface it is a lovely plate, but then look outside the open window, even the view is fantastic.
I worry about how many of these bound volumes of The Bookman I would buy if I lived in Cincinnati. Shelves and shelves of them. They had other bound periodicals as well, that would have provided years of good browsing, buying, and reading. Maybe I need to retire to Cincinnati.
Cincinnati wasn’t all books (or music for that matter). I was wary of Cincinnati Chili, cinammon doesn’t seem like something that should be in chili. But prior to my trip I did some research on food I should eat while I was in Cincy and read a bit about this dish. It’s seasoning comes out of a Greek tradition and doesn’t really have much (or anything?) to do with the chili that the rest of us know. So, thinking of it that way, I decided to give it a go, and I really liked it. In fact I had it again the next day. And now, about a week later, I would love another plate of it.
Locals waiting in line at the Blue Oven Bakery at Findlay Market seemed to have their sights set on loaves of bread and fresh-made pretzels, but I was intrigued by what were described as sliders. I got the sausage gravy one. Imagine a good, southern sausage gravy inside of a soft/chewy dinner roll. Yes, it was that good. Peppery and pillowy and one of the best things I have ever eaten. I went back the next day just to have it again and also had their cheeseburger version, which I may have liked even more. So good.
I went to the Cincinnati Museum Center just because it is housed in this fabulous train station from 1931. I really didn’t have much idea of what collections it had.
As if the fabulous building wasn’t enough, the history museum housed in one of its wings had enormous scale models of downtown Cincinnati. The biggest of them depicts the city in the 1940s. Another one, showing the train station is from the 1930s, and then there were other parts of town sown in other eras. If they had given me a stool to sit on, I would have stayed in front of the models all day. I lived out so many time travel fantasies while I studied these fantastic models.
The thing that really made these models come to life is the fact that so much of the historic fabric of the city is still there. And studying the models really gave me fresh eyes when I walked around the city. If they had better flight connections to the rest of the world, I would consider living in Cincinnati.
hogglestock 
Luv this pist..just watched old Kathy bates TV series, Harry’s Law..set in Cincinnati n I loved the city’s housing/buildings n thought, I could live there. Now I’m really tempted…what a find. I’m sending this post to friends…they have heard me talk about you for yrs, since you first turned me on to fiction and pym n shute etc…
Thank you for all this. (Fir some reason I have been blocked from your Twitter but at least I still have blog)
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Wonderful post and what great book finds! You’ve done a grand job of making me want to go to Cincinnati!!
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What a lovely trip and super book purchases!
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Loved this post and it made me wish I could do something similar – free hours in an old book shop would be heaven! Thanks for taking us along and also for some new author ideas. Great pictures!
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I do not know any of these titles, but I do love the cover art. Have you considered sending books home via media mail? It’s actually pretty cheap. I’ve done it many times.
The city models look like lots of fun, too. If I’m ever in Cincinatti….
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I’ve done that several times, but with a little extra effort I was able to save the money.
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I went to the Ohio Book Store in August and I enjoyed it but they were having their carpets cleaned while I was there and I couldn’t go upstairs. I still found a big stack of books to buy so I can only imagine what I would have managed to find if I had the run of the whole store. I have been planning a return visit ever since. I’ll have to go to the museum as well. Those models of the city look fascinating.
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Great blogpost (wish I’d read it before a recent road trip to Niagara Falls, as we returned to Atlanta via the ring road AROUND Cincinatti, instead of making it another of our road trip destinations!), great photos. And the photo of a book you found there, LEVEL 7, was a pleasant surprise: I’d not seen a copy or thought about it since I read it as a sci-fi-besotten teenager! I do remember liking it then (as I loved all my Science Fiction Book Club-delivered items), but wonder if you will think it too dated now? I’ll keep my eyes open for a review-ette on your blog about this title (assuming you did buy the copy you found).
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I love a rust-belt city, so I’m always wanting to pull off the main road.
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Also, regarding Level 7, I counting on it being dated. That’s my favorite kind of reading these days.
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What wonderful experiences. I had to google Esther Nevitt and I might have found her. Who knows, born in 1910. I love the Lucienne book. Looks like such a comfort read. I loved your post. I must also ask how is Lucy? All the best from Tassie.
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Lucy is a very young acting 13. The Lucienne definitely looks like a fun time.
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Sounds like you had a great trip — and what a great book haul! There are so many smaller cities that have so much to offer — I used up some airline miles to go to Pittsburgh last January so I could see an art exhibit at the Frick, and I was able to find so much to do! In three days I packed in so much! I’ve never been to Cinncinnati but will definitely add it to my list of places to visit.
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I truly believe that climate migration in the US will lead to the renaissance of many a water-rich rust-belt city.
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What a great haul! I think you will like Margaret Kennedy. :)
I had heard great things about Cincinnati, and was planning a little weekend getaway with my husband back in 2019 but then he was diagnosed with colon cancer so I abandoned the idea, and by the time he was recovered, the pandemic was beginning. Maybe now, we’ll try again.
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I hope the colon cancer is a thing of the past.
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I am so glad to see that the Ohio Book Store is still in business. I grew up in Covington across the river and used to take the bus through the Dixie Terminal (in your photo) to go to the used bookstores, back then there was another called Bertram Smith’s Acres of Books which was equal to the OBS. The Hamilton Co Public Library had the most amazing collection too. Cincy has a lot going for it, it did in the 70s and 80s. (Moved in 83). The Cincinnati Art Museum, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the University of Cincinnati. You have me wanting some Skyline Chili too! I understand it has really developed the north of downtown area in the years since. And so very glad the Union Termnal Museum is still there, at one point in the 60s it seemed destined for destruction, (Shades of Penn Station). CVG was an international gateway in the 70s. I suppose you could connect thru Atlanta or ORD, if you need better flights. Now i am missing it, but the winters were Midwestern. Thanks for the post.
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Oooh, I wish Bertram Smith’s Acres of Books was still there.
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That is some weird lookin chilli!
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