.The Bookstores of Marin

Marin County is home to a slew of authors, readers, poets, songwriters/singers and, naturally, book slingers whose job it is to keep up with the voracious appetites of various patrons and their ever-changing literary preferences.

Marin’s bookshops offer up products new and used for patrons to peruse and maybe amuse themselves throughout these blissful springtime weeks ahead. Whether one wants to read a romance novel in the park with a picnic or tackle an adventure tale told only in rhyme, Marin is bound to have exactly the kind of read one seeks this spring…perhaps even an elusive copy of Marin’s most local and beloved satirical serial novel, the Pacific Sun’s own The Serial.

Book Passage

Book Passage is the place to go for a lively literary scene this spring. Not only can customers enjoy a wide array of literature spanning every genre and age range; they may also stop by to witness one of the many upcoming author talks Book Passage is positively famous for.

Coming up on April 6, for instance, is an author talk at the Corte Madera Book Passage location by Robert Steers, author of Plants of Mount Tamalpais. On the same day, Jennifer Croft is set to make an appearance with Nancy Jooyoun Kim to talk all about The Extinction of Irena Rey. On April 7, Greg Sarris and Jane Ciabattari will speak at Book Passage about The Forgetters.

Book Passage hosts events online and in both store locations (Corte Madera and the San Francisco Ferry Building). So, for those who favor listening to authors talk about their pieces and experiences, Book Passage is a fantastic bet.

Book Passage is located at 51 Tamal Vista Blvd. in Corte Madera—they are open from 10am to 6pm Mon. through Sat., and from 11am to 6pm Sun. To learn more about Book Passage and its upcoming events, call 415.927.0960 or visit the Book Passage website at bookpassage.com.

Copperfield’s Books

Copperfield’s Books offers a playful assortment of items in all their locations. Even those who enter intent on buying one specific book have a good chance of leaving with a birthday card from a local artist, a new bookmark, some candles, a stuffed animal, a tarot deck, three extra books about birdwatching and a partridge in a pear tree too. In other words, Copperfield’s is the eclectic shopper’s ideal location and a great place to buy gifts (for others as well as oneself).

The Novato Copperfield’s Books is open 10am to 6pm Sun. through Thurs., and from 10am to 7pm Fri. and Sat. They’re located at 999 Grant Ave., Ste. 105. For more information about the Novato location, call the front desk at 415.763.3052.

San Rafael’s Copperfield’s Books is open 10am to 6pm Mon. through Sat., and from 10am to 5pm Sun. Visit the San Rafael location at 1200 4th St. To get in contact with the San Rafael Copperfield’s Books, call 415.524.2800.

The Larkspur location for Copperfield’s Books is open from 10am to 6pm Mon. through Sat., and from 10am to 5pm on Sun. Visit the Larkspur Copperfield’s Books at the Marin County Mart, located at 2419 Larkspur Landing Cir. Call 415.870.9843 to contact this location.

Mill Valley Depot Café and Bookstore

For the readers of Marin who want to browse some books, buy an exciting new piece of literature and then enjoy it with a brew (be it coffee, tea or even a fresh, cold beer), the Mill Valley Depot Café and Bookstore is the place to go. In other words, this is the ideal place for people-watching, page-turning and nibbling/sipping on something in the process.

The bookstore is open from 8:30am to 6pm Sun. through Wed., 8:30am to 6:30pm Thurs.

and 8:30am to 7:30pm Fri. and Sat. Note, the hours of the café and the bookstore at the Mill Valley Depot Café and Bookstore differ slightly. The Mill Valley Depot Café and Bookstore is located at 87 Throckmorton Ave. To learn more about this establishment, visit the website at depotcafeandbookstore.com, send an email to [email protected] or call 415.888.3648.

Point Reyes Books

This historical bookstore is at the height of its glory, which is saying something considering its doors first opened to local clientele in 1969. But the readable offerings on display at this place are anything but outdated—in fact, Point Reyes Books offers perhaps the most cutting-edge collection of intriguing and unique books in Marin. For the book lovers out there who want to find something new or expand their horizons, visit Point Reyes Books and prepare to be amazed.

Point Reyes Books is open daily from 10am to 5pm on weekdays and from 10am to 6pm on the weekend. Visit Point Reyes Books at 11315 State Route 1 or, to learn more before driving out to Point Reyes Station, visit the website at ptreyesbooks.com, email [email protected] or call 415.663.1542.

Rebound Bookstore

If secondhand books are what one seeks, look no further than the aptly named Rebound Bookstore in San Rafael. Located next to many cafes and cute spots to sit and read for a spell, Rebound Bookstore is one of the best places to go in Marin to take a book from a shelf and give it a second chance at life.

Rebound Bookstore, also called ‘The Biggest Little Bookstore In The Universe,’ is located at 1611 4th St. in San Rafael—the hours of operation are from 11am to 5pm Mon. through Sat. Rebound Bookstore is closed on Sundays. To learn more, visit the website at reboundbookstore.com or call 415.482.0550.

Sugarfoot Books Inc.

Woman-owned and specializing in children’s books as well as new pieces of fiction, San Anselmo’s Sugarfoot Books Inc. is hands down a literary destination to visit in Marin this spring, especially if supporting a small business by buying books with big stories sounds appealing.

Sugarfoot Books Inc. is located at 615 San Anselmo Ave. in San Anselmo. This Marin Bookstore is open daily from 10am to 6pm Sun. through Thurs., and from 10am to 8pm Fri. and Sat. To learn more about Sugarfoot Books Inc., call 415.459.7323.

Wayfinder Bookshop

Wayfinder Bookshop is locally owned and operated by the same local couple that took over the historical Point Reyes Books location from its previous owner. Needless to say, this bookish establishment is new, but the people behind the counter are expert book slingers and literary daydreamers.

Wayfinder Bookshop is open from 11am to 7pm daily and is located at 9 Bolinas Rd. in Fairfax—for more information or to order a book, call 415.295.7318, or visit the website at ptreyesbooks.com.