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Powell Books, Portland, Oregon

August 19, 2013 By Talya Tate Boerner

Grace Grits and Gardening
Saturday we landed in Portland met up with our friends Craig and Lori and headed straight to Powell Books. 
Powell Books, the largest independent bookstore in the world, was the first thing on my Portland ‘must-see’ list. John jumped on board—he’s a book addict too.

Craig and Lori graciously humored us.

Rooms and tunnels and passageways and nooks were crammed with new and used volumes spreading an entire city block. The throng of shoppers made staying together difficult, so we separated knowing eventually we would hook back up. 
Grace Grits and Gardening

I became lost in Literature.

I stood in awe, absorbed within a million worlds. Walking between walls of every-colored books, I touched the spines, some brittle and ancient, some slick and new. I could have lingered two days but exercised extreme self-control and bought only one book. (Where’d You Go Bernadette—it’s on my book wine club list.)

John disappeared into Fiction in search of Donald Harrington books. He feels compelled to give every un-purchased copy of Choiring of the Trees a new home, and I love that about him.

Craig and Lori escaped to a bar around the corner.

talya

“Books are a uniquely portable magic.” 
― Stephen King

Filed Under: Reading & Books, Travel Tagged With: Oregon, Pacific Northwest

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Comments

  1. Kathy says

    August 19, 2013 at 1:24 pm

    How cool!! All those lovely old Bobbsey Twins books! I read a lot of those when I was a kid and loved them…along with Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden. It would have been right down my alley. I would have been in 7th heaven.

    Kathy
    http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      August 20, 2013 at 6:30 am

      Yes you would have loved it Kathy!

  2. menopausal mama says

    August 20, 2013 at 11:06 am

    I would be the same way. I can spend HOURS in bookstores….but my wallet won’t allow me to stay as long as I would like!


Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (2022)

THE THIRD ACT OF THEO GRUENE (coming 2025)

Recent Ramblings:

  • Sunday Letter: 11.23.25
  • Maggie and Miss Ladybug: My New Children’s Nature Book
  • Sunday Letter: November 9, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Oct 26, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Oct 5, 2025

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