I love visiting this TARDIS of used a bookstore in Wildwood NJ. Fairly unassuming outside. Downright overwhelming inside.
It’s becoming a bit of a tradition to visit the vast used book haven that is Hooked on Books (3405 Pacific Ave Wildwood NJ). I adore this store. On my first trip here last year, I described it as a TARDIS of used bookstores. Fairly unassuming outside. Downright overwhelming inside. I’d chat with the staff about titles I was looking for. If they didn’t have something, they’d recommend a suitable replacement. Such was the case with ‘Fifteen Dogs’ by André Alexis. In it, the gods Apollo and Hermes wager on whether human intelligence is a blessing or a curse. They test this theory by gifting human consciousness and language to a group of dogs. It doesn’t go well.
While the store did not have that one (which I do still plan to buy at some point somewhere) the owner tracked me down in the aisles to recommend ‘The Night Circus’ by Erin Morgenstern. He felt the concepts were similar and that I’d enjoy the book. In this story, a magical black-and-white circus, appears without warning and is open only at night. It serves as the stage for a lifelong magical duel between two young illusionists. And that’s what I love about an independent store of any kind. The staff are genuinely interested in what they sell and want to pass along not only their knowledge, but their enthusiasm.
I was able to get two books on my list:
‘A Confederacy of Dunces’ by John Kennedy Toole. A satirical, tale about the misadventures of the obese, slothful, and arrogant Ignatius J. Reilly in 1960s New Orleans. This is something I’ve been meaning to read of late because I had mistakenly avoided it. Based on the title, I thought it was a straight piece of political commentary rather than the humorous farce that it actually is. That’s my own fault for not doing even a sliver of research. D’OH!
‘The Crying of Lot 49’ by Thomas Pynchon was recommended as a good starting point for getting into Pynchon, who I’m told can be a challenge. This is the story of a woman appointed as co-executor of the estate of her wealthy ex-boyfriend. She finds herself investigating a mysterious symbol that may be connected to a possible conspiracy involving an underground postal service. With a description like that, I was fascinated. I got started on this and admit it was pretty difficult for me to get into. I’m not giving up, just a slight postponement.
My backlogged home library is growing faster than I can consume. As I’ve said in the past; I’m a terrible reader. I always have been. I’m trying desperately to get better. Now, I don’t see myself becoming like one of these social influencer types who devour five, ten, fifteen books a month. If I can get to one a month, that would be a good start. Far better than one a year, that’s for sure.
Whatever your reading goals are, I highly recommend stopping at Hooked on Books if you’re in the Wildwood area. It’s a decent size space and every inch is packed with books of all genres. If you feel overwhelmed, the staff are very knowledgeable and helpful. They have a firm grip on their inventory. This is not always the case in used book stores. Anyway, they’re open seasonally from May thru September. If you can’t make it, please seek out an independent and/or used book store in your area.
Website -> hookedonbooks.info
