Part of the Hobart Book Village since 2009, offering an extensive and varied selection of books.
Blenheim Hill Books (698 Main Street Hobart NY) is a delightful shop with a large and varied selection of books. In 2005, Barbara Balliet and Cheryl Clarke bought a house in the tiny village of Hobart, NY. Fascinated by the concept of the Hobart Book Village, they spent their time getting to know the area and people while reading a lot of books. In 2009 they jumped at the chance to own and operate a bookstore of their own. Clarke is an accomplished poet with a PhD in English. Balliet has a PhD in American history and describes herself as a voracious reader.
Much of the selection at Blenheim Hill Books reflects their interests including poetry, women’s studies, and history. Over the years they’ve expanded their inventory to include an impressive lineup of children’s books, classics, young adult, gardening, cooking, biography, nature and more. They’ve been a staple in this Book Village for many years and well worth a visit for any booklover. Open daily between Memorial and Columbus Days from 11am to 5pm. After Columbus Day weekends only from 10am to 5pm. Although, during the week of my visit, they were only open on Monday. I’m not sure why, but I’m very glad I was able to stop in.
The book I picked up was ‘Artemis’ by Andy Weir. I’ve been wanting to read Weir because of all the hype around ‘Project Hail Mary’ and ‘The Martian’. Since I’m trying to hit more independent and especially used bookstores, those titles have been hard to find. ‘Artemis’ — published in 2017 — is a sci-fi heist novel set in the first city on the Moon in the late 2080s. The story follows the life of porter and smuggler Jasmine “Jazz” Bashara as she gets caught up in a conspiracy for control of the city. I see it’s gotten mixed reviews but I was curious nonetheless.
My pile of TBR is getting so crazy, which was emphasized when I saw a copy of ‘A Confederacy of Dunces’ on a display table at Blenheim Hill Books. I bought a copy this past summer in Wildwood, NJ and of course haven’t read it yet. Anyway . . . so I’ll let you know what I think of ‘Artemis’ whenever I actually get to reading it.
Their website and social media haven’t been updated is quite some time, but do be sure to stop by Blenheim Hill Books while in Hobart, NY. You’ll be glad you did.
Website -> blenheimhillbooks.com
Instagram -> instagram.com/blenheimhillbooks
Facebook -> facebook.com/BlenheimHillbooks
