The bookstore in the city of sin

As promised, in this post my ‘review’ of another book shop. This is my second ‘reportage’ in the series “The bookstore in…” (Click here to read the previous one.) The bookstore that is the subject of this article is a little bit further from home. Last week I visited The Reading Room in Las Vegas. Click on ‘more’ to read the story.

(Learn more about this book here.)

 

 

No sins in this bookstore

 

The contradiction between the loud, camp, Strip and The Reading Room could not have been bigger. And I was glad about this. After a long walk down Las Vegas Avenue I finally reached the Mandalay Bay. This enormous hotel and casino supposedly houses a great little bookstore. I could not wait to find it.

 

After looking around for a while, I finally asked for directions at the front desk. The very friendly lady behind it raised her eyebrows for a moment when I told her what I was looking for. The Reading Room. If I had to spend money, I would rather do it at a bookstore then at a slots machine. Even with directions it was not easy to find, but what a find it was. It was a breath of fresh air to find a place that was not ‘sinful’.

 

The front of the shop blew me away. It was just what you would picture an old fashioned bookstore to look like. Except this is Vegas, so it is not old fashioned as in ‘old’. The Reading Room opened in 2003. The owners, Melony Vance and Irma Wolfson, have done a great job with the bookstore. Even though it is tiny occupying with just over 90 square meters, they made the most of the space. I found the décor of classy woods a great choice. Inside the store I really felt like I had escaped Vegas. I especially liked the hand written cards with book recommendations taped to the shelves.

 

The bookstore does not have a large stock, but the selection is good. The Reading Room can offer you anything from best sellers to classics and from nifty bookmarks to children’s books. This bookstore is a real labor of love. It is obvious the owners take a lot of pride in what they do. The love of books just illuminates the place. And what to think of the Socrates Café Discussion Group every Tuesday night?! Remember: this is Vegas we are talking about. Amazing.

 

If you are one of the two million inhabitants of this desert city, or one of the 40 million visitors that ‘hit’ Vegas every year, the Reading Room is not the obvious attraction. But being a visitor myself, I can honestly say that I am so happy it is there. A small and peaceful little haven of books. If you cannot stand the loudness and the bright lights anymore or you just want a book to drown in, this bookshop is your place to go.

 

The Reading Room, Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States