Magill Book Exchange

I walked in here today with the intention of trading some books. The first thing I saw was 2 Penthouse magazines displayed. This bothered me so much that I turned around and walked out. There were young children walking around and I personally don’t think it is appropriate or necessary to have these particular magazines on display. Sexual objectification of women is not something I want my young child to be a part of when he grows up and therefore I wont support businesses that perpetuate this as a norm.

Magill Book Exchange is not a very big used book store, not in comparison to Glenelg anyway, but it is still good. A great range of novels, ranging from classics to horror to crime, the genres are labelled very clearly and so are the prices on the books (I hate it when the prices are written in grey led on the inside cover). As I’ve mentioned in a previous review on used books, I rate these stores as to their Stephen King collection and how much they are. Magill Book Exchange had a good collection of Kings ranging from $ 7-​$ 10 approximately, which is generally what you pay in most stores.
After reading Liz A’s review I’m definitely thinking about picking out some old books I don’t read and exchanging them for something new.

The Book Exchange is one of those shops that are usually hard to find but once you’ve located them (by chance, in my case), they just make your day. Surrounded by very little other shops on Magill Road, this place has an odd mixture of everything. From children’s books and slightly odd pornographic comics, to sci-​fi novels and old classics, you’ll always find something interesting here and never walk out empty-​handed. It is very cheap as well and the owner is friendly and really helpful. It’s fairly small and looks a bit outdated and dogy inside, but that’s just what these type of stores are supposed to look like.

The lovely man who runs this store was kind enough to relieve me of all my two-​decade old chick lit in exchange for a huge pile of old Goosebumps and Enid Blyton’s for my daughter. I love the fact I’ve walked in here numerous times with a stack of books I hate, and walked out 10 minutes later with a stack of books I love. The opening hours are unpredictable but can you blame them? I’m just amazed stores like this are still around. They’re like the Tasmanian Devil of the retail world: it’s hard to believe they still exist.
And this is a legitimate old school book exchange: creaky floors, sad neglected shop front, weird collection of comics and cookbooks from the 1970’s, and also, if you have the time to look, the most fantastic finds! As new Peter Carey and Jonathan Franzen: yes please! Don’t ever change, book exchange.