Abbey’s Bookshop

I have to say I’m biased because I work here, more precisely upstairs in the Language Centre. But the reason I work here is because I love it! Got fascinated the first time I went to buy my Japanese Textbook with its unpretentious décor and friendly staff. Now I got the opportunity to be with books of more than 100 languages! It’s a language nerd’s dream come true!
I found new cool stuff everyday hidden on the shelves even after working here for a year. And god I bought so many books here, can’t resist now that I’m here all the time… Galaxy is our cool neighbor with cool posters and toys. A Zombie Cat just moved in yesterday, it’s huggable! Of course, the light-​saver is our favorite stress-​release device :)
Never get tired of this place!

Galaxy Bookstore located upstairs in Abbeys.
Should I feel weird for browsing a book store with a section on Paranormal Romance?
Well a man’s got to get his Zombie Literature somewhere!
Abbeys is a good resource for Academic literature combined with the convenience of a sci fi fantasy specialist book store upstairs.
More exxy then Amazon of course but come on we are gonna loose these book stores soon with our appetite for bargains.
Normally a few dollars cheaper then other local book stores, great friendly staff.

People say that book shops won’t last. That they’re dying, thanks to inventions like iPads and Kindles. That books are becoming superflous.
For one, I really, really hope not. And for two, how can downloading an app on your whatever replace the joy of going to a shop, browsing amongst the titles, smiling fondly at old favourites and ultimately, taking home something tangible for your own enjoyment?
Abbey’s Bookstore is one business that I would be sad to see destroyed by technology. Downstairs is shelves and shelves of fictional and non-​fictional works, everything from Mills and Boon to Marx, Sweet Valley High to Shantaram. Abbey’s has it all — biographies, stories, how-to’s and other useful/​enjoyable/​funny/​touching literary pursuits. All that you’d expect in a bookstore is available.
Upstairs, however, is the niche business that has perhaps allowed the stores success in the face of technology. An entire level is dedicated to language books of every variety. Beginner Swedish textbooks mix easily with French-​German Dictionaries and Japanese for Dummies. The store also stocks novels in different languages, which is extremely helpful if you’re interested in the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo in its mother tounge, or a copy of The Old Man and the Sea in Italian to improve your reading skills.
Given its impressive range of stock and nostalgic potential, I think it’ll be a while before Abbey’s Bookstore is cruelly destroyed by the ever-​advancing hand of technology.

I was, for a time, what can only be described as a Frankophile. That’s someone who is obsessed with things a la Francois. I got heavily into the music of Raphael, Camille, Serge Gainsbourg and even Vanessa Paradis. I was watching French Films like a maniac, and I even endeavoured to take up the ancient art of speaking the language.
I decided the best way to do this (Well, not the best way, but the most accessible, the cheapest and the most likely that I would follow it through.) would be to purchase some French Speaking CD’s and utilise the lessons therein.
With a reputation for language books and media, I journeyed to Abbey Books just behind the QVB. Which has now taken into its premises the science fiction bookshop, Galaxy.
I had no idea which one would be the ideal course for me so I got some advice from the staff there, he asked me questions about outcomes and reasons to learn and such and then pointed me in the right direction.
I purchased my audio lessons and thanked the man. And after many a jog around the bay with my headphones in, repeating french phrases as I jogged. Probably looking like a looney from Paris talking to himself, I learnt the ancient art of Conversational French. Though I still can’t have a conversation in it, unless that conversation is asking how you are, you say fine and then I buy something from you.

Right behind the QVB, Abbey’s has a huge range of books including an array of academic titles that always intrigues me. It’s the kind of bookshop where you can walk in and ask for ‘The Bog People’ by PV Glob (actual book and author!) and no-​one looks at you askance. Well, maybe a little bit.
On the other end of the spectrum, it also houses a speciality crime fiction section, with a newsletter of new releases put out often. If you’re looking for a mystery about Sherlock Holmes’ housekeeper, this is your place. Staff are helpful and well-​used to socially-​inept academics, so no fear that you’re asking any weird questions. Upstairs they now have the remnants of Galaxy Bookstore (specialist sci-​fi and fantasy). Just don’t ask for ‘umm, that book with the dragon on the cover???’ They hate that.
Abbey’s usually have a sale in June and it is a continued pleasure to peruse the shelves for the odd and informative. There aren’t that many independent bookstores left. We must shower our love upon them.

Abbey’s is a great bookshop with a culty edge, they used to own Galaxy Bookshop on the same street which is now closed and some of the sci-​fi stock has been incorporated into Abbey’s, check the window display for the very cute Star Wars soft toys (I want a Yoda, he is so cute).
Being one of Sydney’s larger bookshops Abbey’s has a very large range, but the reason I like it is not so much for their books but the DVDs. Abbey’s offers possibly the most extensive foreign film DVD selection in Sydney, they have many deleted titles and many imports. If you are looking for films by the greats of foreign cinema such as Bergman, Ozon, Haneke, Fellini, Antonioni, Abbey’s is the place to find them. Oh and grab me a Yoda on the way out.