Amaranth Books

Each time I visited Amaranth, I left with at least a few great finds. This place has a great philosophy and social science selection, which is rare to find in used bookstores. The books are so affordable, and the owner is a book lover.

I didn’t realize Vintage Vinyl was closed on Sundays (sadly, and it remains one of the rare music stores I haven’t made it to yet), so I used that as an excuse to come here instead, just before catching a Metra train while having a weekend pass.
Wish I had checked this place out sooner, but I can’t be too upset about that since they often close by 5 to 5:30pm. Selection is more limited than than Howard’s Books (now my #1 Evanston bookstore since Bookman’s Alley closed. still haven’t made it to its successor store yet…), Armadillow’s Pillow, and probably Uncharted Books, but I still found some interesting books. I appreciate it seems from looking at enough books before catching that Metra train, that they have fairer prices on used books than Myopic, and reminds me of how fair the prices are at Armadillow’s Pillow, and for the most part Uncharted Books. Also thought it was interesting that the background music seemed to be older 20s and 30s tunes (didn’t bother me at all), and that they even had a binder of mostly black and white pics of what I suspect are classic movie stars. No bookstore dog or cat here, but the owner seemed friendly enough.
Nice enough store, and I’ll definitely be back if I’m out here during its open hours.

I used to think that this was a specialty bookstore – fantasy, science fiction – but apparently either I was wrong, or they reconcepted or maybe closed and reopened under new ownership at some point? Anyway, this is actually a pretty solemn, old-​school version of a smallish used bookstore. I overheard the owner telling a prospective book seller, «We tend to skew more academic than popular.»
After perusing the shelves, I would judge that to be a fair assessment. There are a lot of older non-​fiction works, some of which do range into the realm of the academic or even downright obscure. However, I also found a sprinkling of more contemporary popular non-​fiction (e.g. history, biography, social sciences), as well as so-​called classics and recognized literature. But no trade paperbacks or genre fiction, confirming the other half of the owner’s pronouncement. So it may not skew popular, but it is not stuffy or inaccessible.
I say «smallish,» but the shelves are as densely packed with books as the space is with shelves, so the selection is deeper and wider than the square footage implies. I was looking for specific titles but slipped into a very pleasant half-hour’s browsing. The mainstay categories of literature and history are generously represented, as well as art, film, religion, psychology, and all that jazz. I noticed in particular very robust poetry and travel sections. Frustratingly, many sections do not seem to be alphabetized, but some are.
Prices are quite fair, more so than I expected for Evanston based on the appearance of the shop. I bought a Hemingway novel for three dollars and a 1980s survey of Icelandic ecology for four.
I am sorry that it took me so long to visit; I will definitely include Amaranth in my Evanston used-​bookstore circuit from now on.

I love this store and had a great time talking to the owner.

I’m always drawn in by the interesting book selections in the window. They have a lot of historical books at great prices. It’s a small store with a good selection and fun to browse. This is the perfect place to go if you are waiting for a train at the Davis stop and have some time to kill.

I absolutely love this bookstore! They have great, somewhat obscure books for really cheap. Some of the favorites I stumbled upon: an autographed Charlton Heston biography, a day-​by-​day account of the Texas Revolution, and a multi-​volume biography of Jefferson Davis. Fantastic store; highly recommended!

Cheapest bookstore I have ever seen. But also with the worst customer service.

I’ve been to Amaranth a few times now, and each time I have been pleasantly surprised. I always see an old book and a new book I want within ten minutes of walking in the door, but to avoid blowing all my money on books and forcing myself onto a diet of instant ramen and kool-​aid, that’s my limit per trip – one old book, and one new book.
By «old,» I mean one of many, many genuinely old books Amaranth has, in good conditions and for scandalous prices. I purchased a book of poetry published in 1920 for… drumroll…ten dollars. Not a torn page, not a dent in the cover, not a food spill to be found. I wouldn’t call it mint condition, but it was in really great shape. On another visit, I found a book that was a little older, even, about the lyrebird. It just so happens that books about the lyrebird are not easy to come by, and I happen to love them. This book had photographs (black and white, but still), only one loose page, an embossed cover with no damage or flaking in the design, at a low, low price of $ 8.
Regarding new books, I picked up a Sherman Alexie novel for $ 8 and a mid-90’s edition of Anais Nin’s «Little Birds» for $ 4. Again, there are no tears or stains in these books. I have my eye on a Diane Arbus biography that was published a couple of years ago for my next visit, and maybe an old-​style illuminated prayer book that looks very pre-​Renaissance but is actually from the early ’70’s and comes in its own slide-​out box.
You can’t beat Amaranth for variety. They have books in several languages, a healthy little section of local history, books on travel, psychology, film, history, biography, and all manner of things, and mixed in with the old books are sometimes really unusual finds (like my book on the lyrebird). I was recently in with somebody who excitedly pulled something off a shelf, held it aloft, and exclaimed, «Ooh, Star Wars!» On another visit, I was all alone in the shop until a mother came in and found her favorite childhood book so that her little girl could enjoy it too. They might not have as many literary journals or last month’s best-​sellers like Myopic, but here’s something that makes up that difference for me: as far as I can tell, if a book is damaged, it goes on the $ 1 shelf. I don’t mean damaged as in, the binding is coming undone and ten pages are missing, because Amaranth doesn’t sell books like that. I mean damaged as in, this is a somewhat new book that already looks a little old because of a scuffed cover or something like that. Other book stores will sell multiple copies of the same book, in varying conditions, at the same price. You won’t be charged $ 18 for something that’s in bad shape here. Instead, anything that’s not in pretty good shape costs one measly dollar. Nice!
Of course, this policy means the owner has to be a little discriminating. He can’t pay you top dollar for everything you bring in; the store would close if it became one big dollar shelf. Some people can’t understand that and get irritated because they want to fund production of a motion picture from the sale of some old Steven King novels or something nutty like that. Don’t worry about those people. If you’re a customer and actually need help finding something, the owner is wonderful. For example, I asked him if he knew what Sherman Alexie books were in the store, because Alexie writes novels, short stories, drama, poetry, autobiography, and probably something else besides that I haven’t discovered yet. If the man also wrote travelogues and horticultural guides, I wouldn’t be surprised to find out about it. Anyhow, rather than letting me comb the whole store, the owner said, «I know for a fact we have one of his novels, right… HERE.» He pulled it off the shelf for me and the way I was smiling, you could probably see every tooth in my mouth. In addition to being helpful, the owner has also been nothing but friendly to me.
I’d like to see a few more newer books, as in, from the past five years, but I’m happy going to Myopic for those, for now. I know I can always come to Amaranth and find a wonderful antique book, possibly on an esoteric subject, in great shape for a great price. Since I can go to Border’s and pay only $ 2-​$ 5 more for a new book than Myopic charges, the premium is really on good old books for me. I’m not trying to put Myopic down; I only want to distinguish between the various qualities and features of the different options available to book buyers.
Also, if there’s a heaven and I go to it when I die, I hope it smells like Amaranth.

Amaranth is pleasant; the owner not so much, but and at least he won’t get in the way when you browse.
The stock is pretty good (very university town), and there are a couple of chairs scattered through the store, which make it unusually convenient to browse books before you decide to buy.

Serious shit. Joe will find you what it is you seek, art, history, travel. The necessities of life. Amazing second hand in excellent condition at dirty prices (really Joe, I feel like I’ve cheated you sometimes when I leave having paid $ 2 for a gorgeous libro). Come hither smarties. I’m due for a visit as I’m dreaming of a luscious copy of le Decameron.

If you want to spend some time browsing in a quaint, charming store oozing with ambience, go to Bookman’s Alley or Myopic (if you’re a bit more of a hipster).
If you’re looking for the store that actually has the best selection (pound for pound) of used books in the Chicago area, this is undoubtedly it. I love Bookman’s and Myopic, but they always have the same books every time I go. Myopic’s books are always in crap condition and Bookman’s books are overpriced.
Amaranth only sells quality used books in good condition, and at a price that ensures a healthy turnover of stock.
I collect old books (mainly first edition fiction and early 20^th Century illustrated books) and have been to every used book store in the Chicago area on numerous occasions. Amaranth is the only store where I always find something that I can’t leave behind. The atmosphere may be a little antiseptic but the selection is worth it.