Little Red Book Shack: A Roadside Oasis for Readers and Record Collectors
This Little Red Book Shack, just 2 minutes up the road from Suarez Family Brewery, or about 8 minutes from Sloop Brewing, is one of those magical roadside gems that just begs you to pull over and explore.
The hand-lettered signs out front read "ALL BOOKS 50¢ to $1" and "YES! PARK ON THE GRASS!" If you're a bookworm who is a few beers deep (thanks to nearby Suarez and/or Sloop), and the place is sparkling in afternoon sunlight, it may feel like a mirage that could disappear when the wind changes; a harbinger of good things to come. (And if you're really feeling this, you also need plan a trip to Hobart Book Village ASAP.)
Even if you're not getting all romantic about it, it's pretty amazing to stumble upon a collection of well-organized sheds filled with books and records.
Think of all the literature you could bring home for a couple of bucks. Here's a random shelf featuring Stieg Larsson, Nelson DeMille, and Michael Ondaatje.
Then there's the vinyl shed with that irresistible handmade sign. Pete checked it out and said, "Mostly classical, with a decent Barbara Streisand collection." He found some Kris Kristofferson records and a Willie Nelson/Leon Russell LP. Score!
Meanwhile, I was in the Kids Shed, which is even cuter when the tarps are pulled back, searching for fairy tales, nature books, and old hardcover mysteries to add to the shelves over our bunk beds.
On my way to the shed housing all the cookbooks, I started chatting with this woman who was knitting beside her 3-legged dog, who said she could tell by her dog's barks that I was definitely a dog lover. She and her dog were correct.
I definitely could've come out with an armful of $1 non-fiction titles from the white cottage, but alas, we had to get back home in time to feed our kids dinner.
The price list is pretty great. I love that they only charge $1 for 6 kids' books.
I only wish I had time to grab a couple more!
The Little Red Book Shack is the physical home of the online bookshop Melanie Nelson Books. Check out their current hours on their website, or shop anytime in the self-serve section and leave your payment in the mail slot in the door . The nearby main house is a bed & breakfast, and you can rent a room there via Living at a Country Bookstore on Airbnb.
