The Open Book

The Open Book offers Bend's bibliophiles a different kind of literary experience from the new-book stores in town, a used and rare bookstore with a cabin-like atmosphere that rewards patient browsing with unexpected discoveries. The Old Mill District location, in a building that echoes the timber-industry heritage of Central Oregon, sets the tone for a collection that favors the tactile pleasure of well-read books. The Western history section is exceptional, with used volumes on Oregon Trail migration, Native American culture, logging history, and the development of the American West that range from scholarly to popular. The mountaineering collection draws climbers and mountaineers from across the region, with vintage expedition accounts, old climbing guides, and rare photographs of Cascade peaks. The science fiction section is vast and well-organized, a paradise for genre fans hunting for out-of-print titles. The rare maps collection is a particular treasure, featuring vintage topographic maps of the Cascades, the high desert, and Central Oregon that are works of art as well as historical documents. The store's cozy atmosphere, complete with worn leather chairs and the pleasant musty scent of old paper, makes it easy to lose an entire afternoon among the stacks.