Twice Sold Tales

This is my kind of used book store. When I go to a used book store, I’m not looking for one in particular. I just want to spend time browsing… and kitties to hep with that? Extra special.
I also will admit that one of those stars is directly dedicated to the cats… but they are sweeties. Even if they are a little grumpy and will steal the one chair I was able to find when I got up.

Bought kings of infinte space by james hynes
The guy working was super helpful and was very nice, though a little awkward. I really enjoyed The kitties and the atmosphere.

Cats and books? Automatic 5 stars.
There isn’t much to critique about a book store, but this one was a little bit hard to find stuff in since they have a general alphabetical order that can sometimes be out of whack. And, just like any other bookstore, they didn’t have some books that I was specially on the hunt for (but it’s a used book store, what do you expect). The Twice Sold Tales on capitol hill is also very cute and are always having special sales going on. That store has more cats roaming around but this one in the u-​distict has three orange cats… I’m conflicted as to who wins.

I’d do 3 ½ if I could. It’s a lovely little used bookstore but not quite 4 star material.
The store is rather deceptively large with a really good and varied selection of books to go through. However, being a librarians daughter & having the dewy decimal system beaten into my brain I had some issues finding the exact sections I was interested in.
Prices seemed fairly standard for used books, and I left with about 4 under my arm.
Staff pretty much ignored me the whole time. Which at times is an ok thing but considering how much wandering I had to do I was a little irked that no help what-​so-​ever was offered.
Cute little kitties are also roaming the store, I certainly didn’t mind but I know my allergic father would not have been able to be in this store for more than a couple of minutes.

It smells like poop.
It’s a nice bookstore with a great selection and adorable cats and a wonderfully sassy sign that says «if your bag is big enough to stuff a cat in you must check it» and it has all the makings of the greatest used bookstore ever and it smells like poop.
Sorry guys but I’m not going to browse in a store that smells like poop.

I called to see if they had a book by Anne Bishop. I wanted to drop by on my lunch break and pick up a book.
The employee who picked up the phone was very nice and helpful.
I went and grabbed the book on my lunch. In and out in under 5mins.
They had it and knew I was on a time restraint and were very helpful to help.
I have been here a few times to browse and its great. I love the wandering cats. I’m not even a cat person! I love the feel. Yeah its not Barnes and Nobles but so what? the prices are also not crazy marked up. This is what used bookstores feel like, the whole laid back feel with the odd cat here and now. Where if you decide to park if for a bit the employees wouldn’t give you dirty looks.
Good place for my book allowance to go to:)

Like the bookstore, reminded me of dogeared books in Frisco.
Staff was cool, p/​u 2 books and my friend grabbed 2 books as well.

Nifty used bookstore on the Ave! I can’t believe it’s taken me THIS LONG to actually walk inside!
They have you check your bags when you arrive, which baffled some people (one woman in particular)… but I personally liked it. Who wants to lug a backpack around for longer than you have to?!?
The cats: I love cats. Those cats didn’t seem especially approachable and were super used to the presence of strangers, but they were pretty cute. It was a bit odd seeing cat toys in random spots of the store, but the only time I was «bothered» by that aspect was the mess on the floor around the kitty tower «scratching pad» thing.
I’ll be back again when I’m looking for some used books and happen to be in the U-​district!

This place is a mess. Get over it. Or go to Barnes and Noble or Half Price Books (also a chain, but one that employs hipsters). It also has lots of cats. I can understand staying away if you are allergic, but the cats in this shop smell better and are way less likely to bother you than most people you are likely to see wandering around the Ave anyways (no I am NOT talking about street kids. I am referring to drunk sophomores who smell like cheap perfume).
John (the owner) is a pretty awesome fellow. He is very involved in the Center for Wooden Boats and the selection of nautical books at his shop is excellent. If you are sailor, or like to pretend that you are a sailor, or if you are just into reading books on the sea then this place is a treasure trove.
The selection of politbooks is also pretty great. I have a habit of giving away copies of Zinn’s «A People’s History of the United States» and more than once I have replaced this volume with a bargain from TST on the Ave.

I love to read. I read all the time. I am a Reading Specialist!! I love cats. Why a 2? It is shoddy. The books are in disarray always! The carpet is ancient. I have been coming there a long time — have they vaccuumed in 15 years?
I get along with the cats — sort of — crochety old things. leave them alone! they want to sleep — not get petted.
One staff is really curt. I avoid asking questions or dialoguing any more. I am sad to see this degeneration.

I stop by only if I’m desperate to avoid supporting a chain bookstore whilst in the U-​district. (and Magus doesn’t have what I want)
I love cats, even have a couple of my own, but the store smells like piss, which is unpleasant for book browsing. Also, these are not «aren’t you cute and I want to scratch your ears» kinds of cats; they’re crotchety and don’t want you to touch them.
I read. A lot. I teach other people about reading and books for a living. I used to work in a used bookstore. And I think I’m pretty damn smart. However, whenever I ask someone where a book is in the store, or if they know who wrote such and such book, I feel like an idiot. I can feel the judgement oozing from behind the counter.
Environment is EVERYTHING in a bookstore, and this one sucks.
They do have a pretty solid collection of used fiction at pretty decent prices.

So when you walk in there’s a sign that says something like, if your bag is large enough to stuff a cat in, please check it at the counter.
I walked in one time with a small-​to-​medium sized purse.
Is this large enough to stuff a cat in? I asked the man at the desk.
I don’t think so, he said.
What if it were a very small cat, and it had been sedated? I asked.
Do you WANT me to take your bag? he said.
No, I said.
Good selection of stuff, but nothing compared to Half Price Books over on Roosevelt. I really do enjoy their sign out front, with the dinosaur attacking the bus and the people running away (You can always catch the next one.) 3 stars for the sheer entertainment value that this store provides.

Pluses for being nicely organized and not so cluttered you can’t find anything. I also like it when there are cats in a bookstore — for some reason books and cats have always gone together for me.
Minuses for not having an amazing selection. I went in there and asked for their graphic novel selection (I had to get some for a class I was taking), and found a shelf and a half of ratty looking graphic novels… none of them ones I wanted to read. Also, it looked like a child had ripped all the books off the shelf, and then replaced them. I also don’t really like the employee vibe here — they seem a little lurky and condescending — the Magus people are always a lot more friendly.
It’s not bad, but I’d choose Magus over it every time.

Storage unit cleaned out = books amassed in plenty residing in back seat and trunk of car. Where-​o-​where to sell for decent cash in the Seattle area?
I was in the neighborhood having just brilliantly sold my Cd’s at Cellophane Square (see previous review) and thought, ok… let’s see if Twice Sold Tales will take my books.
HUGE NOTE: they require an appointment if you want to sell your books for cash — so save yourself the time and back pain and don’t lug your hundreds of paperbacks and college «I’m so deep» literary novels down there unless you call and schedule ahead of time.
This aforementioned note I did not know… and thus, I thankfully only lugged half of my books into the store. The fellow was definitely nice enough when I asked when the next «appointment» would be available — the date he shared was TWO WEEKS later. Yikes! Ok… I’m absolutely sure there is a legitimate reason for this appointment nonsense, but if you’re like me… and quite possibly you are… you want to sell and get cash pronto. I mean, when you finally made the steps to go through years of books, you’re not really in the mood to wait two weeks for someone to choose only five of them and pay you $ 5. Really.
So I passed… and found a much better selling experiences after… please read my other reviews on this.

There’s that thrift-​shop vibe of knowing that a treasure lurks just around the corner, if one has the patience to look long enough. Especially the robust cook book section:
«Gilroy Garlic Lovers Cookbook»
This is the treasured gem I unearthed in this gauche Ave staple, known for its resident feline and dinosaur-​chasing-​bus sign.
For all the incentive to browse, I wish I didn’t have to check my bag just for stopping in momentarily (maybe I have a bus coming soon) and keeping beat authors behind the counter limits my ability to shop for which beatnik book I want to check out next.

I think 3.5 stars is fair for TwiceTold tales. Things to love: the cats that roam the shop (unless you have allergies or want to bring your dog (what,? why do you want to bring your dog into a shop! Unless you’re blind), the fact that they’re local, and the selection is above decent.
Things not to love: since they have cats roaming the shop, you cannot bring: your dog, lizard, rhino, spider, boa, or pig… thanks for coming!

On a quest to look for a book. Came in here because I really like used bookstores. Decided to go on a quest myself to find that book. Had to leave within 2 minutes because the place smelled like cat shit.
I’m sure it is a decent place though.
Zipzap Zubidy Bop!

Books + Ema = Happy!
Ema + Cats = Wheezing asthma attack with hives and itchy red eyes.
Books + Cats = Twice Told Tales

Ok, I don’t want to say anything too bad about a small locally owned bookstore because I want to support businesses like that, but I can really live without the smart ass signs posted EVERYWHERE in this store.
«If you have a bag big enough to stuff a cat in it, check it in.»
«Please turn off your cell phones»
«Don’t tap on the glass»
The list goes on, and the signs vary depending on the location, although the UW District one is probably the worst.
Gosh, I’m not going to use my cell phone, steal any books, talk, breathe, etc. I just feel like I’m walking on egg shells when I go in this place. Not that the staff is rude, they are just keeping it classic with that don’t talk in the library kind of vibe. It makes me absolutely nervous!
I asked about a book the other day, «Finnegans Wake» and the sales associate looked at me like I was some kind of idiot, surprised that I even knew about the book. I’m sorry… I didn’t know it was a prerequisite to look like a hairy hippie wizard who wears shirts like «I See Dumb People» to be interested in a James Joyce book. I’m sorry I’m a little Asian girl who has blonde streaks and flat irons her hair and is asking about a book like that. My feelings were deeply hurt and I think the cliché saying of «Don’t judge a book by its cover» really applied to this situation. Minus the fact he was basically calling me an idiot, he made various attempts to sway me into more, shall we say… less challenging books to read. I wasn’t interested.
Anyway, minus the uptight vibe and a million signs I always come back to this book store just because I like that nostalgic feeling old bookstores give me. I know Half Price Books has what I’m looking for, and for a cheaper price, but I always enjoy my visits to this book store in particular. And I like the cats!

The allure of books is constant; my resistance depends on my mood. In a sensible, forward-​thinking frame of mind, I will avoid bookstores altogether, or if someone else requires me to enter I walk through averting my eyes. In a more usual mood, there are some stores which I pretty much can’t enter without buying at least one book of some kind, and other stores where I look about and remind myself how small my apartment is, and leave empty-​handed and self-​congratulatory. In a certain desperate, panicky mood, as when I realize it’s New Year’s Day, the library’s closed, and if I don’t buy a frivolous book I will have to occupy my time with paid labor, I am likely to buy a book pretty much anywhere, in Bartell’s, if necessary.
The U District Twice Sold Tales really seems like a store that should fall into the middle category, tempt me in a vulnerable mood into buying books that might lurk about my living place for decades without being read. Its dim darkness, its tall bookcases, the necessity of going round and round in circles before you find a particular section, its proximity to a major university, all would seem to signal the likelihood of treasures on the shelves.
But somehow, I’ve never found anything exciting there. If I need an entertainment for an evening, I can find it, but that’s about it.