On the corner of Oak Street and Los Gatos-Saratoga Road is a hidden gem for locals: the Book-Go-Round, a used book store whose proceeds benefit the Saratoga Library.
Since 1983, the nonprofit shop has employed volunteers who work there to promote literacy and love of learning.
The building used to be the only library in the city, built as the original Saratoga Library in 1927.
Immediately upon entering, I noticed the cozy and nostalgic aesthetics, and book-loving positive vibes swept across me. The store’s dark wooden shelves and tables were filled with hundreds of books, reminding me of elementary school book fairs back in the day.
There was an abundance of contemporary novels and classics, making it a great place to find books from English class reading lists. There was also a section for children’s books, with well-known titles such as “Percy Jackson” and “Harry Potter.”
In addition to novels, the Book-Go-Round also sells textbooks, language books, nonfiction works, cookbooks and self-help books. There was also a table of movie DVDs by the door and video game disks near the children’s section.
The condition of the books varies, but some look almost brand new — unexpected for a used bookstore — with costs running from just $0.50 to $5.
I went to the Book-Go-Round hunting for new comics, and I ended up getting three in total, alongside one novel.
The first book I bought was “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns” by Frank Miller, a classic Batman story, for $3. The cover of the book was a little worn but the quality inside was basically brand new.
“All-Star Superman Vol. 1” by Grant Morrison is considered one of the greatest Superman stories of all time. The list price was $12.99, but I got it for only $4.
I also picked up a hardcover copy of “The Flash Vol. 2: Rouges Revolution” by Francis Manapul for $3 — the list price was $24.99.
The last book I picked up was “For One More Day” by Mitch Albom for only $1.
In the end, the total cost for these four books was $11.
The only downside of the Book-Go-Round is that the selection can vary widely, and the available books depend on what has been donated. Still, it almost felt like treasure hunting when looking for a book because often, there are only one or two books from the middle of the series. And newer popular books are also harder to find.
Despite that, the wide variety of books, homey atmosphere, cheap prices and feel-good cause all make the Book-Go-Round deserving of a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars.
