Kingston Upon Thames
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137 Digbeth
Birmingham B5 6DR
+44 (0) 121 643 8664
Readers World sell a collection of rare and secondhand books, videos and DVDs. They specialise in sci-fi, fantasy and comic books.
1 review
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April 11, 2010
We were lucky to recently discover Readers World, the staff were very knowledgeable(and also happened to a the Rupert Annual we were after). A great shop with a massive selection.
My only dissapointment is that it took us so many years to discover it!
March 10, 2009
I used to use Readers World when they were in what was then our minuscule "Chinese Quarter" in Birmingham. Getting there involved a trek through the markets and some pretty shady subways. That closed down when that part of Brum was refurbished.
I also used the shop when it was under Smallbrook Queensway - another trek but well worth the effort! That shop also suffered at the hands of Brum's face lift.
These were real book shops, not the shiny nonsense that is Waterstones, and I truly missed them when they disappeared. The only shop that came close to this for me was Chapters in Dublin, but only their second-hand book section.
Now, I dunno how long Readers World been in their present premises, but not having had a reason to go to that side of town in a while, I suspect I've been missing out for a long time...
Last Friday I was walking back to my car with a friend when we spotted some interesting books in a dusty window so of course we went in.
Ahhhhh heaven! Floor to ceiling of our kind of books; sci-fi, sci-fantasy, horror. They do cover other genres, but you'll have to go look if you want them >:-P There's also an awesome comic section but I'd need a day to go through that before I could review it here.
The shop is paradise of well-thumbed, previously loved books. Lose yourself in a place where the staff don't harass you or look at you like you're going to steal everything. You can be left to your own devices to browse thousands of books which are priced to suit any hard-up bookworm during these hard times.
Mentally, I spent bout £20 just walking round, (on about 8 books! Bargain!), but not being financially prepared for a good book spree I only spent a couple of quid...the shop is marked for a day of browsing in order to fill some holes in my collection.
If you want a REAL bookshop, at REAL BARGAIN prices, then you won't find anywhere to rival our Readers World. Come and have a look. If you want fancy coffee, rude staff and shrink-wrapped, over-priced books, then stick to your usual bookshop >:-P
June 23, 2008
Re: the review above.I am the Book Troll in the bookshop & he neglected to mention the 9 comics were £4.00 in total,reduced from £20.00.Most shops would also consider it a insult to ask for further discount.Why would you travel 100 miles,to only spend £2.00 !
If the comics are on sale in London at 10 pence each,why do i have hundreds of dealers buying from me every week,to re-sell them at London Comic Marts ?
I welcome people visiting from all over the UK,but not if you demand a 50% discount on £5.00 of books.Why not ask Oxfam and see what they say ? We also support the Birmingham Dogs Home & sell raffle tickets for Great Ormond Street Hospital - would you want the tickets half price ?
As we are professional book dealers,you are not going to find a rare 1st edition on the shelf for 10p.We sell on ebay,too.We also stock Modern Plays,Philosophy,Sport,Science,Music,
Occult,Transport,Travel,Crime.etc.
Every Summer we have a free book weekend,hundreds of Books free outside on tables - but please bring your own
carrier bags,boxes we can supply free,but plastic bags cost us a fortune these days !
May 10, 2008
Wow, do places like these still exist.
Apparently they do, lets see what happened ...
1) My first mistake was asking if it was possible for a discount on 9 items I was thinking of buying, needless to say this didn't seem to go down well with the troll in charge of the shop
2) After inquiring after the prices of a couple of other items I was told that since I wasn't interested in buying the other items I wouldn't be interested in buying anything else, ok that wasn't too insulting
3) Was told that since I wasn't interested in paying full price I wasn't supporting my local bookstore
4) After explaining to the troll that I wasn't a 'local person', I was told to go back to London and buy my books from there.
How very charming, so my advice for anyone thinking of venturing to this shop is to stay away!!!
