From the street, a mural of bibliophiles contentedly browsing through books greets me as I approach Henderson Books. Once inside, I take a deep, relaxing breath and settle in for a comfortable browse through rooms and rooms of bookshelves.
Henderson Books may very well be Bellingham's largest used book store. They have an enormous variety of non-fiction running the full range of topics all the way from thick physics books dense with formulae, to cookbooks describing the most attractive way to present a chocolate mousse. Their fiction section, although not as exhaustive as their non-fiction, is also a fairly respectable size. It is easy to find books by some of the most popular fiction writers, and even if you are looking for a more obscure author chances are still good that you will find something of theirs at Henderson's. If you are a sci-fi/fantasy fan, you will also be pleased to discover that there is a section specifically for those genres at the back of the store.
The staff at Henderson's are highly knowledgeable about their wares. They will gladly help you find a particular book that you are looking for or happily answer any other book-related question you may have -- however, don't expect any of the syrupy-sweet retail attitude found at larger, more corporate bookstores. These folks are professionals, and act as such.
One last note: if you are bringing in books to sell, expect Henderson's to be somewhat selective. As evidenced on their bookshelves, they won't take just any old thing. That said, they will gladly go through your boxes of used books in search of books to add to their shelves; in particular they seem to be looking for quality books that are interesting or entertaining specimens of their genre.
If you are a casual reader or a serious bibliophile, Henderson Books is your place! Go and get lost in their labyrinth of bookshelves... you won't regret it.
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