The Bookstores of Provincetown, Massachusetts
Now Voyager Books / Cape and Dagger Mystery Books. 357 Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA 02657. (508) 487-0848. http://www.nowvoyagerbooks.com. Now Voyager sells new and used GLBTQ books, a balance of fiction and non-fiction. The Cape and Dagger section houses used and new mysteries and suspense. Prices on used books seem a bit higher than, say, Tim’s Used Books (reviewed below), and the cramped floor plan allows little loitering. But Now Voyager is the only bookstore in town with a Web site and a calendar of events. The helpful staff can also tell you what’s happening around town. I recommend Now Voyager!
Planet Rainbow. 191 Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA 02657. (508) 487-6777. As the name implies, Planet Rainbow is all about pride. Along with rainbow- and GLBTQ-themed jewelry, cards and music, Planet Rainbow carries a small selection of contemporary queer titles, usually popular, humorous and/or inspirational. There’s nothing particularly impressive here.
Provincetown Bookshop. 246 Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA 02657. Ptown’s general-interest bookstore, the Provincetown Bookshop is devoted to new books, from bestsellers to recent editions of classics. For such a tiny shop, Provincetown Bookshop carries substantial sections of kids’ books, local-interest titles and fantasy/sci-fi. You can’t linger in this busy, crowded store, but it’s worth a visit.
Recovering Hearts Bookstore. 4 Standish Avenue, Provincetown, MA 02657. (508) 487-4875. Recovering Hearts rides the New Age and self-help waves with books on all subjects from codependency to crystals, meditation to motherhood. Titles on feminism, female sexuality and lesbianism round out the mix. There’s a noticeable lack of humor books and alternative presses. Tarot cards, rune decks, crystals, goddess statues and CDs of soothing music are also available. Recovering Hearts is a relaxing place to wander about and read if you’re into that sort of thing.
Tim’s Used Books. 242 Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA 02657. (508) 487-0005. Easily winning the prize for most picturesque location, Tim’s hides from the bustle of Commercial Street at the end of a long cobbled walkway under a pergola. The store contains recent and classic literature, GLBTQ titles, fine art books, literary theory, poetry, mystery and pulp fiction, among other genres. Strategically placed furniture invites you to curl up with a good read, and the reasonable prices assure that you’ll take something home with you.
Womencrafts. 376 Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA 02657. (508) 487-2501. http://www.womencrafts.com. Womencrafts showcases the work of more than 50 female artists countrywide. The store sells a variety of art, including jewelry, sculpture, and, of course, the written word. Lesbian-owned and -run, Womencrafts has a small, interesting inventory of lesbian and feminist books, including small-press titles. Music, movies and TV shows of interest to women, whether queer or not, appear on the shelves too. You’ll always find something beautiful and useful here.
