Stephen Conrad
May 2025
4 Stars – Still One of My Favorite Spots, But This Visit Felt Different I’ve always loved Winston Smith Books and have had great conversations with Winston himself in the past. He’s passionate about books and treats them with deep care—he even describes them as “old ladies and old men” and asks customers not to pull them by the spine to avoid damage. However, during a recent visit with two friends, the atmosphere felt different. Winston seemed to hover a lot more than usual, and at one point, I was told not to touch a book unless I was going to buy it. That was a bit off-putting, especially since browsing is such a big part of the bookstore experience. That said, every other visit I've had here has been amazing, and I truly respect how much love and effort goes into the store. I’m still rating it 4 stars and absolutely willing to update it to 5 if my next visit brings back the warmth and welcoming vibe I’ve come to know.
