Secondhand books have the tantalising aroma of a spicy Goan fish curry.
Browsing through books is half the pleasure. Buying them doesn't always have to be the happy ending. I have spent much of my reading life doing little more than scanning bookshelves, admiring covers, flipping through pages, reading blurbs, searching for forgotten bookmarks, and envying what other people find. Which means I get as much satisfaction from browsing as I do from buying. Of course, there have also been times when I've walked away empty-handed, only to regret leaving behind a coveted title or an out-of-print book. I've even returned the next day, only to find it gone.
Old or new, in shops or on footpaths, books have been my companions ever since I started my reading journey with the Hardy Boys. Here are some of my favourite book haunts, mostly in South Mumbai, where I have browsed far more than I have bought. A few of these photographs have appeared on the blog before, but most were taken specifically for this post.
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| The footpath booksellers of Flora Fountain (Hutatma Chowk) | . |
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| Books by Weight in South Mumbai, as far as the eye can see. |
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| Abraham Lincoln in not-so-strange company. |
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| My pick from the box: Jack Higgins, my favourite author. |
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| A pavement bookseller opens for the day. |
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| The suburban bookshop where I browse—and board a bus home. |
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| The English historical novelist on my TBR list. |
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| Fiction rubs spines with self-help in South Mumbai. |
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| Waiting for customers: This footpath bookseller knows his books. |
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| British crime writer Martina Cole at Books by Weight. |
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| A close-up of a footpath bookseller on Mahatma Gandhi Road. |
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| Heavyweights jostle for space at a suburban bookshop. |
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| Take your pick or toss a coin, at Books by Weight. |
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| Spy novelist Craig Thomas is an old friend. |
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| Books in a haystack near the old Central Telegraph Office. |
This photo essay was first published in October 2017 and has been lightly updated in June 2026 with revised text and links to related posts. Some of these book haunts may have changed over the years, while others continue to welcome browsers and collectors. But the joy of browsing secondhand books remains the same.
© All photographs by Prashant C. Trikannad
Wow. Just: WOW! If I had anything like this near me, I'd spend ALL my time looking through those stacks and stacks and there would go all my money. As it is now I have to control myself from ordering more than just a couple of used books online - but this, Prashant, is like book heaven. How do you tear yourself away???
ReplyDeleteYvette, I'm trying not to hoard any more books though I do buy a few every year. It's I started reading novels from my collection.
DeleteI love the idea of the pavement sellers - we get too much rain here for that. Mind you, probably the last thing I need is more temptation to acquire books... :)
ReplyDeleteFictionFan, I'm always tempted to buy some of these books but my left hand has a vice grip on my right. A good thing, too.
DeletePrashant – Thanks for the photos. I would like to spend an hour or two looking through that pavement seller’s mountain of books on the orange tarp.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Elgin. You'd need more than an hour to look through those books or even the ones at the Books by Weight exhibition.
DeleteGreat photos Prashant.
ReplyDeleteAnd great books, too. Thank, Col.
DeleteI am like Yvette. I would not be able to walk out without some books. I mostly like to find older books, but on the other hand, filling in some holes in my collection on some new authors would be great too. You are much smarter than I am, Prashant.
ReplyDeleteNot really, Tracy. I'll be smarter only when I read the books I already have instead of buying new ones and not reading them.
DeleteI'm reading a Jack Higgins right now, The last place god made. sure would love to browse these stacks
ReplyDeleteCharles, THE LAST PLACE GOD MADE is Higgins at one of his best. It ranks in my Top 5 of his novels which includes THE EAGLES HAS LANDED, A PRAYER FOR THE DYING, and THE SAVAGE DAY.
DeletePrashant, you are one lucky fellow. There used to be many second-hand book sellers in Delhi, now those that remain usually sell either Romance or the latest Best-Sellers. The Sunday Book Bazaar has also changed over the years with an emphasis on course books or those for competitive exams....
ReplyDeleteNeer, what happened to the famous book market at Daryaganj? I have heard much about it.
DeletePrashant: It was very interesting to read of the booksellers available to you.
ReplyDeleteHow much would a kilogram of books cost when sold by weight?
Saskatchewan's climate, especially the long winters, would never permit such outdoor sellers. I would be interested in knowing how much trouble they have with rain.
Thank you, Bill. At the Books by Weight exhibition in Bombay, Rs.100 per kg will fetch you five or six novels, and maybe a couple of hardbacks owing to their weight. During monsoon, the pavement booksellers build a makeshift roof of tarpaulin or large plastic sheets and one can still browse through all the books.
DeleteWhat a positive comment all these book stores are on Mumbai, thanks for sharing these wonderful images
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Mel. Weekday or weekends, those are my go-to places. It's like vacation.
DeleteOh, Prashant, I love these 'photos! I love how welcoming they all are. I know I could browse for days through those displays.
ReplyDeleteMargot, browse is all I do most of the time. I have too many unread books already. I feel guilty for buying and not buying!
DeleteFascinating photos. It looks like most of the stuff is modern (apart from that Perry Mason). Do the sellers have much stock from the seventies and earlier?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Paul. The Books by Weight exhibition in Bombay often has a few cartons of mid- to late 20th century paperbacks. It also has a decent collection of sf, fantasy and horror novels. Just not this time. Probably they were all sold out.
DeleteDramatic reminder our public library's book sale is coming up soon, altho your photos, Prashant, dwarf the selection we will have in ours.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mathew. I don't go to library book sales often mainly because I don't know what time of year they are held, and besides, the libraries are located city-side while I live in the suburbs.
DeleteWith what you have, Prashant, you don't need library sales!
DeleteThat's true, Mathew. I can get hold of some fine secondhand books throughout the year. The sixth picture from the top is that of a small bookshop in my suburb which sells 20th century paperbacks for a few cents. I have bought many over the years.
DeleteI need to thin out my collection. I'm starting to pile books on shelves.
ReplyDeleteDavid, that's the reason I have cut down on books. I have got to try and read the ones already in my collection, not counting dozens of ebooks.
DeleteHaven Prashant, pure and simple :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sergio. I have spent many happy hours just browsing through all these books.
Deletefabulous photos Prashant, and I'm surprised you ever get anything done with those stacks of books on offer to search through....
ReplyDeleteThank you, Moira. I'm glad you liked them. You can go through all the books at Books by Weight provided you spend the greater part of the day there.
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