A Review of Oblong Books (Millerton)
26 Main Street, Millerton, NY
And then, very suddenly, a village appears. The rolling farmland along the border between New York and Massachusetts parts and Millerton appears, with all its genteel new money on display. Perhaps not NEW new, but Millerton is one of those small, almost-hidden nearby towns like Rhinebeck, Kinderhook, Stockbridge, Lenox, or Athens that has seen small waves of artists and the well-to-do leave New York City for trendy enclaves just like this, and Oblong Books is just the bookstore to bring the literary flair of the big city to quiet country living.
Along the same street as antique stores, framing shops, a coffee shop, and an indie movie theater is Oblong, which is actually two connected shops: the bookshop proper and then shop around the corner that focuses on younger readers, and each has plenty to offer.
The main shop is absolutely stuffed with bright, new bestsellers with a deep catalogue of classics and niche offerings that should appeal to almost any reader. The shelves and displays lead you on a twisting journey through romance and LGBTQ+ literature, poetry and essays, mystery and the fantastic realms of fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and a vast sea of modern and classic literature. Almost every shelf is flagged with notes from the staff recommending books, so you’re never far from a notarized suggestion for your next great read.
The nonfiction is just as vast, with plenty of local and regional offerings, maps and trail guides, eerie and strange local legends, true crime and political examinations, history and world cultures, language and travel, memoirs and biographies, art and art and more art, music and film, and a trove of books covering current issues defining our modern times. The main shop also has plenty of totes, shirts, cards, puzzles, gifts, and all manner of merch.
Upstairs is something I always look for and don’t always find: discounts. The room is not as jam packed as the ones downstairs, but it had a lot of great deals on poetry, history, memoirs, children’s, and fiction, plus some puzzles and stuff. It’s great to see new shops settling aside a room like this. It always makes me want to grab that one more extra book, just because.
Down a hall and stairwell is the children’s or “younger” readers shop. It has everything you’d expect in spades: YA, middle reader, picture and early chapter books, all the classics, tons of new offerings, gifts, toys, history and bios for younger readers too.
The shop has so much to explore that I encourage you to set aside an hour or more to take it all in and get the full experience. And though it may feel a bit out of the way, there’s enough in Millerton to make a day of it. Hit the shops, grab a coffee, see a film, have dinner, and head home, or stay in the local inn. Make it a getaway for yourself, and with a shop like Oblong as the focal point, you can’t go wrong.
Atmosphere — A welcoming mix of new voices and fresh ideas in a multi-floor, multi-building bookshop that sprawls across genres and subjects with a wide variety of gifts and merch.
Quality — The books are new, even the classic editions, with some discounted books offered.
Quantity — A huge amount of books throughout.
Diversity — This shop hits as many categories as one can, with plenty of options for the modern reader.
Affordability — The new books are at new book prices but there are plenty of discounted books available.
Amenities — There are places to sit scattered throughout, loads of merch, bathrooms (you wouldn’t believe how many shops don’t have one available), and cafes nearby.
Location — Millerton is tucked away on the edge of the New York border with Massachuesettes. The shop is right on the main street downtown.
Overall — This shop skyrockets beyond the idea of a “small town bookshop” and offers as much variety and voices as any I’ve found in Brooklyn, Philly, or Boston. A stellar shop with a lot to offer its community. Visit if you can!
