Q: Can I order books on-line at this web site?
A: Yes! You can order any book in stock and we
will put it aside for in-store pick-up.
Q: Is Willow Books & Café really the “largest Independent in Eastern Massachusetts”?
A: Yes. In all of Boston, Cambridge and points east of Rte. 495, there is none bigger.
We have over 100,000 titles in 10,000 luxurious square feet of floor space.
Our Children’s department alone is bigger than most Children’s Bookstores.
And don’t forget about our cozy Café, serving coffee, drinks, snacks, soups and sandwiches.
Q: Do you sell electronic “Gift Cards”?
A: Yes! You can buy them in any denomination
and they are good forever!
Q: What about “Special Orders” or hard-to-find titles?
A: We do thousands of Special Orders every year.
We cannot, at the present time, obtain out-of-print titles.
There is no charge for special orders. However, special orders are not returnable.
Q: How do I contact Willow Books & Café?
A: Come on in! Or call us at 978-266-0066.
If all else fails, you can e-mail us at info@willowbooks.net
Q: What if I live too far away or can’t get out to visit Willow Books & Café?
A: The telephone is a wonderful “old-school” technology that can work miracles. If you live very far away, we suggest you visit one of the many fine Independent Bookstores across the country.
Q: Why is it called Willow Books?
A: The Willow Tree has fascinated and beguiled
human beings since the dawn of history. The Willow figures prominently in Greek,
Roman and Celtic mythology, as well as Chinese and Japanese folklore. In ancient
Greece, the Willow Tree was held as sacred to poets and musicians, and the sound
of the wind whistling through the willow branches was said to have potent and
inspirational effects on the mind. The celebrated poet, Orpheus, was said to
have received his gifts of eloquence from the Willow.
In Celtic lore, the Willow was considered a “tree of Enchantment”, with its strong connections to the moon and water. It was also viewed as a symbol of immortality and long life, perhaps due to its medicinal properties.
In modern times, poets, artists, philosophers and dreamers have felt the powerful imagery of the Willow. Although it sometimes connotes sadness and solitude, the Willow Tree, with its quiet beauty, often found beside tranquil streams and limpid ponds, can still inspire reflection and rejuvenation beneath its sheltering canopy of branches and leaves.
A bookstore, too, can offer a respite and intellectual sanctuary from a hectic world. Here, then, beneath the bower of the written word, one can pursue knowledge, entertainment or enlightenment, far from the cares of ordinary life. Such a place of refuge exists, as it always has, beneath the sheltering Willow of the discriminating mind.