Book Love: The Trinity Book Sale

Posted by Dani on October 26, 2014

Those of you who have been reading Lifeovereasy since the beginning know I write about the Trinity Book Sale every year. It’s one of my favourite events, and I try never to miss it.

I first went as a young student about ….ummm… 30 years or so ago. (It actually hurt me to type that number.)

I took a break during the busy years of career-building and child-raising, and then headed back with my book-loving oldest daughter about 7 years ago when she first went to school in the area. You can’t imagine the pleasure I had in sharing my love affair with this book sale with a little mini-me who got the same thrill walking into that room as I did. So for a number of years I cheerfully signed a note to have her excused from school, and she’s run over to meet me while I held a place for us in line.

Olivia would find a little corner and become engrossed in going through book after book. She got so distracted one year, she left her phone there. I totally understood. And we found the phone the next day, on the table of books where she left it.

Did you notice I said there is a lineup on the first evening of the sale? It’s just like lining up for concert tickets. This year the first people in line arrived at 4:30 in the morning! And every minute was totally worth it for them, I guarantee it. If you’re a book lover, there is no better place to be.

Now my oldest is off at university, and I sign my youngest out of school and we get all excited together. I Snapchat photos during the sale and send them to Olivia, who’s always sad to miss it. And Isabel and I always leave with 2 giant Costco bags filled with books, including a bunch for Olivia.

I tend to buy an eclectic mix, and Isabel stocks up on fiction. I often pick up a rare book or two from their fascinating rare book room. This year I found some beautiful vintage touring guides of Italy. And some impossible-to-find cookbooks for my sister Nads. At these prices, it’s easy to splurge on a few unique gifts.

There is still time left to check out the sale, but I encourage you to bookmark it for next year, so you can be there on the first or second day to have the best selection. Want to see more pics of this great sale? Check out my previous posts, Coming Up: Trinity Book Sale, My Favourite Book Sale, and A Book Lover’s Book Sale.

Trinity College Annual Book Sale, October 23 - October 27, 2014
Seeley Hall, Trinity College, University of Toronto, 6 Hoskin Avenue