Best of Boston

As megachains and the Internet continue their assault on small retailers, we give thanks to every independent bookshop still out there fighting the good fight. And Brookline Booksmith reminds us why we love bookstores in the first place. From the creaky wooden floor to the smell of freshly printed pages, this is what a bookstore is supposed to be. It’s a place for customers to linger, with knowledgeable salespeople and tables full of bargain books. You won’t find that (or the quirky newsletter and terrific reading series) on Amazon.com. And there’s something else reassuring about visiting this busy store: proof that there are a lot of other people who still read.