Local and Independent Since 1975
Savannah’s oldest and most beloved independent bookstore, E. Shaver Books, has been locally owned and operated for over 40 years. It is located in a historic 1843 building on Madison Square, offering seven rooms of new fiction and non-fiction books.
E. Shaver specializes in local and regional topics such as history, architecture, decorating, arts, cooking and gardening. The children’s room is a favorite of the young and young-at-heart.
Its best seller by far is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, basis for the 1997 film of the same name directed by Clint Eastwood and filmed here in Savannah. E. Shaver has sold thousands of copies of John Berendt’s beloved book.
When you stop in, be sure to say hello to the resident cats, Mr. Eliot, Bartleby, Skimbleshanks, and Morticia. “They are all rescues. We love them and hope our customers will as well. They carry on a long and proud tradition of bookshop cats and take their work seriously,” co-owner Jessica Osborne said.
Don’t miss the shelves where staff have organized their personal favorite books, each with a card explaining what appeals to them about the book. Current staff picks include:
Fiction: Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman, Talking at Night by Claire Daverly, Pet by Catherine Chidgey, I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones, The Unmothers by Leslie J. Anderson, and Beautiful Dreamers by Minrose Gwin.
Nonfiction: A History of Witchcraft by Jeffrey B. Russell, Come Fly the World by Julie Cooke, The Name of This Band is R.E.M. by Peter Ames Carlin, Just Add Water by Katie Ledecky, and A Woman’s Story by Annie Ernaux.
Cookbooks: Our South by Ashleigh Shanti, Roast Figs, Sugar Snow by Diana Henry, Thoughtful Cooking by William Stark Dessen, and Baking Yesteryear by B. Dylan Hollis.
Children’s: Ellie in First Position by Brian Freschi, The Beautiful Game by Yamile Saied Mendez, Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden by Christy Mandin, The Night Librarian by Christopher Lincoln, and A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall by Jasmine Warga.
Cat’s Pick: Is Your Cat a Psychopath? by Stephen Wildish
E. Shaver also hosts several book signings per month and a number of book clubs, including Tequila Mockingbird, Sci-fi & Fantasy, Romance, FOMO, Jane Austen, Graphic Novel, and It’s a Mystery. Check the website for meeting dates and times and to see what books they are reading (book club books purchased at the store are 20% off).
“We strive to be a warm and welcoming haven for lovers of the written word,” Osborne said.
If you are seeking a book that is hard to find or not in stock, ask and the staff will be happy to see if they can order it for you.
E. Shaver Bookseller
326 Bull St.
Monday-Saturday 10:30am-6:00pm; Sunday 12pm-5pm
E. Shaver, Starland
1921 Bull St.
Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm; Sunday 10am-4pm
912.234-7257 or eshaverbooks.com
Check them out on Facebook and Instagram
Enjoy Savannah and tell them your TRAVELHOST sent you!