Defunct Books

Drove an hour to visit this bookstore with my grand daughter. We did a bookstore crawl of independent bookstores. Knew it would be small...but the indifference and unfriendliness of the shopkeeper combined with the clutter of the store was not a good experience.

This neighborhood is so cute and queer friendly. The shopping area over here is diverse and there’s many places to cool off.

When I first arrived at the bookstore in the morning, nobody was inside or had opened the doors. I waited 15 minutes before I just decided to leave. I decided I would go get breakfast. Afterward, I decided to call the store and see if anyone finally had arrived. Someone had finally opened the doors and so I decided to go back. I've been going to quite a few bookstores to find some philosophy and classical works... This bookstore had a very small limited selection of books. I have no idea how people think there is a large selection of books when the room is not much bigger than a large bathroom. I'm sure it's not that the owner wouldn't want to have more books on the shelves, it's just that there is no space. I mentioned to the owner that I had been waiting for someone to open the doors and then he kinda just ignored it. If you read the responses he leaves to other critics they are at times snarky and reflects his poor customer service. In consideration of the customer service I received and of the limited quality of books inside the bookstore, I cannot recommend this bookstore. Driving a little bit more to McKays or the Book Attic is so much worth the time.

The owner is funny and engaging. Great selection of books of every kind. This book store is a local gem and we are so lucky to have them in our community. Definitely worth checking out if you're a book lover.

This bookstore is a rare gem and an eagerly anticipated stop whenever I visit Nashville. The owner is happy to share his knowledge, and I never leave empty-handed. You'll be amazed at the unique treasures you can find here!

Defunct is everything a bookstore should be. They have a great selection in the store and storage, and the owner will help you find any book in question even if he doesn’t have it. The owner has a wonderful personality and sense of humor. I recommend this store over any big name store in town.

One does not expect to find a used bookstore inside a mall (though malls would be greatly improved by them), much less a really excellent used bookstore--but that's just what you'll find when you wander into Defunct Books at the end of the Sycamore Mall. There's an excellent selection of both ordinary used books and collectibles--you'll find both current bestsellers and signed first editions of collectible books across a wide variety of genres. My favorite part is the extensive poetry section, where I was pleased to find a Denis Johnson book I've always wanted to own. It's a great store and a great service to the southeast side of Iowa City.