A literary oasis in the desert since 1990, we are a little bookstore with a big selection of new, used, and rare titles. Inspired by the name of Seldom Seen Smith’s outfitting company and hideout spot in Edward Abbey’s The Monkey Wrench Gang, Back of Beyond Books keeps that spirit of exploration and discovery alive for locals and visitors alike.

We carry many titles from hard-to-find small press authors, with a focus on the geography, archeology, natural history, and guidebooks about the American Southwest and Colorado Plateau.

Back of Beyond is also home to a robust fiction section, a one-of-a-kind children’s room, and a carefully curated selection of YA and juvenile titles. You’ll also find indie bestsellers, games, and gifts throughout the store.

We love meeting book lovers from all over the world who come into our store to buy and sometimes sell to us too. We look forward to visiting with you!

Inside of Back of Beyond Books

STORE HOURS

10:00am – 6:00pm

83 N. Main St.
Moab, Utah

Phone
435-259-5154

Email
store@backofbeyondbooks.com

 

CONTACT US

It’s Collee’s turn to give us her Pick of the Week, and after hearing what she has to say, we can’t wait to read for ourselves!

Big Swiss
By Jen Beagin

“Before Big Swiss was published, the manuscript was leaked and a 14-way bidding war for the movie rights erupted in Hollywood. It's no surprise. This book is a compulsive read, usually hysterical and occasionally strickening. The plot centers around Greta; a Gen X'er living in a hip small town working as a transcriber for a sex therapist. She becomes enthralled by a certain client, happens to meet her in real life and a torrid affair ensues. Beyond the sheer delight of this tale is a deeper message about trauma and having a future in the face of it. I loved the sanguine tone throughout and eventually... the mini donkeys.”

#backofbeyond #backofbeyondbooks #bobbstaffpick #bigswiss #jenbeagin #judgeabookbyitscover #booktotvseries #eatreadsleeplocal
Tonight at the bookstore, we are excited to be hosting a reading with debut novelist Shelley Read! Her book , Go As A River was published earlier this month to much fanfare, and the chance to support an author from our neck of the woods on the Colorado Plateau is one we love to jump at. Below is a bit about this beautiful novel:

“Shelley Read’s debut novel was inspired by true events surrounding the destruction of the town of Iola, Colorado in the 1960s. Go as a River is a story of deeply held love in the face of hardship and loss, but also of finding courage, resilience, friendship, and, finally, home—where least expected. This stunning debut explores what it means to lead your life as if it were a river—gathering and flowing, finding a way forward even when a river is dammed.”

See you at @backofbeyondbooks tonight, 7pm!

#backofbeyond #backofbeyondbooks #bobbstaffpick #debutnovelist #shelleyread #goasariver #iolacolorado #coloradoplateau #authorreading #authorsigning #eatreadsleeplocal
Poetry Open Mic night tonight at 7pm in partnership with @moabarts ! Art in Everyday Language is the theme, and local poets have been molding their pieces since their workshop with @sharizollinger this past week, and are ready to share it with you tonight.  Local poets who didn’t make it to the workshop are of course welcome to attend tonight at the bookstore and hop on that open mic, too! 

#backofbeyond #backofbeyondbooks #poetry #poetrycommunity #poetryreading #openmicnight #moabarts #eatreadsleeplocal