Rabble Books & Games — Local services in Maylands

As a very proud regular customer of Rabble, I'm very appreciative this bookshop exists. Frustrated with the amount of queer literature available in Perth, I checked this place out on a friend's recommendation just as Covid restrictions began to lift. When I asked where their queer section was, the staff just gestured around the whole store before giving me a tour.

Highlights from the good the owners have done include: Hosting Drag Queen Story time. De-platforming authors with hateful views and works. (Note, the owners will happily order in any book you like, including books they will not have on the shelf) Donating profits from books by de-platformed authors to charities. Stocking a wide variety of books from LGBTQ+ authors, and about LGBTQ+ themes. They're always very quick and efficient to order in books they don't have in stock. (Current global pandemic permitting.) They stock Perth's largest range of books by and about First Nation's people. On my last visit, they donated all that day's profits to The Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Then rounded up, AND showed receipts, putting their money where their mouth is. Educate and inform customers about authors and books from under-represented background.

I can absolutely recommend this bookstore to anyone reading this. This is a place of good, owned and operated by people who are doing good in this world. And let's face it, if you're boycotting this shop because of the owners de-platforming a writer, you were never likely to shop here in the...

I want to like this place but I don’t. 😕

Big selection, extremely trans and LGBTQIA+ friendly. Broad selection of books for these groups and of good books in general. Lots of great books for kids of all ages. Heaps of games and puzzles and gift bits. It should in theory be 5 stars.

But I have hated both times I’ve been. I left joking in my head about getting away from dementors.

The country music gently playing in store grates for me, especially when in conflict to the music from the place across the road.

But my biggest problem is that both times there have been other patrons who gave me the screaming heebee geebies for reasons I couldn’t figure out. There was no obvious reason why they creeped me out but they did. 😬😣

Which isn’t the shop’s fault. But does mean I don’t want to go back.

They’re polite and give excellent service. They’re hugely inclusive and welcoming. I should love it there. However, I just ended up so uncomfortable that after disliking the first visit too, on my second visit I just grabbed something random to use up my gift voucher so I would never have to go back.

If I get something from them again it’ll be via online shopping. Their...

Every single time I have been to Rabble I have left smiling. It is so clear how passionate all the staff are about their role in store.

One (of the many) times my friend went, he was hoping to buy a rather specific type of book, while using his communication device (PODD) to ask the staff member, she was instantly engaged with his communication method and spent considerable time in search for this “perfect” book. It was easy to see her main goal was for him to get the exact book he wanted (and had also fabricated in his head, potentially not existing yet). That was greatly appreciated by my friend.

For me, I especially valued her commitment to finding the most suitable book, all the while passing on information to us about other resources and authors on the topic we pursued. I love when people will give you alternatives and options, flooding you with choices (even the ones outside of their shop) because you know they care about your experience and successful search, and above...