Parnassus Books

Parnassus Books is the independent bookstore for independent people located in Nashville, Tennessee. Our shop has been co-owned by novelist Ann Patchett and her business partner, Karen Hayes, since it opened in 2011. (Read all about the start of our store in Ann’s own words here!) Parnassus stocks an extensive and exciting selection of books including fiction, non-fiction, children’s, local interests, and the arts. The store also boasts an extensive local author section.

What’s with the name? In Greek mythology, Mount Parnassus was the home of literature, learning, and music. We are Nashville’s Parnassus, providing a refuge for Nashvillians of all ages who share in our love of the written word. We provide a venue for writers to connect with readers, and for readers to connect with books. In doing so, we strive to complement and contribute to the rich cultural character of Nashville, the Athens of the South.

These days, we’re actually more than just the one bookstore. We’re a bookmobile — Parnassus on Wheels, which travels around the greater Nashville area. We’re also an airport bookshop, making sure travelers always have something to read via our Parnassus Books / Hudson Booksellers co-branded store in the Nashville airport.

We’re a family, too. We’d love to introduce you to the booksellers — both human and canine — who welcome visitors to Parnassus.

And we’re an online magazine. At a site called Musing, we showcase Ann Patchett’s blog, staff-picked reading lists, exclusive author interviews, shop dog diaries, and more. No matter where you live, if you love books, we hope you’ll subscribe, so you can receive all of this, FREE, by email every week. You can also follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, where we post all this content, plus daily behind-the-scenes glimpses at bookstore life.

Speaking of email: if you live in Nashville, you won’t want to miss the hundreds of amazing author events we host throughout the year. Get calendar reminders, first dibs on tickets, and the occasional secret sale info by signing up for our email newsletter here. (You can also sign up by texing SPARKY to 22828.)

You can order any book your heart desires by typing its title or author into the search window at the top of this screen. Our booksellers lovingly package up book orders and ship them out every day. And if you enjoy unboxing surprises, you’ll want to sign up for our book subscriptions: the First Editions Club (adult fiction and nonfiction) and ParnassusNext (young adult) — both of which make great gifts for book-lovers.

Are you — or is someone you know — an Ann Patchett fan? Ann would be delighted to sign and/or personalize any of her books. Perhaps her latest novel, The Dutch House? (For an autograph, just indicate on the “notes” screen at checkout that you’d like your book signed and let us know your personal inscription request.) Add a little something to show your book-love and throw in a Parnassus mug. (Find more Parnassus-themed gifts — plus gift certificates — in our gifts section and here in the store, of course.)

We’d love to be your indie bookstore, whether you live in Nashville, you’re just passing through, or you’re up for a long-distance relationship. (Some of our favorite customers don’t even live here.) Please stay and click around, and do come visit when you can. It’s nice to meet you!