Parnassus Books is the independent bookstore for independent people located in Nashville, Tennessee. Our shop was opened in 2011 by novelist Ann Patchett and her business partner, Karen Hayes, and Ann took over as the sole owner in the summer of 2022 after Karen retired. (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.
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. 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 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, in your inbox. You can also follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, 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 order any book your heart desires by typing its title or author into the search bar at the top of this screen. Our booksellers lovingly package up book orders and ship them out every day. Need some suggestions? Check out our reading lists! And if you enjoy unboxing surprises, you’ll want to sign up for our book subscriptions: the First Editions Club (adult literary fiction with the occasional nonfiction selection), ParnassusNext (young adult), Spark Book Club (middle grade), and Sprout Book Club (picture books) — all of which make great gifts for book-lovers of all ages.
Are you — or is someone you know — an Ann Patchett fan? Every single one of her books is signed at Parnassus! Ann would also be delighted to personalize any of her books. Perhaps her latest book, These Precious Days? (For a personalization, just indicate in the “notes” section at checkout that you’d like your book personalized 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!
Location:
3900 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 14
Nashville, TN 37215
Phone:
615.953.2243
Hours:
Monday through Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday 12-6pm