Island Girl Goes Bookish

A Novel Endeavor

Finding San Diego’s Best Independent Bookstores

My inner bookworm wriggled in delight with this assignment. Readers, booksellers, bookcollectors, librarians are my people! To me, nothing feels better than an unhurried meander among thrillers, first editions, sci-fi, biographies and new fiction. I had no idea just how many cool and quirky independent book stores are hiding around town. Visit any of these establishments and you’ll return with a story to tell.

AROUND TOWN | CHRISTINE VAN TUYL

C U R I O U S & FA N C I F U L F I N D S

The artistic, eclectic and highly Instagram-able Verbatim Books, in the heart of North Park, is vast and beautiful yet whimsical and inviting. Lined with a well-curated collection of gently loved books, you’ll find quality editions of classics, favorites and titles from more than 200 local authors. Immensely browsable and engrossing, your biggest problem will be deciding which book to take home. • Verbatim Books, 3793 30th St., San Diego (619) 501-7466, VerbatimBooks.com

Everyone heaved a collective sigh of relief when we learned that Bay Books would remain in Coronado, reopening just a few doors down from its original location. From popular new titles to old-school classics, from indie favorites to military histories, Bay Books is known for its genius selection and handwritten reviews. Don’t miss the fantastic young adult and children’s book sections. • Bay Books Coronado 1007 Orange Ave., (619) 435-0070 BayBooksCoronado.com

G O U N D E R C OV E R

Tucked away in Ocean Beach under the shadow of a palm tree, you’ll find Run for Cover Bookstore, a cheery and delightful bookstore that seems to glow from the inside out. You’ll love this gem of a shop, curated to inspire and featuring a wide selection of books ranging from fiction, non-fiction, young adult and more. The shop features lots of human-interest stories and an engaging children’s section. • Run for Cover Bookstore, 4912 Voltaire St., San Diego (619) 228-9497, RunforCoverBookstore.com

IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY…

Sure, you’ll find lots of sci-fi at the Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore, but you’ll also find mystery, young adult, romance, fantasy, horror as well as graphic novels.

Dedicated to providing readers and collectors with a great selection of books, as well as the opportunity to meet many of the authors, the store has been impressing

fiction readers since 1992. For the avid reader, they even offer a book subscription service with a monthly reading list and a staff selection.

• Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore 3555 Rosecrans St. No. 107, San Diego (619) 537-7137, MystGalaxy.com

A WINSOME CATCH

Sometimes you don’t know you need a book until you meet it face to face, hold it and thumb through its pages. At the plucky and well-appointed Book Catapult in South Park, you’ll find heaps of new books including literary fiction, short stories, and more. The best part? The personal book reviews and recommendations tucked behind the covers. The space is cheerful and clever – just big enough to get lost in, but small enough to browse all the aisles. • The Book Catapult, 3010-B Juniper St., San Diego, (619) 795-3780 TheBookCatapult.com

FIRED UP

The English term “bluestocking” was once a derogatory name, meaning a prudish, literary woman who wanted to engage in conversation with men. The term has evolved to mean a symbol of intellectual liberation and love of language. You’ll find lots to get your brain firing at Bluestocking Books in Hillcrest. With an array of new and used books, lovers of literature, history and a good story won’t leave empty-handed.

• Bluestocking Books, 3817 Fifth Ave., San Diego, (619) 296-1424 BlueStockingBooks.com

TREASURE HUNT

La Playa Books, in Point Loma Village, is the quintessential neighborhood bookstore, selling used and out-of-print books along with a sprinkling of new titles. The store is bursting with literary treasures, including some rare books.

• La Playa Books, 1026 Rosecrans St., San Diego (619) 226-2601 LaPlayaBooks.com

I T ’ S O N LY PRUDENT

Virginia Woolf once said, “Second-hand books are wild books, homeless books…they have a charm which the domesticated volumes of the library lack.” Visitors to Second Hand Prose, are sure to agree. A thrifty reader’s wonderland, the store is tucked behind the Coronado Public Library on D Avenue, just across from the high school and is run by Friends of the Coronado Public Library. It’s also a great place to donate gently used books to make room for new tales. All sales benefit literacy and cultural programs associated with Friends of the Library.

• Second Hand Prose 640 Orange Ave., (entrance on D Avenue), (619) 435-1516