My latest bookstore exploration was in Bloomington, Ind. I love visiting new cities and seeing their independent bookstores! The above photo was Caveat Emptor, a musty, quiet spot on the square in the middle of the city. Two older men were running it and kept bickering back and forth about whether a certain book should be shelved in "Dark Ages" or "Middle Ages". It was hilarious.
I found an old, beautiful copy of A Room With a View for only $2, so I was thrilled. It was the perfect spot for wandering through the stacks when you're not in a hurry. Plus I'm a sucker for bookstores with rolling ladders and odd cataloging categories.
The other bookstore we stopped at was called Book Corner. It's small, but has a ridiculously great selection. They had tons of the Penguin Great Ideas series, graphic novels, and beautiful collected copies of McSweeney's. There's the sweetest children's section as well. There aren't any used books, but you're sure to find so beautiful gems for a permanent collection. Bloomington is definitely a great spot to visit for bibliophiles. Last year I made it to Indiana University's Lilly Library and was blown away by all the crazy rare goodies they had (Sylvia Plath's hair!?!) I saw one other bookstore, Boxcar Books, but didn't have time to check it out. Of course that just means I'll have to visit again soon!
