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10 bookstores for your inner geek BY CERVANTÉ POPE
G
eeks used to get a bad rap in pop culture, yet over the years, leaning into the geekiness within has grown in popularity. Non-prescription glasses, open D&D [Dungeons & Dragons] sessions and thoroughly enjoying other activities typically considered too geeky to admit have become points of pride and open community. For some, geek chic is a trend they love participating in. For others, it’s a way of life, and no matter which category you fall into, there are tons of places throughout Los Angeles County that appeal to the different types of geekdom. Whether you’re a comic book nerd, someone who lives and breathes Bookstagram, or someone who loves spending their days wandering through aisles finding literary surprises, here are 10 bookstores for your inner geek. LOS ANGELES AREA 1. The Last Bookstore This one may seem like an obvious choice, but The Last Bookstore is simply geek heaven. The two-story bookstore in Downtown Los Angeles isn’t just a purveyor of books new and used, but its pretty extensive vinyl record section and comic book shop Dungeon Dungeon (the sister comic shop to Secret Headquarters) only adds to what makes The Last Bookstore such a must-see destination.
One of the many rooms inside The Last Bookstore | Courtesy of The Last Bookstore
With its many Instagramworthy locations, you’ll recognize familiar bits, bobs and locales of the shop from various corners of social media and the internet. The tunnels and windows made of books are probably the most distinguishable, other than its bank vaults and pillars, and posed page art. And, if you want to keep the aesthetic
vibes going, their sister bookstore Lost Books is nestled in a garden in Montrose and is well worth the trip. Located at: 453 S Spring St – Ground Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90013 | 11 am - 8 pm | 213-488-0599 2. Book Soup Queer-focused, the historic Book Soup shop on Sunset in West Hollywood has
been the go-to spot for bibliophiles, tourists, musicians and the LA elite, for a good reason. In addition to its large selection of LGBTQIA+ literature, Book Soup is the largest general-interest independent bookstore in West Hollywood. The bookstore has been around since 1975 and with the slogan “Bookseller to the Great and Infamous,” it’s easy
to see why once you stroll through. Not only may you spot one of your favorite (or least) celebrities perusing, but their literal floor-to-ceiling collection of over 60,000 film, music, art, photography and fiction titles will keep you occupied for hours. 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, Ca | 310.659.3110 | Open daily 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
3, The Iliad Bookshop If there’s one thing every bibliophile knows, it’s that cats are the best company for time spent buried in a book. Thankfully for us, The Iliad Bookshop in NoHo has two of them who love to be a part of the literary mix. And while everyone loves some furry friends, they aren’t the only reason why the shop made it on The LA Times “65 Best Bookstores in L.A.” list this year. The store’s extensive collection of used-only books can fill up hours of your time with titles to rummage through. The winding rows of bookshelves end up creating many nooks and crannies to curl up in with whatever tickles your fancy to flip through in-store. Bonus: the cats will likely come up and join you as well, making the experience even better. 5400 Cahuenga Blvd. (corner of Cahuenga & Chandler), North Hollywood, CA 91601 | 818.509.2665 | Sun.-Mon: Closed, Tues-Sat: 11am-7pm 4. Skylight Books Somewhat out of left field in the context of this list is Skylight Books, the Los Feliz bookshop that, unlike the others, only sells new books. Although it doesn’t offer used or consignment items, Skylight has remained a Los Angeles staple since it opened its doors in 1996.
See Bookstores Page 7