Borders may be vanishing before your eyes, but there are still plenty of places to pick up your latest reading material in the Windy City! Rediscover a few local bookstores as the mega retailer says farewell.
Unabridged Bookstore: Lakeview
This neighborhood spot comes equipped with plenty of well-read, knowledgeable staff members to be your literary guides: Their hand-written lists of must-reads and reviews make book shopping a breeze. Searching for a hard-to-find title? Don’t fret—the staff is happy to place a special order for no cost. Housing a large selection of gay and lesbian titles, there’s reading material for everyone here: find general fiction, youth, travel and home design titles as well.
3251 N. Broadway St., 773.883.9119
Mon-Fri, 10 to 9; Sat-Sun, 10 to 7
Myopic Books: Wicker Park
As one of the city’s oldest and largest bookstores, Myopic Books houses more than 80,000 editions, spanning three floors with its utterly diversified pages. Stocking a selection that ranges from fiction, architecture and religion to mythology, picture books and cooking, there’s an endless array of options. And if you need some space for all your new reads, you can get rid of some of your old books here, as well: Sell them to Myopic and spread the written word!
1564 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773.862.4882
Mon-Sun, 9 to 11
Book Buying: Fri, 6 to 10; Sat, 9 to 4
The Book Cellar: Lincoln Square
A trendy bookstore with a liquor license? What better marriage could there be? This independent bookstore features titles from novice authors, local favorites and more with a range of fiction, mystery, travel, cooking, fitness and children’s. Its quaint café serves up coffee, wine, beer or a bite while you peruse the classics. Tell your next date to meet you at this cozy neighborhood haven, where you can spend hours rummaging through overflowing aisles before sipping a glass of wine.
4736 N. Lincoln Ave., 773.293.2665
Mon, Wed-Sat, 10 to 10; Tue, Sun noon to 6
Transistor: Andersonville
This specialty shop has, well… a lot of specialties. It’s an art gallery/CD and record shop/audio electronics boutique/bookstore. Along with its Tuesday film screenings and Friday live performances, Transistor offers a range of books from titles focusing on fine arts and fashion to music and travel. Pick up a book by your most-praised artist, The Pixies on vinyl, a button and a photograph of your favorite musician, all under one roof. Find co-owners Rani Woolpert and Andy Miles on hand to give you the lowdown on a unique experience.
5045 N. Clark St., 773.414.1749
Mon-Sun, 1 to 7
And now that you know where to go, here’s a list of our must-haves spring/summer reads:
The Everygirl’s Guide to Life by Maria Menounos
Offering tips and advice on just about everything, from how to better organize your closet and your Blackberry to how to build better personal relationships and look great while doing it, this reporter/actress/producer/all-around go-getter shares some of her own life lessons in an effort to help you better your own. She stopped by Sofia Wednesday to help the boutique ring in its one-year anniversary and sign personal copies of the book, and we have to say, we’ve never met a more grounded and genuinely sweet celeb. Just one hour with this book will have you rummaging through your closet, reorganizing things from top to bottom—Maria has some great ideas!
Bonus: Pick up your copy from Sofia, and score some fashionable swag while you’re at it (all Maria approved)!
Sofia, 72 E. Oak St., 312.640.0878
Mon-Fri 11 to 7; Sat 10 to 6; Sun noon to 5
Jersey Girls: The Fierce and the Fabulous by Marie Moss and Barri Leiner Grant
Chicago’s own Jersey Girl (JG) Barri Leiner Grant and co-author Marie Moss bring you this coffee table read, examining the true essence of the JG with star interviews, a glossary of Garden State terms, JG style (these two would know: they also co-own M&B Vintage, a fabulous line of celeb-endorsed accessories) and more. Featuring both modern and vintage photography and a JG Hall of Fame to boot, Grant and Moss shed new light on the cultural fascination with everyone’s favorite shore. Get your own signed copy exclusively at Unabridged Bookstore!
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
This fictional novel intertwines the lives of its colorful characters right down to the very last page. A virtual “Crash” for literature, Egan’s collective tale of punk rock and woe was just bestowed the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and is rumored to have just been snatched up by HBO for a new series. Exciting, compelling and extremely well-written, you won’t be able to put this one down.
