Antigone Books - Tucson, Arizona

Nestled on Tucson's historic Fourth Avenue, between the labyrinthine Passe Cafe and a parking lot, is the violently amethyst Antigone Books. Though I was there in the temperate winter months, this cool-toned bookstore must be a true oasis from the Arizona sun. I wandered in on a weekday afternoon, to find a large, airy, and colorful shop.

Aside from the vibrant purple, which colors the store interior as well as exterior walls, Antigone Books was a wash of color, from an abundance of rainbow pride flags to strings of multicolored pennants, to furniture painted yellow and red. Now, decor does not a bookstore make—I've been just as excited about shops that looked like a bulldozer dumped some books in—but it was the decor of Antigone Books that made me want to stop and sit there more than the used bookshop down the street.

Also, they had baskets at the door to tote around potential purchases, like at a grocery store. I'd never seen that before, but what a brilliant, simple idea. 

As the pride flags would suggest, Antigone Books had a healthy selection of LGBTQ books: a section of fiction and nonfiction in both adult and YA. I also particularly loved their system for the recommendations: handwritten bookmarks tucked into covers. And my favorite and a near requirement for me, there was a large and comfortable seating area for book perusal. (There was a lifesize Obama cutout in the office area at the back that made me laugh, but I couldn't sneak a picture.)

A haven from heat and bustle, Antigone Books is an indie you should not miss. (And do check out Passe next door once you've snagged a book or three.