See Nola

Beckham's Book Shop

228 Decatur St. (French Quarter) 504.522.9875. Seven Days: 10am to 5pm. Musty, dusty but orderly and thorough, Beckham's has two floors of second hand and first edition books. And even though it's dusty the staff is not stuffy. They specialize in the local and stock a small section of new books by local authors, and are willing to ponder any question about any topic and they probably know the answer. By the House of Blues and Canal Street and Harrah's Casino. 

Octavia Books

513 Octavia Street (Uptown) 504.899.7323. Monday through Saturday: 10am to 6pm. Sunday: Noon to 5pm. Credit Cards. Octavia is the kind of bookstore where you can find John Malkovich wandering the stacks. Not really. But we did see him there on our last visit. In any case, Octavia is a strong, well-loved bookstore that sells new books with a broad selection of local independent titles, which puts it among a rare and beautiful and consistently shrinking crowd. The store is bright and airy and the selection is wide. A block away from Whole Foods and one of those gourmet cup cake places on Magazine Street. Helpful staff. Weekly events. Free coffee.

FAB: Faubourg Marigny Art & Books

600 Frenchmen St. (Marigny) 504.947.3700. Credit Cards. 7 Days: Noon to 10pm or so. If you want an argument for independent bookstores, go here. Everyday the owner and sole employee, Otis, presides over a small neighborhood book party featuring a revolving cast of chatty New Orleans eccentrics: artists, writers, readers, bicycle repairmen, real estate moguls, publishers. It's fascinating and is the kind of atmosphere you'll never get at a chain. Never. And Otis knows his books, and his art and his neighborhood -- the store is an amazing resource center and any trip to New Orleans is a complete failure without a visit.  The specialty is gay books with a sweeping vintage porn section in the back, but FAB also has a wide range of fiction, nonfiction, rare books, art and many books about New Orleans.

Iron Rail Book Collective

511 Marigny St. (Marigny) 504.944.0366. Cash Only. 7 Days: 1pm to 7pm. Inside a corner of an old, large warehouse sits The Iron Rail Book Collective -- a kind of underground activity center that sells, lends and displays radical/anarchist/punk literature. They also stock hardcore, hip hop, punk and metal music. This amazing and entirely unique space is run by a group of friendly and knowledgeable volunteers. It's a great place to stop by for information about the latest show, radical art project, protest or book. Especially fascinating is the Aboveground Zine Library, which holds one of the largest zine collections in the south. Free internet.