A Bookshop Bounty for the Mind and Senses

What’s more inspiring than a cluttered, funky, bursting-at-the-seams bookstore? I set foot in Verbatim Books yesterday and was immediately engulfed by the aroma of weathered pages while surrounded by odd artifacts and all sorts of curiosities.

I browsed the Young Adult section, which spanned an entire wall. This second-hand shop has an extensive collection of YA titles, as well as whole sections devoted to crafts, manga, history, and a large display of worn, leather-bound volumes banded in gold, intended for decorative use.

The store’s exterior was just as fascinating as the interior. A mural the length of the shop featured dragons, books by Stephen King (among others), a larger-than-life vintage typewriter, a howling face reminiscent of Edvard Munch’s The Scream, and even a metallic robot.

How could any self-respecting book lover walk by without being sucked into this mysterious haven? If you find yourself in San Diego’s North Park neighborhood, don’t miss this marvel for the mind and senses.

Thanks to Verbatim Books for this dose of inspiration!