The best nook for books

Sometimes simple is better.

Of course, Amazon has computer algorithms analyzing your preferences to give you personalized recommendations. Sure, Borders and Barnes & Noble have shelves with the, "<--If you love this, you should try these-->" signs. But despite the advanced technology and the expert book critics, the best place to check out new books that you probably have never heard of before is the local little bookstore.

For me, that place is the Bulls Head Bookshop in the Student Store on UNC-Chapel Hill's campus (their webpage doesn't do it any justice). For the first three years of my undergraduate career, this bookstore was the ideal hideout between classes. Creaky floors, odd chairs, wooden bookshelves and an instore coffee shop made Bulls Head feel like an eccentric old professor's personal library. The selection of books included big-name bestsellers as well as a smattering of oddities— I don't think Border has ever featured a table full of banned books. Bulls Head had the knack for highlighting both strange and thought-provoking material. It was almost as if an eccentric old professor really was sneaking into the shop afterhours to pick the worthy books.

While the entire Student Store underwent major facelift in 2007, the bookshop within retains its quirky personality. The area is brighter, the floors no longer creak and the bookshelves still smell new, but to my great relief, its soul has stayed the same. The picture above shows the staff recommendations bookcase, which is one of my favorite parts. At the risk of sounding high and mighty, I think every booklover should find herself an offbeat shop where she can burrow away from time to time.

In case you do not have such a sanctuary yet, here's what caught my eye during my most recent trip.

Bulls Head's Latest and Greatest

1. The Once and Future King by T.H. White — I'm a sucker for Camelot stories; anything from Tennyson's Idylls of the King to First Knight to NBC's new miniseries "Merlin," piques my interest.
2. Vintage Fabric from the States — A Bulls Head staffer described this photo book as "fabric porn," and I have to agree. The patterns are pretty and fun to look at, which might assuage the design chasm I've been in since Domino magazine shut down.
   
3. The Pesthouse by Jim Crace — Nothing makes you appreciate our world (messy as it is) more than a post-apocalyptic novel. The story focuses on the regression of America to a preindustrial state complete with plagues, slavery and religious cults.
   
4. The Guide to Getting It On by Paul Joannides — Okay, I don't really have any intention of buying this, but the title and cover art are cool enough to warrant a second look.
5. Changing Planes by Ursula K. LeGuin — Changing reality planes while waiting to change airplanes...brilliant! This sounds like my kind of sci-fi fare.