Book Nook in Decatur, Georgia

Your major bookstores, like Barnes and Noble and Borders, are seemingly everywhere in the U.S. Yes, they do carry many of the latest books, including classics. But there's one major point that they tend to lack: great customer service. This is all the more reason you should visit Book Nook, an independent bookstore in Decatur, Georgia, with locations in Marietta and Lilburn as well. Book Nook also carries its share of CDs, vinyl records, and movies (both on VHS and DVD). Like many indie stores, Book Nook has a "neighborhood" feel to it, as opposed to the sometimes overwhelming look of huge corporate stores.

Because the books and music are previously owned, it's best to check their condition before you purchase them. On the other hand, just about anything you buy at Book Nook will be lower-priced than a product at one of the major bookstores (even if they're in pristine condition). So while it may not be as neatly shelved as Borders, or have a search engine like Amazon, it's absolutely worth coming in for the fun of browsing and the rustic feel.

If you come inside on the hunt for music or films, particularly in vinyl or VHS, you're in luck. Book Nook just might have your favorite cult film (e.g. Peter Jackson's Dead Alive or Kevin Smith's Clerks), or that classic record you grew up with (e.g. Jimi Hendrix's Electric Ladyland). Every area of the store has a broad selection of titles; the CDs, for example, are classified according to genre, and not just your average "Pop/Rock" and "Hip Hop/Rap." They carry everything from blues, avant-garde jazz, and '50s rock and roll to industrial and hardcore (and all that's in between).

Inside the Decatur store: the book section, for the most part, is neatly arranged; near the front of the store are academic and reference books, such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, and SAT prep texts. Adjacent to this are many of the Self-Help/Pop Psychology books, including bestsellers by Deepak Chopra, Dr. Phil, and John Gray, Ph.D. This section isn't alphabetized, just to warn you; new books tend to come in consistently, so it seems the section falls back into disarray.

Tucked into a corner near the reference section is a children's and young adults' area, which has quite a variety of books for young people. On display are many young children's books, including series like The Berenstain Bears and classics by Dr. Seuss, such as Cat in the Hat and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The opposite wall holds paperback books for young adults; you may find such series as The Baby-sitters Club, Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators, and Bruce Coville's My Teacher Is an Alien series. Having grown up with many of these books, I can honestly say that they are still valuable to kids today.

Also, among the novels, you'll find a great Horror section with many books by horror masters Stephen King, Anne Rice, Clive Barker, and Peter Straub, just to name a few. The Mystery/Thriller section also has an excellent variety, featuring authors such as Sue Grafton (K is for Killer), John Grisham (A Time to Kill), and Thomas Harris (Silence of the Lambs and Red Dragon).

Besides the Decatur store, Book Nook has locations in Marietta and Atlanta; if you're unable to find something at one store, there's a good chance that the others carry it. Plus, one other advantage that this store has over the major chains is that you can sell your old books, records, VHS tapes, and DVDs in exchange for cash or trade credit. While condition is important, you never know what you might be able to earn.

If you're a graphic novel enthusiast, you'll definitely want to choose this store over its mainstream competitors. Book Nook carries hard-to-find issues of Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Fantastic Four, and The Avengers (among many others). There's also a great selection of graphic novels, including Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' Watchmen; Moore's V for Vendetta; Frank Miller's 300 and Sin City; and Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's Preacher. A number of regular customers to the store are comic collectors, who say they're pleased with the selection and the knowledge of store employees.

The Decatur store is also conveniently located; it shares a shopping center with Papa John's and a clothing alteration shop, and sits up the street from a Publix, Kroger, UPS Store, and Chipotle Mexican Grill. If you happen to be in the neighborhood for groceries or dinner, Book Nook is just a few blocks away.

Come in, and have a look around; you never know what you might discover.