Uncharted Books

Uncharted Books is more than just a bookstore; it is a place for authors, illustrators and the literati to gather. Its wooden racks and aisles are reminiscent of an old library but this place allows and even encourages socializing, working, dining and browsing for hours, quite unlike a traditional library. If you love the smell of both old and new books, then this is the place to go. Featuring used books in decent condition and some rare editions, the collections here are quite a steal. This shop believes that the story ultimately matters and not extraneous stuff like paper quality and book covers. However, they do place emphasis on visual arts and have several trade-bound and indie comics. They buy and sell used books in literary fiction, LGBT studies and women's studies. Art monographs, poetry volumes and Spanish books also dominate the collection. This is a good store for finding young adult fiction in gay literature and books by Chicago authors who have written about the city. Their events are as unusual as their books: a combination of open discussions, and book readings that seem like dramas.