Although you'll find everything from cookbooks to travel guides here, this store specializes in old, rare and used books by well-known authors. If you're looking for a first edition or collectible book, this is the place to come. This four-story shop boasts some 85,000 titles, including a first edition of Moby Dick and relics from as far back as the 15th Century. The shop encourages browsing and offers something for every budget, from half-price paperbacks to rare and costly books.
Normal's Books & Records shop offers a vast collection of small/regional press publications and second-hand titles. The inventory includes an impressive fiction and poetry section and children's books. You'll also find art books for the coffee table, and titles that cover a range of topics from African American culture to Zen. The store also stocks a large selection of records, compact discs, 45s and videos. The owners, a group of four men, also provide information on poetry readings and alternative music.
“Literary Finds for Mutated Minds.” This is the sign that welcomes visitors to this bookshop, a haven for counter-culture fans and would-be revolutionaries. The store's inventory includes comic books, magazines on conspiracy theories and body art, and B-film videos. You'll also find an odd collection of action figures, from Ozzy Osbourne to Kiss, and plastic replicas of Van Gogh's ear.