Just when I thought that Miami had nothing else to offer I run into this tiny bookstore jam packed…read morewith books in Spanish. The inventory is more than huge. I remember being here previously and unable to find what I was looking for, but that may have changed. Today, with that many books, I doubt it could happen again.
What I like the most about this bookstore is the assortment of books from new authors. They have a very large selection of classics, maybe suitable for scholars or readers wanting to get some culture, but their strength lies on the flow of current authors and current subjects. This place could be Barnes & Nobles in Spanish, with a bunch of young authors and fresh ideas that reflect Latin American idiosyncrasies. This place is not a stale book shop, on the contrary, it is vibrant with the pulse of Latin America.
Of course, having new books doesn't qualify a bookstore as a great one. Neither does the large inventory. It all comes down to the selection of books for sale. This place has a large selection of books on occultism, New Age, philosophy, conspiracy theories and strange subjects that belong at an indie bookstore. It is amazing to find not only rare books, but books that are already out of print, while others are only available used.
The rest of the bookstore is filled with books on every possible subject, like photography, art education, economics, gardening, etc., the list is long. They also have newspapers from Latin America, magazines in Spanish, CDs and DVDs, New York Times bestsellers and various printed materials, all in Spanish.
All in all, this bookstore is a real bookstore. You won't find spices, incense or South American aphrodisiacs, but you will find a bunch of stuff that is just intriguing and new, and stuff that will keep you in touch with whatever is happening now in Latin America. This bookstore is a great information source and it will give you a sharp edge in the culture of South America.
By the way, I didn't find the book that I was looking for. Of course, what's new? I was looking for a book from Daniel Alarcon, a new Peruvian writer who is gaining worldwide recognition. When I asked, I was told I was the first one to ask for that author. Even if they didn't have the book, at least they knew who I was inquiring about.