Cool Indie Bookstore Alert

We had a few hours to kill before flying out of L.A., so we spent some time in Venice. As the Bride will tell you, I have an almost sixth sense when it comes to sniffing out bookstores, and boy, did I find a gem right off Ocean Front Walk. It's called Small World Books, and it's kinda sorta tucked behind a restaurant, although the signs for the shop are very clear. (So, okay, maybe it wasn't my sixth sense as much as it was my ability to read very large signs.) Anyway, the shop has a kick-ass mystery/crime section, with a nice mix of indie and mainstream stuff, as well as a whole shelf full o' Bukowski. I picked up two books: a Barry Miles bio of Buk, and Stephen Cooper's Full of Life, a bio of John Fante. (Small bit of trivia: Fante spent some time writing in Venice, just a few blocks away on Westminster Ave.) Secret Dead Blog highly recommends. (1407 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291, 301-399-2360.)