Bibliomania

A wise person once remarked that “Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book.” How convenient, then, that Barcelona’s many excellent bookstores support our schizophrenic leanings so well. Here at BCN Week, our tastes particularly edge towards the specialized and obsessive, with a healthy dose of fetishism tossed in there. Witness, therefore, that when we go a-browsing, we’re equally likely to be taken in by the collector as the collectibles. Freaks of the world, unite! Presenting five of our favorites, where no one will ever use “bookworm” as a pejorative term, or ridicule the wanness of your skin.

The Watergate Bookshop

Plaça de Vicenç Martorell, 2

“Cielito Lindo” plays on the stereo. The owner and his girlfriend sit behind the counter watching a film. Regulars come in, chat for a bit. Regulars browse. Regulars leave. The place is small and loaded with bizarre shit, like a more organized version of the storage room of your packrat uncle, the cool one that was always a little wacky and whom you idolized for his ability to locate and obtain all that is interesting and unique. Some samplings of what you might find: T-shirts, international press, freaky stuffed animals, tattoo photo books, themed mints, a zombie playset, robots, bobbleheads, various comics, graffiti magazines, a DVD entitled I Was a Teenage Nerd Mummy, Japanese fashion, an old stereo, punk clutter, magnets, music magazines, libros “raros” y “curiosas”, The Butt Book, The Big Penis Book, and any number of books on scam mails, videogames, sneakers, skateboarding, politics, conspiracy theories, movies, and music.

La Rosa de Foc

C/ Joaquin Costa, 34

The atmosphere upon entering is cold and steely, and the setting sombre and uninviting, but this mood is apt considering the content of this store. This is where an authentic anarchist’s handbook could be cooked up. Books and magazines dedicated to a whole range of socially-significant themes of today are available, along with many dedicated to the long history and tradition of anarchism in the city. On the walls, grainy black and white images depict a time, not so long ago, when a CNT rally could fill Plaza España from Montjuïc down to the ronda. Lighter decoration is provided by the brightly coloured, available-for-purchase civil war era posters of calls to arms and the insistence upon the value of the noble campesino and obrero. Enquire nicely as to the instore Bomba Orsini and you too might get the chance to hold in your hand the true power of a real destructive beauty.

Loring Art

C/ Gravina, 8

You know when you go to a really great party and you find yourself sitting amongst a group of such eclectic and interesting people that you decide to resign yourself to silent observation for the rest of the night? Well, this two-floor bookstore is kind of like a small party for really awesome art books and magazines, the true characters of the literary world, and once you enter you’ll want to stay until you’ve exhausted every detail. Genres include arte electrónico, arte no occidental, interiorismo, ciudades, intervención en el espacio público, paisajismo y jardines, arquitectura, monografías, and movimientos artísticos. Pick up everything from postcards and DVDs to Lube magazine, or satisfy your obsession with strange older women by looking at an enormous book of photographs of Angelica Huston. There are tables and chairs to keep you comfortable for hours, if you so desire.

Militària Barcelona

C/ Bruc, 87

Ring the bell to be let in, and enter a museum-like store full of war paraphernalia. The owner is like that favorite professor you had in college, the one who was so passionate about his subject that, regardless of whether or not it was your thing, you couldn’t help but get into it too. El dueño goes abroad to look for new collectibles every couple of months, so the place is always packed full of new old items, and the walls are lined with shelves and glass cases full of weapons and war artifacts. Pick up medals, badges, airforce patches, airborne wings, aviation wings, submarine and frogman insignia, helmets, headgear and berets, documents and photos, flags, photographs, uniforms, equipment, and books in Spanish, English, French, and other languages. Countries of origin of the items range from South Africa to Rhodesia to Germany to Japan to the Czech Republic. Ready, attack!

Negra y Criminal

C/ de la Sal, 5

Un poco más arriba del mar, ajenos a su esporádico y cadavérico legado, Paco y Montse pasan sus horas en esta librería especializada en el género negro. Aquí no encontraréis ni pizcas de gracia, sino un verdadero santuario para aquellos que aman la literatura de detectives, asesinos e investigación policial. La atmósfera del local invita a sumergiros entre sus estanterías mientras Sam Spade os observa. El crimen nunca muere, y lo mismo ocurre con las grandes obras del género. No esperéis encontrar una librería repleta de novedades de quita y pon. Las hay, pero la verdadera joya del tesoro es poder emocionarse al hallar libros descatalogados, textos imprescindibles caídos en el olvido y volúmenes de segunda mano. Negra y criminal no sólo vende. Organiza actos y participa en eventos como BCNegra, siempre con la mente clara en su misión de honrar un género que más que matar engancha.