A Cappella Books — Local services in Atlanta

I love this shop both for its selection of new titles, as well as the extensive collection of antique books- don’t forget to take a left just past the register to find the other section of the store. The displays by the entrance have lots of great recommendations from various book clubs, and there is also a section of employee recommendations. On my most recent visit I picked up a signed copy of Godfall by Van Jensen, among a few other good finds from the antiques section. The older books are very well organized by topic so I was able to find several good titles that pertain to my major in college. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable. Once visited in 2020 and didn’t realize the shop was closed except for pickup orders- luckily the man running the store was kind enough to take my preferences at the door, and offered me a few titles I would like and I was able to have a book to read that night because his recommendations were spot on. I used to visit infrequently when I lived in the perimeter, but now this shop is very close to me so I’ll be dropping in more often. Parking can be a little tricky but just make sure you’re brushed up on your parallel...

Staff were nice with me and tried their best to assist me (I was looking for a copy of the Qur'an for a friend). However, looking through their "Islam" section I couldn't find a work by a Muslim author. It was mostly works by Western orientalists (e.g. Bernard Lewis) or overt Islamophobes (e.g. Ayaan Hirsi Ali). Some books on Sufism, which isn't exactly surprising considering white liberals' peculiar fondness for Eastern mysticism. Found much more variety at the Kirkwood public library (thank goodness for libraries). Bad selections on Islam. Would suggest the owner visit a local library before making stocking decisions on a religion that is totally unfamiliar to them. If they were to improve their selections, I think I would really enjoy coming to this place as it's quite cozy.

Edit: I appreciate the owner's timely response, but I think they're not getting my basic point which is that most of what they carry in their "Islam" section is racist. Books that imply that Muslims are an existential threat to Western civilization or belong to a primitive culture should have some disclaimer attached to them and certainly do not belong in the...

I’m a lover of bookstores and make sure to check out as many as I can in every city I visit. I genuinely was excited to visit A Capella. I appreciate its cultural significance for what it brings to the neighbourhood and the way it seems to support author events. I left feeling like the vibes in there are off. Staff was not friendly or helpful and they don’t seem interested in chatting with customers. Next I felt a lack of coziness. While the used books backside has more personality, the frontside of the shop feels impersonal and the titles on display reminded me of an airport bookstore. I was particularly interested in books about the Middle East — there was an OK selection— but I immediately noticed there were zero titles by Arab writers. Imagine having an African American history section without any works by Black writers. It just sends a message that there is lack of thoughtfulness in the curation. I did purchase one book and while I’m willing to give the store another chance I won’t be in a rush to head back...