Asheville has a long history of supporting the arts, literary arts included, and we’re lucky to have half a dozen bookstores in town. At the center, I’d say, though, is Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe.
You can tell that this store is beloved by everyone involved when you first walk in the door: from displays that showcase the booksellers’ staff picks to the famous “Blind Date with a Bookseller”.
You come up to a wall of books that are all wrapped in plain brown paper. The website describes these books as staff’s favorite picks and books that “fly under the radar”.
One of the treats of having a local literary hub like Malaprop's is that you may find your new crew of book lovers through one of their clubs and all of a sudden have a fruitful source of recommendations.