Take 5: Great Southern indie bookstores to explore this summer

There are so many wonderful independent bookstores in the South, we had to break it down by region! Here are five of my favorite bookstores of the Deep South, with the award going to Mississippi, the state known for some of the finest American literary figures.

Square Books of Oxford

Square Books of Oxford, Miss. (photo at right), began in 1979 by Lisa and Richard Howorth, the latter a former president of the American Booksellers Association. Today, the three-in-one bookstore is a city landmark, offering book signings by local and nationally known authors, programs, Camp Square Books for adults and the Thacker Mountain Radio.

The 3,500-square-foot Square Books, Jr. is devoted to children’s selections; Off Square Books features lifestyle topics such as cooking and gardening; Rare Square Books features collectible, vintage, first edition books and the main store celebrates regional history and literature. Square Books won Publisher Weekly’s 2013 Bookstore of the Year Award.

In Jackson, there’s the oversized Lemuria Books, offering not only a fabulous selection, but a first editions club and great book events. Some of the best names travel through Jackson, stopping at Lemuria, but so do the little guys just starting off selling some great titles as well. The staff is helpful, their email newsletters well done and professional, and did we mention the great selection? And there’s an awesome coffee shop and bistro downstairs so you can enjoy your purchase with a cup of Joe.

Old New River Books in Cambria, Virginia

Old New River Books in a former general store in Cambria, Virginia, includes rows and rows of books surrounding pieces of art, those incredibly comfy chairs you find in bookstores, children’s books we grew up with (a giant Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys collection!) and a section of VHS and DVDs which, according to owner Ken Vaughan, is popular with students at nearby Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. For history buffs, there’s a lovely selection of Virginia history titles.

At the entrance into the main building that houses Cambria Station Antiques on three floors—we're talking lots and lots of collectibles—is an arch of books that stretches over your head.

Read more about both here.

Mystery lovers have to sample Mystery by the Book in Houston, one of the nation's oldest and largest mystery specialty bookstores. The store packs in more than 25,000 new and used books, first editions, collectibles, gift items, mystery magazines, and more, plus hosts numerous book signings by mystery authors every year.

Page and Pallette family-owned bookstore is located in the heart of charming Fairhope, Alabama. The independent store run by the third generation includes a great selection of Alabama and Gulf Coast writers and hosts regular book signings and events such as story time, open mics and book discussions. There’s a coffee shop attached so it’s easy to enjoy a good book, a comfy chair and a hot cup of coffee. In addition, the shop offers a used book section.

Weird, Wacky & Wild South is written by travel writer, book lover and author Cheré Dastugue Coen, who also pens novels under the pen name of Cherie Claire.