Octopus Books
Address:
116 Third Avenue
K1S 2K1 Ottawa, Canada
Phone:
(613) 233-2589
NileGuide Expert tip:
Avoid the store in the first couple of weeks of September, when it is jammed with Carleton University students picking up the their textbooks, piles of which threaten to topple over in every corner.
Description:
Octopus Books has deeply radical roots--it began as a socialist newspaper in the late 1960s and was run by a collective for 27 years. Even though it's now privately owned, it's still the go-to place in Ottawa for left-leaning, subversive or downright revolutionary reading material--anything from vegan cookbooks and tomes on sustainable urban planning to progressive children's books and biographies of Che Guevara. Native studies, feminism and pop culture are some of the other specialties. The small shop frequently hosts book signings and other literary events. Special orders and online shopping are also available.
Map:
