Antigone Books

A perfect small bookstore. The kind you can get lost in because so many things catch your eye. Books, cards, games and more. Visit!

Such a fantastic hometown bookshop — they have the best little gifts and a seated area in the back — also near there you will find their sale items! It is very organized and a great selection without being overwhelming. I love reviewing the staff picks selection and plan to join their book club soon :)

This bookstore has a particular niche with a wonderful selection heavy in feminist literature and LGBT related materials. Although I don’t fit into either category, I still come here often to purchase gifts, find great notebooks, browse the book selection (excellent fiction and a bargain rack of books), and super knick knacks. Great for kids too. I often wind up with something for myself here. I’m so glad this bookstore is here and perfectly located on 4^th. It’s a mainstay for Tucson!

I’m a little embarrassed to say this– but it was my first time checking this place out. I felt like I was cheating on bookmans. But now I realized they are very different stores. :-) We went shopping with our out of town friends here– there was something for everyone! We all walked out with a bag full of goodies! Books (local authors and otherwise), local Tucson gifts, eclectic items and much more. We even found books in Spanish (which I’m sure isn’t difficult in Tucson, but we didn’t have to shop around, which was nice). This is a Tucson gem. It’s great to shop local if you live here and if not I found it a great place to take out of towners too.

Love this place!!! They have a great selection of books, cards, journals, and all kinds of other fun things. I always walk out with at least 4 or 5 items. There is so much to look at. Might have to go back today!

Antigone Books is not only one of my favorite places in Tucson, it’s one of my favorite places in the world. My heart breaks that my time at the University of Arizona is almost over and I can’t take Antigone back with me to Cali. Visiting this bookstore has been the joy of my life in Tucson. The wide variety of books, journals, local items, and even novelty items, are what make this place amazing. I only hope I can squeeze in some time for a few more visits before I move back home.

I love this store more than any other store in Tucson! They have a great selection and will order anything! I asked if they had a certain dr Suess book for my daughter long before this was my favorite shop. It was one of the first time I have been there. They didn’t have it. They asked many times if they could order it and call me when it came in!
Due to time frames that was not an option but who these days does that?
They have so many adorable nick nacks and local items. They have mugs to magnets, wall hangings to stuffed animals and clothes, on top of books books books!
And when you are done shopping they give you a stamp card for a future purchase after you buy 200 $ worth of stuff… It’s really easy to do! But they also do free and beautiful gift wrapping! More often than not I buy hits here just so I don’t have to wrap it!
If your on 4^th walk into to this local solar operated shop!

A great local bookstore with tons of trinkets and cute, unique gifts. Their prices on books are pretty average although they do have a small used book section with books that are about 50% off. They have a small parking lot next to their store for customers of Antigone and 4^th Avenue. I definitely recommend this bookstore for unique gifts!

Another treasure trove of gifts and curios. (Luchador bottle openers. ‘Nuff said.) T-​shirts and magnets and coffee mugs and candles and socks and all those bookstore shelf finds that help decorate and style your space a little more to the intellectual side.
I loved the featured and recommended books from staff. A few were already favorites of mine and many were books I have been recommended elsewhere. There were also several I hadn’t seen or heard of before, and I like the sense of discovery within a quality set of options.
There are local Arizonan books and authors featured all over and in their own section. Obviously, there’s a rich history and natural backdrop for our city, and there is an accompanying rich literary history. Culinary, too, by the looks of it.
I did not get one of these, but Antigone was chosen as one of the release storefronts for signed copies of Neil Gaiman’s latest. If they’re on his list, I knew I needed to make a visit.
If you don’t need a bag from them, they donate!
I’m stealing this label from another Yeep: «a true Tucson Treasure».

Antigone is more than a book store. They have some quirky T-​shirts, and some hand painted Ts for women as well as hats and gew gaws of various stripes. Good places to sit are available. There’s a lot to like.

Yes, when Unilocalers agree – it means a lot! Antigone is a great book and gift store. They love books and they have a message too. A nice place to visit, get ideas, gifts and books for those who still read paper books and haven’t yet discovered the wonderful joys of an e-​reader.
The people who work here are the very best.
A true «Tucson Treasure.»

Did I mention I love books? This is another bookstore I can get lost in. If they do not have the book that you’re looking for in stock, they will order it for you. And it’s not just books that they have here, jewelry, bags, accessories, hard to find gum! It’s also located right on 4^th avenue, so that’s another plus. This place is eccentric and weird, but also cute and cozy. This bookstore has a personality of its own and I love it.
My only thing is that they do not specialize in used books. Aside from that, this place is awesome!

The thing I love most about this place is that they have comfy couches and chairs! The place offers a variety of books many I expect you would not find in your average Barnes and Nobel, which makes it more fun to go there!
Its even a nice place to just sit and read in peace for an hour or so. Everyone who works there is extreamly kind and friendly.
One of my favorite spots on 4^th Ave for sure.

I find myself spending way more time in here than I ever intend! The table in the front entrance with staff suggestions is never a let down and it’s a really great place to find good gifts for kids (re: not junk).

I love a good, locally owned bookstore. I’m so glad my friend took me here during my visit to Tucson last week. Antigone is in the middle of a bunch of «head shops» and actually sells things of substance. I knew my suitcase was already overcrowded, so I didn’t purchase any hardback books. They have a great selection of books and I’m jealous I can’t join the book club. Antigone also has a great selection of locally-​made items and I picked up some for souvenirs. The soap made with Arizona wild honey is a must! If you’re in town, definitely stop in and check out this place!

The best type of small independent bookstore! They have a specialization (gender issues and equality), they hire people who care about that specialization, and stock books and stickers and things along those lines, but they’re not bound to it — there’s all sorts of fun things here that you might find. Lots of staff recommendations and other personal touches that make it a joy to visit.
I’d feel guilty about the fact that I usually use this place for book recommendations (that I then purchase off Amazon), but I always make sure to buy some stickers and/​or magnets or toys — and given that the profit margin on those is far higher than on books, I figure I’ve balanced my karma.
I’ve heard some complaints about the staff, and it’s true that they’re not the hop-​up-​and-​get-​in-​your-​face kind, but I actually prefer that — I’m usually pretty independent, and don’t mind asking for help when I need it. When I’ve asked, they’ve always been quite helpful!

I ADORE this local bookstore! When I worked on the avenue I would try to stop in at least once a month and now I just try to get in there whenever I can. They have the best variety of books one can ask for and the best part is they even give away free books! They have a section of free books you can choose from when you make a purchase of other books. I try to shop for everyone in this little spot because they have so many trinkets, toys, notecards, journals and much more, basically something for everyone. And if you refuse a bag they donate to local charities — win win!

Before I move Antigone, I’m taking a minute to bump you up. Feels nice, huh?
Well let me just say, it’s felt nice to wander your wide selection, feel like you’d order anything if I asked, and eye over your crazy collection of journals. That’s what brought me to 4^th Ave this weekend, and although I didn’t leave with one, I was amazed that there are so many options. Ruled, unruly, leather, paper, recycled, sketch, the place has more pads than a Always factory. I do wish the store stocked some local artists because there are folks in town that make journals using recycled papers and reclaimed materials, but I get that might not be their bag.
In 6 years, Antigone proved to be an amazing option for local book buying and a great friend to Unilocal when we introduced The Unilocal Literati in 2012. I think some folks tend to get wrapped up in the fact that service isn’t always stellar, but think back to your childhood librarian, was that person the most effervescent and bubbly? Probably not. These guys know books. That’s their thing, and like anyone who specializes in something so specific (ever try to carry on a conversation with a pool tech about political discourse) they’re passionate about one thing, one thing only and sometimes passion can come across as, «I know more than you.» But let’s be honest, they probably do.
Shop local. Support the little guys. Before you buy on Amazon, consider making the trip to your neighborhood shop to see if they stock or can at least order the paperback you’ve been dying to thumb through.

My first visit to Antigone completely surprised me. I don’t like 4^th Ave. It’s fairly dingy, dirty, and crawling with people, some of which are highly questionable, particularly when the sun goes down. Therefore, I thought Antigone would be more of the same. But not so! The store is large, clean, and inviting. Their book selection is solid. They have tons of quirky and whimsical tchotchke type items. They have lots of novelty items like bumper stickers and such. It’s a very interesting store to walk through.
Their prices are generally what’s marked on the cover of the book per the manufacturer, so I wouldn’t say they’re great in that regard, just run of the mill. They do have decent used and sale sections, though, so don’t forget to look through those books!
The service was cold. Very cold. I expect a LOT more from a local bookstore if you want me to come back to that store. Particularly a store that’s in a frustrating area, with little to no available/​convenient parking.
Overall, Antigone is a decent independent bookstore. I’ll definitely go in and maybe buy something when I have the displeasure of being on 4^th Ave.

Ah, there was so much to look at I am not sure of where to start. Let’s start with I got a nice massage from the Tingler that they had on display for sale. If you don’t know what a Tingler is, it is a massager that massages millions of nerve endings in your scalp with its spider-​like copper arms. They have a ton of cards for any occasion which is why I went in here.
Of course they have books, puzzles, art, mugs, posters, magazines, knick knacks, and t-​shirts to mention a few. Basically if you are looking for books this is a good local off the sidewalk shop to come into. If you are running out of time and need to head back to Phoenix and have not yet gotten anyone anything, you can also come here and gift shop. They have plenty of items for everyone.