Katie Plank
Google
I've been on a bit of a tour of local bookstores in Knoxville, and lowercase books was the one whose vibe I enjoyed the most. I really enjoyed that the collection seemed curated but eclectic, esoteric without being inaccessible, which helped me get the feeling of aimless browsing and discovery that I remember from my childhoods at the original McKay's location. I especially enjoyed that small cubbies with specific labels, like "space and futurism." There were also some fantastic old pulp-y sci-fi covers, which I love. We just happened to go while some local(?) bands were setting up for a show, which really let us see how lowercase books is not just a store, but also a center for community (and gave me the confusing experience of hearing rap overlaid with incredibly loud U2 as the band checked the speakers). The owner was also helpful and friendly in a very genuine way; I could tell that he really cared about books and enjoyed talking with customers about the books as people, not just as customers. This shop was an unexpected but welcome discovery!