On November 11, journalist Ryan Devereaux will talk wolves, Montana politics, and the fight over the American West inside a bookstore built into a shipping container. That’s fitting for Desierto Books, where owner Cheron Taylor has spent the past year and a half making room for this region’s stories, and the people who write them. Located in Tucson’s Mercado San Agustín (MSA) Annex, Desierto Books has quickly become a compact literary haven, especially for those interested in narratives of the American Southwest.
The MSA Annex houses over a dozen locally owned businesses in modified shipping containers, from curated vintage finds at Ortense to Warm Shape, a retailer featuring local artists and makers. For deep dives by regional writers with unique perspectives, Desierto Books is a must-visit.
A stage for Southwest authors
The store also holds events and author appearances. On November 11, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Devereaux will discuss The Hunt: A True Story of Resurrection and Retribution in the West, which chronicles the deadliest wolf hunt in Yellowstone’s history, when roughly a fifth of the park’s wolves were shot or trapped just beyond its borders in the winter of 2021–22.
For those who prefer musical storytelling, Desierto Books also maintains a curated vinyl collection. The store also sells word-worthy notepads and other writerly odds and ends, as well as educational kits and children’s titles.
In an era when virtually any title is a click away, the book shop offers a rare chance to have a real conversation with a bookseller or even other shoppers. The MSA Annex’s architectural ingenuity aligns with its occupants. As you meander through the shops, Tucson’s personality shines through, but plan plenty of browsing time at Desierto Books, where your next great read is just a page flip away.
Tucson draws more than 100,000 people to the Tucson Festival of Books every March. Desierto Books is where that love of reading lives the other 363 days.
It wants better content.
Fast facts: Desierto Books
- MSA Annex, 267 S. Avenida del Convento, Building 1, Suite 105, Tucson
- Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday noon–5 p.m.; closed Monday
- desiertobooks.com
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