Although no one bookstore can do justice to Iran's expansive heritage of literature and cinema, Ketab Corporation will give the uninitiated a pretty good indication of its depth and richness. The bookstore/film library has documentaries on everything from art and history to the cities of Iran, while the books cover topics ranging from astrology and law to women's literature. While the majority of Ketab's offerings are in Persian, there is a robust section devoted to English speakers and Spanish speakers who wish to learn Persian, and many of the Persian films are subtitled in English or French. (And yes, if you're wondering, “Persian” is the proper word to use here, as opposed to “Farsi.”) Further, Ketab's coffee-table books, comics and calligraphic texts can be enjoyed no matter what language you speak, as can the selection of beautifully engraved chess sets and traditional Persian musical instruments. 1419 Westwood Blvd., Westwood. (310) 477-7477, ketab.com/pages/bookstore.html.

—Kristina Benson

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.