When I want to read a boatload of magazines for free, I go to Chapters or Indigo. When I actually want to buy a book, I'd rather fork my money over to small bookshops like Ben McNally Books.
Those who favor hushed environments and a well-edited selection of books will love this place. And by hushed, I mean dead-silent like a cathedral after hours. So keep your oohing and ahhing over the lit-porn to a minimum. This place is a temple of literature where the devout come to browse and meditate.
Ask the owner Ben for his recc's and he'll spout off authors you never heard of. His logic: Why bother promoting the bestsellers? That said, he still carries the likes of Ondaatje, Murakami, and Atwood. Hey, man's gotta pay da rent somehow.
TIP: Bring a hankie to stem the flow of drool over the cookbook section.