You are so right, Ann. I am lucky to have a few great independent bookstores just down the street from my gallery and was just there over the weekend picking up some books for my goddaughter. What I like about the independents is that they carry a well-edited selection of books rather than absolutely everything. Sometimes less is more!
Tinkugallery -- thanks for posting. You're in Canada, right? Feel free to post the names of your favorite stores -- let's give them some love right here.
Ann
My local bookstore is Copperfield's, in Petaluma, California. I've been taking my son there for ages, we go probably 2-4 times a month. Because we're so close to San Francisco, Copperfield's is able to bring in some very big name authors for signings and presentations, and my son (now 13) and I have both attended events there.
Thanks for writing this up Ann. It's so devastating to see this happen to any local business, bookstores even more so. The Grapes is such an important part of their community, I hope they're back on their feet soon.
I've actually lived through this exact same situation. I was working at Waterstone's in Boston's Back Bay, when the store was damaged by fire, smoke and water due to a fire that started at the restaurant next door. I know what these employees are going through and I wish them a speedy re-opening!
As a lover of all things books and bookstores, I, too, am mourning the loss of Bunch of Grapes. That may sound a tad melodramatic, but think about how YOU would feel if YOUR local bookstore closed down.
For me that would be Brookline Booksmith. It goes without saying that I love this bookstore. Everytime I pass by, I have trouble not going in. My boyfriend has stopped trying to stop me. Now I have time limits.
Why I love Booksmith: They always have great deals on new books, an entire floor of used books, and good recommendations. Plus it's just fun to go there. They have all sorts of knick knacks to play with, it's a fabulous place to for gifts. Not to mention that they get GREAT authors to come by and though I haven't tried it yet, their open book club is pretty popular.
So, my heart goes out to the book lovers on Martha's Vineyard. To everyone else: support your local independent bookstore!
Carolyn: Copperfields is legendary in the bookselling world and though I've never been there, I know that I would love it as much as you. Thanks.
Shelley: I know Brookline Booksmith quite well (though they are not my customer) and they are my idea of the perfect neighborhood bookstore. I always walk out of there with several books, most of which I had never heard of until they were recommended by a staff person. To me that's the epitome of a great bookstore. You are very lucky to have them close to you!
My favorite bookstore in NYC is Three Lives & Company. In the early 1990s I used to stop by there nearly once a week and always received excellent recommendations and even heard Toni Morrison read there.
I love Three Lives! Not sure who the owner was when you went there, but I used to work with the current owner and he's a fantastic guy. (Hi, Toby!)
Thanks for the post, Marinka!
I just stumbled across this post, and was struck by how similar the question in the last paragraph was to my "Booking Through Thursday" question this week. I still can't believe the Bunch of Grapes is gone...
http://btt2.wordpress.com/2008/0...07/10/doomsday/
Hi Deb,
Wow! I can't wait to go read all of the answers that people posted. Thanks for giving me the link to the post.
We are hopeful, of course, that Bunch of Grapes will reopen soon. But as you know, in a community where it's not so easy to hop in a car and go to another store (even though there is another great bookstore on the island), these local businesses are more important than ever.
Thanks for stopping by!
My closest bookstore is The Bookman which is largely used books -- suits me in that regard. I love browsing -- I also love going in and simply asking do you have...? and finding all sorts of great buys.
In my "other home" area (Lakeway, TX)there's a great little independent A Thirsty Mind -- which combines books and a coffee and wine bar. Hence thirsty.
The inventory is small and they purposely will stock one of a kind and when it sells they order a second copy and set it on a shelf -- certain books are attractive to one particular person -- or two or three at most perhaps? It's just a neat little place.
Oh yes -- The Bookman is in Orange, CA.
Thanks, Dottie. Personally, I think books + coffee + wine = paradise. Sounds like you have a couple of winners!
I have two favorite bookstores. My favorite local bookstore is Watermark Books & Cafe in Wichita, KS. Their children's section is a special delight. The booksellers do an exceptional job in finding wonderful children's books from a very wide variety of publishers.
The store sponsor numerous book clubs, author visits, and book signings, as well as a monthly Literary Feast, which includes dinner and a book discussion.
My other favorite is Powell's in Portland, OR, the largest bookstore I have ever been in. Every time I visit my son and daughter-in-law in Portland, we plan a morning at Powells. I always discover books and authors that are new to me, as well as many old favorites.
Liz Kennedy
Your Guide to Children's Books
http://childrensbooks.about.com
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