The reports of the bookstore’s death have been greatly exaggerated.
If you ask me, bookstores aren’t dead. They’re not even dying. And it’s not about print books (which are, by the way, also not dying — they’re not just as prominent as they once were): it’s about bookstores offering something that no online shopping experience ever can. It’s about bookstores bringing to the table an experience — which can be anything, really, but possibly involves coffee, tall shelves, pretty covers, author events, signed copies of books, rare releases, and maybe one or two homeless dudes who wandered in from outside. (Hey, Amazon will never offer us the “random homeless guy” experience. Though, now as I say that, Jeff Bezos is descending into the darkness of his laboratory to concoct some kind of digital hobo initiative — “Old Ciggy Jim has a Hobo Ranking of #4588! Beat that, Bindle Dan!”)
Let’s be clear: not every independent bookstore is worth saving by dint of it being an independent bookstore. Some bring nothing to the table that you can’t already get elsewhere (the answer to what an indie bookstore offers can never be “just books,” because that is a realm in which they cannot compete). But many others are wonderful, weird places — great staff, fine events, eclectic selections, nice design, the finest homeless around. So, with that being said, here’s what I want from you:
I’d like you to sing the praises of an indie bookstore you love.
Maybe it’s local to you. Or at least within driving distance.
Maybe it’s not. Maybe it’s one you found in another city and you want to praise it with mighty hymns.
Tell me about your favorite indie bookstore.
Part of this is because: hey, I wanna celebrate those bookstores.
Another part is entirely selfish. Because you can bet I’m taking notes as to places I may one day stop to sign books, give readings, shake hands, kiss babies, and eradicate the growing Hobo Menace.
You.
Favorite bookstores.
Give ’em some love.
Chihuahua Zero says:
One of the closest stores nearby has its entire basement dedicated to used books. I browsed down there a few days ago, although I bought a dystopian novel on the main floor.
Oh, and I love how they stick new bookmarks into my novels every time I make a purchase. Their bookmarks aren’t that bad.
Oh! And there was a black cat curled up with the bestsellers, which were 10% off.
July 25, 2012 — 12:40 AM
T.L. Bodine says:
First: Oh sweet Jesus I misread that as “mighty hymens”. I -clearly- need to get more sleep.
Second, I’ve always been sad that there was no independent book seller in my home town. Just the B&N at the mall and the sad and lonely book section of Hastings. The best thing we ever had going for us is a used bookstore called Coas, which sells used books and new games (board games, trading cards, RPGs) and is full of very cool, beautifully-tattooed nerds.
July 25, 2012 — 12:51 AM
Danzier says:
Wow. I just realized that most of the indie bookshops in my town (that’d be Oshkosh, WI) are within each other’s line of sight.
Ok, first there’s Apple Blossom Books, and their attached gourmet cookie bakery. They have the ability to special order anything. At least, everything I’ve asked for. AND they got my daughter to want to read by having many books about sharks. 😀
Next, Paper Tiger. They have pipes, local tobacco, book-related stuffed animals, and a huge magazine section.
There’s a comic shop I haven’t visited called House of Heroes, which always has cutouts in the windows.
I’m forgetting one–I know it’s here but can’t place it.
You have to go 30 miles up the road to get to a Big Bookstore, and I like that. I like my small stores. They’re neither cold nor echo-ey nor overwhelming. They are cozy; they are friendly; they’re the townies in tourist season who bless you with a wink and a half-smile and a free cookie, for which I tip cookie-value and an extra buck. They understand browsing without buying, and grin like Christmas when I show up with the book buying plan and my tax returns. They are great places.
And they’re supported by a measly 67,000 full-time city residents. 😀
July 25, 2012 — 1:29 AM
Alex Beecroft says:
On the one hand my local bookshop refuses to stock my books because I’m ‘not famous enough.’ On the other, I spent a fantastic morning in there looking for British Desi culture, with two shop assistants scouring the shelves and the catalogue for me, bringing me a pile of books and sitting me down in a sunny window seat with a cup of coffee to browse them all and decide which ones I’d take.
So on the whole they’ve given me good books, good service and a career goal. One day I will be famous enough, and then I’ll be very proud.
July 25, 2012 — 3:33 AM
Ryan Viergutz says:
One of, if not the biggest, disappointment in having to move away from Minneapolis was being away from Uncle Hugo’s, absolutely the largest scifi bookstore I’ve ever seen. They have loads and loads of used books in the back and new stuff in the front AND comics AND roleplaying games.
They have Uncle Edgar’s, their companion mystery bookstore, in the same building, and it’s JUST as huge.
Every time I stopped in there I got a handful of books. I’m obsessively finicky about my spending, so it felt strange, but I really really wanted to support them.
July 25, 2012 — 3:48 AM
Sandra Lindsey says:
Across the pond from you, but I know you have readers over here, and hey maybe you’ll come over some day?
Near to me now: Booka in Oswestry. Doesn’t have a huge number of books for sale, but has a great range. Whenever I’m stuck for a present for my Dad, I drop in there. Last time I found him a new Tom Holt book. They also sell (and accept!) National Book Tokens (don’t know if you have that sort of thing in the USA but they were always my favourite presents as a child)
Where I used to live: The Book House in Thame. Fantastic store. Oodles more books than you’d ever think from looking at the outside, beautiful calm atmosphere, and when I lived doen there they had a loyalty card scheme (something like shop there 6 times & next time you get £5 off).
Not independent but still amazing and worth shouting about: Blackwells in Oxford is a humongous and fabtastic shop. There’s two entrance doors, either side of a pub, and the shop joins up at basement level. And the basement is beautiful and big and light and airy and reminds of Liverpool Library – I’m sure it would remind me of the British Library if I’d ever been there! It’s primarily an academic bookseller, though they have a good selection of fiction on the ground floor. Mostly, though, it’s a place to go and geek out. Just reading the bookjackets is an education in itself! Took me ages to find the history section though, because it’s right up on the 2nd or 3rd floor.
Much as I love the two utterly independent booksellers, I could quite happily live in Blackwells Oxford (except, possibly, for having to put up with the students trooping in & out)
July 25, 2012 — 4:14 AM
Shiri Sondheimer says:
I haven’t always been able to find what I want at the indie bookstores around here, but I’ll give them a shot out for the effort if staying open in chainville land: Atomic Books in Baltimore, which has a great stock of graphic novels and an actual RECORD SHOP in back, and the Annapolis Bookshop in Annapolis (clearly). The former has a pretty slick vibe and lots of great events; the latter still does story time for kids twice a week — even when your kid is the only one there and does a great job pimping local authors (a lot of maritime stuff — not so much my thing, but I appreciate the effort).
Having spent 4 years in Portland, I of course have to mention Powells — the main branch downtown at least. I mean, how can you not love a city block of books?
And there’s The Other Change of the Hobbit in Berkley — they’ve been closed intermittently lately due to lack of patronage, but their website says they’re now open again. Give them a visit if you have the chance!
July 25, 2012 — 6:12 AM
R.J.Keith says:
There are a plethora of indie bookstores out here in England that I’ve seen. One in every village it seems, too many for me to fully remember all of their names. Look hard enough, though, and you’ll find one. When I was stationed out in California there was one place I loved to go. It wasn’t so much a bookstore as a ‘take one, leave one’ hybrid coffee shop. Lestat’s was its name; open 24 hours with great coffee, food, bands and author readings. A lot of fun for artists to sit and work and people watch. The name brought in the California goth kids which, we’re really just a treat to observe.
July 25, 2012 — 7:28 AM
Anninyn says:
There’s a cute independant called The Book Hive near me, but it has a problem: It seems to cater exclusively to hipsters. There’s no sensible ordering of books inside and most of them are esoteric and expensive.
I’ve bought a few things from there, but in general I prefer to get my books from Waterstones or a charity shop, which are the only other two options where I live.
July 25, 2012 — 8:02 AM
Anninyn says:
My favourite bookstore was the one on St Benedicts street. Wonderful old place, the sort of place Gaiman would write about, down to bizarre stairs and every surface covered in the books. It’s clsoed down now, but GOD I loved it and the old man who ran it.
July 25, 2012 — 8:04 AM
sandrayln says:
Probably my favorite local bookstore is Recycled Books and Records. Three floors of books, and exactly the kind of random, diverse, and sometimes ancient selection that you’d hope for in a college town. They still run an old-fashioned cash register – as far as I can tell, the one computer I’ve seen is just for checking prices when they do a buyback – and keep your store credit and book requests on index cards behind the counter. And it’s almost impossible for me to go in there and not come out with something…
July 25, 2012 — 8:10 AM
Bryon Quertermous says:
I agree with you that some indie don’t deserve to survive just because they’re indie. Many of them are poorly run, elitist, and oblivious to even the faintest sense of normal operation. But the good ones, yeah, they’ll be around forever. In Ann Arbor we have a ridiculous amount of indie book stores that run the gamut from elitist hobby stores to full blown great indie experience. The best of the lot is Aunt Agatha’s. This is a store with personality and taste and plenty of toys in the back corner for my kids to play with when I’m browsing. They carry weird obscure stuff along with more mainstream fare. They also fully support local and regional authors. There are many authors who consider that store their home base and I think that’s a great testament to their success.
July 25, 2012 — 8:27 AM
Kelly says:
Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe, Washington DC. There pretty much isn’t a surface that is not covered with books. They have a very varied selection of both children and adult titles.
Plus, lots and lots of pie.
July 25, 2012 — 8:31 AM
Eric H. says:
Dream Haven Books is an excellent store in Minneapolis, MN. They have author events, publish a small line of books and CDs, and carry a variety of used books including collectibles.
It does appear that they have moved to a 2 day/week model, however.
http://dreamhavenbooks.com/
July 25, 2012 — 9:17 AM
Michael R. Underwood says:
My day job involves working with Indie Bookstores, so I have had the fortune of getting to know many stores and many booksellers. I love all of my accounts, but here are three chosen for extra love.
Coffeetree Books in Morehead, KY. The people are tremendously nice, they moved last year into a renovated movie theatre, so the store has tons of space and a great flow. They keep a disproportionately awesome SF/F section and do a great job with sidelines (non-book product). Add that to the fact that they have a cafe up front, and it is always a pleasure to visit them.
McLean and Eakin Booksellers in Petoskey, MI. They have a staff of tremendously energetic and knowledgeable booksellers, they do a great job with author events, and the store environment is tremendously welcoming. Plus, they know their comics like practically no bookstore in the Midwest.
And, because I saw them yesterday, Prairie Lights Books in Iowa City, IA. Three levels book delight plus a cafe. They are plugged in to the Iowa City community with great effect, supporting the university, showcasing a variety of voices with events and book clubs.
July 25, 2012 — 9:19 AM
Stephen Blackmoore says:
Mysterious Galaxy Redondo Beach and Mysterious Galaxy San Diego
http://www.mystgalaxy.com/
These people are fantastic and they work their asses off. They’re focused on the community, because they understand that that’s their strength. They’re polite, know their shit and are constantly looking at ways to add value to getting a book through them.
They handle the writing panels at San Diego Comic-Con and have a huge presence at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.
They also handle book sales at our Noir At The Bar L.A. events that we run every couple of months.
The Redondo Beach store is designed with author signings and book clubs in mind. They have a small auditorium space in the back of the store specifically for that. They show movies and bring authors in who have some experience with the film’s subject matter.
They will even, occasionally, take self-published books on consignment. But they’re picky, as they should be, and won’t just grab anything.
Oh, and they’re tied in through Indie Bound, so you can order books online through them conveniently. And they also handle ebooks through Google Books, though I hear Google’s getting or gotten out of that business already.
The point is that the offer much more than “just books” and if you’re in the area for either store I highly recommend you checking them out.
July 25, 2012 — 9:31 AM
Albert Berg says:
Reading this makes me even more depressed than usual that I live in a town where literacy isn’t highly valued and the indie bookstore scene is literally non-existent. Even our local library sucks balls. The best I can do is scalp through the thrift-stores’ and consignment shops’ book sections.
July 25, 2012 — 9:32 AM
CC Denham says:
http://tridentbookscafe.com/
The Trident in Boston on Newbury. Bought my first Harry Potter book there. As well as House of Leaves. And many journals. And many bowls of French onion soup. *sigh* now I’m homesick. :/
July 25, 2012 — 9:32 AM
Amber says:
Sadly, I don’t even have a favorite bookstore anymore. The one closest to me went through a strange evolution when new owners took over. Slowly it changed what types of books it carries. It’s in a smaller storefront down the street from where it started which means they have to be even more critical. They’ll carry best sellers and local works which is the best part of what they do. They have lots of signings too. I basically stopped shopping there when their mysteries section dwindled to a fraction of what it was and I could more easily get exactly what I wanted for less through amazon. If you’re still wondering, it’s Clinton Book Shop. I also like Farley’s in New Hope which is a bit of a drive for me. Our “local” shop used to be a nice little Waldenbooks in a mall but they closed years ago.
July 25, 2012 — 9:35 AM
Robert says:
I live in Stockholm, Sweden. Here you can find many second hand bookshops, and just browsing them can be enough to show you new worlds.
Then just under my appartment, there is a bookstore called The English Bookshop, only carries english language books. It’s quite small, but their selection isn’t just your everyday what you could buy at the airport titles. They have lot’s of special editions and the owner seems to be very into the beat generation.
Then a few blocks from that you have Science fiction bokhandeln (sci-fi bookstore). only carries sci-fi, fantasy, some comics and manga along with games, dvds and so on in those genres. I would say they are 80% english 20% swedish, since everyone who can should read books as they were written, and not as they were later translated.
This store carries some memories. When I was 11, I started reading in english, and since my mother seemed quite appriciative of that, i made a deal with her. I read in english, she buys me any book I want in english. That deal lasted for a few months until she one day came to me and told me it was ruining her.
July 25, 2012 — 9:38 AM
Kristin Nador says:
Friday I wrote a blog post for my weekly jaunts where I attempt to stir up creativity. Sometimes they are a bit boring, but last week was awesome because I went to 3 indie bookstores! I love me a good indie bookstore. Main reason is good indie bookstores care about books and those who write them. Here’s my local list and if it’s okay with Chuck I’ll list a link to the blog post for more details for those who want them.
Steve’s Sundry and Books, Tulsa OK – in business for more than 60 years with an old fashioned soda fountain to prove it. They love local authors and host more than 100 book signings a year.
Gardner’s Books, Tulsa, OK – Biggest bookstore in Oklahoma. Get your vintage comic book fix here, too.
McHuston’s Booksellers and Irish Bistro – Recently expanded, carries new, used and rare books. There’s a tin ceiling. Pretty cool.
My post on these three: http://kristinnador.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/write-anywhere-47/
Chuck,I think I might have to map the comments into a list and go on a cross country indie bookstore jaunt! 🙂 Thanks for giving independent bookstores a shout-out!
July 25, 2012 — 9:44 AM
Beate says:
Oh, the Square Bookstore in Oxford MS.
It’s actually three bookstores (Square Books, Off-Square, and Square JR) scattered around the town square (gee, I wonder where they got the name?). None of the stores are huge but everything in them is great – the owner knows how to pick books. The stores have a cozy, library feel and hosts tons of author/book events. Love this place. And if you need an extra kick of historical book stuff – Rowan Oak, Faulkner’s residence is just a few streets down.
Don’t tell my kid (who goes to the University of Mississippi) but I come to Oxford just as much to go to the Square as to see her!
July 25, 2012 — 9:44 AM
Bill Bridges says:
Atlanta used to have the most excellent Oxford Books, but alas, it’s long gone now. It used to be open until 2 am — there’s few pleasures greater than browsing for books after midnight.
We still have A Cappella books. Small, yes, but with a good selection by people who know books.
One of my favorites will always be Hole in the Wall Books in Falls Church, VA (outside of Washington DC). Great old used sci-fi collection, and it’s the place I used to get my comics at every Friday way back in the day. (That is was down the street from a gaming store didn’t hurt!)
July 25, 2012 — 10:00 AM
SallyAnn says:
Whatever local bookstore we can find when we’re on vacation or just traveling on a weekend! A great way to get a feel for a place (most of them have Local History sections) and the books we buy become our souvenirs of the city (Indy stores have great bookmarks as well). There are some places that are MUST stops..Tattered Cover in Denver, The Book Loft in Columbus, Powells in a whole bunch of cites, Jane Adams in Chicago, also Women and Children First (Chgo too) and omg City Lights in San Francisco. And can’t forget New Orleans..some many gold ones…Faulkner House and Maple Street and… They just seem to have as many Indy bookstores as bars! And isn’t that the way it SHOULD be?
July 25, 2012 — 10:11 AM
Patrick Regan says:
Brookline Booksmith, over on Harvard Ave. The Trident is indeed a great bookstore, but getting to Newbury street is kind of a pain in the ass for the part of Boston I live in. Fortunately the Booksmith is five kinds of fantastic, hosting lots of big name writery types, and partnering with the non-profit movie theater across the street (Yeah, I know. Indie mecca) to have them sometimes hold talks. I got to have William “I Invented Cyberpunk” Gibson sign my book there. It was awesome.
It really is about experience. I think a primary reason some bookstores (and comic stores, for that matter) are going under are trying to compete with Amazon on Amazon’s own terms. This is silly. First off, never compete with the enemy on their own terms. Secondly, Amazon will crush you in that department. You achieve total victory by competing where Amazon cannot fight.
Currently, I am unable to go to Amazon and receive a personal recommendation from the cute bookseller after we bond over our love of Dracula. Or go attend a talk given by Alton Brown. Or have my book signed by William Freaking Gibson (I’m going to make this point more than once because it was awesome).
July 25, 2012 — 10:19 AM
Nicki Hill says:
@Alex Beecroft – I just came across and finished reading “False Colors” a few weeks ago (thanks to my local library), and enjoyed it. I’ll certainly be looking for more of your books – hope one more fan leads you a little closer to your goal. 🙂
I live in SE Michigan at present, but grew up just outside of Flint, and there’s a great indie bookstore there called Jellybean’s (actually, three of them within the greater Flint area). The one I frequented is a maze of shelves and rooms that you have to step down or up into, and they sell used music and movies as well as books. As a kid, I always appreciated that I could bring in books for trade, since it meant I didn’t have to save up my allowance to get “new” books. However, probably the best city in MIchigan to go to for indie bookstores (indie anything, really) would be Ann Arbor, but I can’t report on any of them yet – it’s on my to-do list to get downtown and check them out.
July 25, 2012 — 10:47 AM
B.L. Holliday says:
I have to give a shout out for my local indie store, Hub City Bookshop. It has great people and a nice selection, with a “pocket park” right next door which I think would be awesome for a reading. But I also have to give a nod to the one place in Asheville NC I have to go every time I visit: Malaprop’s.
July 25, 2012 — 11:09 AM
Lauren says:
If I go on vacation, whoever’s with me can pretty much write off an afternoon to me getting lost in a bookstore. Likewise if someone comes and visits. If we’re sightseeing, the tour’s going to include a bookstore.
Local favorites:
Porter Square Books, Cambridge, MA — excellent selection, enthusiastic staff, all kinds of author events.
Pandemonium, Cambridge, MA — sf/f bookstore, new and used, plus magazines and games.
Patrick mentioned Brookline Booksmith upthread. Seconded!
Every year, our nerd family reunion happens in Seattle. Imagine a dozen voracious readers piling books into one another’s arms for an hour or so. I’ve learned to leave room in the suitcase for all the books I’ll be lugging home. Favorite stores there:
Seattle University Bookstore
Elliott Bay Book Company
@officergleason enables my book addiction, so a visit to Chicago means a visit to 57th Street Books and their sister store, the Seminary Co-op.
For those of you saying you don’t have an independent bookstore nearby, that’s okay! You can always order through indiebound — pick an indie you admire from afar, and they’ll happily send books your way. Your “local” favorite might be on the other side of the country, but that’s why living in the future is so keen.
July 25, 2012 — 12:06 PM
Sharon says:
Third Place Books in the Seattle area! They sell new books and buy/sell used books. There are two: One serves as a community gathering place for a small neighborhood north of town – has a commons area with food, free wi-fi, and free events. The other has live music as well, plus a pub with beer on tap! Very knowledgeable and helpful employees, and they host lots of author events.
July 25, 2012 — 12:10 PM
Lise Charles (aka Arizela) says:
My favorite indy place that sells books isn’t exactly a book store. My husband and I took a road trip for our 10th anniversary and stumbled quite unexpectedly across the town of Aladdin, Wyoming. The sign at the entrance to ‘town’ proudly proclaimed a population of 15. It had an ancient gas station and a rambling two-story house that looked to have been built in the 1910’s labeled “General Store” above the door.
They had an eclectic collection of antiques and old junk, a few modern necessities, and a big round table in the main room piled with books. Not just any books though. I’m sure I lit up like a kid at Christmas, browsing the titles. I somehow managed to limit myself to just one, since we were on a pretty tight budget for the trip, and my hubby indulgently bought it for me as an anniversary gift. That book? “Upstairs Girls: Prostitution in the American West.”
As for hubbies who buy their wives books on prostitution for special occasions, all I can say is it’s lovely to have a spouse who understands the mind of a writer. 🙂
July 25, 2012 — 12:29 PM
Sparky says:
Hailing from Salt Lake City we have two bookstores I feel the need to mention.
The first is Ken Sanders Rare Books. It sits downtown in an old building, growling at those who would see it gentrified and updated, and almost daring you to come inside. It seems for all the world like the kind of place one would find some ancient dark text just shelved next to a beat up paperback bestseller. One inside the front room is always queerly abandoned, but books for sorting fill every spare inch of the space and a glass case runs along one side. But then you pass through into the shop proper.
It’s like something from another time. Ancient shelves creak under the weight of the things they carry. Narrow aisles smash mad philosophy next to religious doctrine. Leatherbound classics, just a bit faded rest serenely against one wall. And if you dare venture back further you will find the curious section of science fiction and fantasy. It’s a small section but it’s crammed with texts. Newer paperbacks jostle for space with yellowed pulp reprints, books piled atop one another in a wild celebration of the usual geek sorting system. And they have the strangest things. I found some of the rarer Howard titles there one, and I even saw a copy of a very old printing of Tarnsmen of Gor. (not that that one is a good book necessarily, but they are surprisingly hard to find.) And they have pretty much everything ever written by Burroughs in thin paperbacks with Franzetta style covers.
Right so that’s the one, the other is the moderately more reputable Sam Weller’s. They moved recently so I haven’t been to their new location but I am sure it captures at least some of the strange magic of their old one. Though I will miss the twisting cavern that was their old place, full of strange dead ends and blind corners as you wandered from the history room into languages, new books and old all crowding each other on the shelves with no regard to age. And the rare book room. I mentioned that in Ken Sanders you are likely to find a random book of dark spells on the shelves. That would never happen at Sam Weller’s. Instead you are more likely to find it in the rare book room, protected by a glass case right next to the 19th century school primer. I actually have a very curious book retrieved from that room, an RPG that barely exists.
And of the two Sam Weller’s is the one that actually hosts events. Recently they specially wrapped nearly nine hundred books and just left them around the city to be read by anyone that finds them. They also host local authors (or bigger names if they can get them) and semiregularly have other events on tap, like drinks and discussions of rare books. If walking into Ken Sanders is like walking into a madman’s personal library, Sam Weller’s is like coming into a welcoming mansion.
We also have a kick ass local comic shop called Night Flight comics, but that’s a discussion for another time.
July 25, 2012 — 12:46 PM
Iain Stevens-Guille says:
I admit since moving to Montreal I haven’t found a local to poke around in the way I used to. There are plenty of small bookshops, but many of them stock books only in French, so I don’t look as much as I ought to.
Back in Edmonton Alberta there was Wee Book Inn, which had a handful of spots and was the defacto college job for my friends. Best thing? Every Wee Book stocked elderly cats who would step across whatever you were reading in catlike entitlement.
July 25, 2012 — 1:14 PM
Eric Duncan says:
I am going to say the Boulder Book Store in Boulder CO. Three stories tall an incredible playspace in the childrens book section. Always hosting great an booksd varied authors. Used and new books for sale. Great atmosphere and awesome selection.
July 25, 2012 — 2:07 PM
Meg Gardiner says:
Chaucer’s Books, Santa Barbara, California. Shelves to the ceiling – there’s no place I’d rather be. Except perhaps when the Big One strikes and the earth begins to shake.
July 25, 2012 — 2:14 PM
Alice K. says:
I moved away from Asheville, NC a couple of years ago. What I miss most about Asheville is the vivid and walkable downtown. Most Saturdays, I could park behind the library and stroll the streets, listening to buskers and wandering into shops where I would buy some little thing or another, and stop by one of the many cafés and restaurants.
But what I think about most when I think about Asheville is Malaprop’s. It’s an independent bookstore, just a few doors down from the library. It has a café that brews coffee strong enough to put hair on your chest, and offers computer access for a short fee, as well as free wifi. The shelves are at odd angles to one another, and signs proclaim that children left alone will be given espresso and a puppy. The children’s section is in the back, and has plenty of smaller chairs for little ones to hunker down in. There are seats for adults sprinkled throughout, and it isn’t difficult to find a quiet corner to read a few chapters of a book you’re thinking about picking up.
It was the book club at Malaprop’s that introduced me to several modern science fiction writers. I read Ekaterina Sedia, Charles Stross, Brandon Sanderson, and Jasper Fforde thanks to that book club, and I discovered many others that I’d been missing out on. Malaprop’s is where I met Charles de Lint, who was doing a signing and reading with Charles Vess, and where I bought most of my books for the few short years I lived in Asheville.
Upstate NY has a lot of independent bookstores, but none of them match up to Malaprop’s and its well-stocked speculative fiction section, populated by a reader of SFF. There’s a store that specializes in SFF in this region, but, the last time I was there, they kicked out my friend because she has a guide dog, so I’m reluctant to give them my money. Bookstore cats lend character to a place, and all, but when they’re preventing a blind customer from shopping there, priorities are skewed.
July 25, 2012 — 3:14 PM
Jeb Boyt says:
BookPeople in Austin. Long-time independent bookstore that was originally named Grok. So, it’s always had a good SciFi connection. These days, it is the go to place for author signings and other book events. It’s got a great newsstand (talk about endangered entities) right next to the cafe and the SciFi section. So, it’s often hard for me to get much further into the store than that.
July 25, 2012 — 3:36 PM
LJCohen says:
I’m fortunate enough to be near three indie bookstores. My favorite, and neighborhood bookseller is Newtonville Books, which, just to make things confusing, just moved to Newton Centre. 🙂 http://www.newtonvillebooks.com/
They are wonderful to the community and to authors.
Newton Mobile Book Fair is also nearby, a large store that just got sold from the family that operated it for decades and is still an indie store! Yay! http://www.nebookfair.com/
Then a little further afield in Cambridge is Pandemonium books and games, a specialty SF&F bookstore. http://www.pandemoniumbooks.com/
So happy to live in a place that values reading and the community of readers.
July 25, 2012 — 5:37 PM
terribleminds says:
I’d like to also echo love for Mysterious Galaxy. The BLACKBIRDS event at Redondo Beach was the cat’s pajamas. Or the bee’s balls or whatever the kids are saying these days.
— c.
July 25, 2012 — 6:20 PM
Peter M Ball says:
Pulp Fiction and Avid Reader in Brisbane, Australia.
Pulp Fiction is a SF, Crime, and Fantasy specialist store that manages to pack an extraordinary range of books into one of the smallest shop-fronts I’ve ever seen (I’ve taken New York dwelling American friends there when they were in town, and even they’ve been slightly bewildered by the range of titles available). They have a small team of passionate staff who, once they get to know you as a regular, can be slightly dangerous with their innocent questions like “have you ever read , I think you’d enjoy it?”
Avid Reader is a more general bookstore, but it holds a *lot* of author events, serves some mighty-fine coffee, and seems to employ at least two-thirds of the up-and-coming writers in Brisbane on their staff. Pretty much my go-to store when I want to browse for non-fiction books.
July 25, 2012 — 7:17 PM
Thomas Barnes says:
Amherst Books in Amherst MA–awesome friendly staff and tons of events and a great used selection.
Grey Matter Books in Hadley is supposed to be the coolest ever–have yet to check it out. But there’s a cafe and rec
July 25, 2012 — 7:28 PM
Lillian Cohen-Moore says:
Borderlands, in San Francisco, California. It’s one of my favorites. When my other half was living in Oakland, Borderlands is one of the places I’d beg to visit whenever I came to Oakland.
July 25, 2012 — 7:34 PM
ElizaB says:
Mac’s Backs in Cleveland, Ohio. They do used and new with a great trade-in program. When I was a wee little reader who had blown through all the genre stuff in the local library before I really understood what “science fiction” meant, they further educated me with whole fuckloads of vintage SF at low low prices.
I still have $300 in trade-in credit there and make a stop every time I visit the family.
July 25, 2012 — 7:46 PM
Aline says:
Derby Square Book Store in Salem, MA – leaning stacks of books in every genre. I’m not sure it’s not about dying. http://grongar.wordpress.com/tag/derby-square-bookstore/
July 25, 2012 — 7:56 PM
ElizaB says:
Oh jesus, and I almost forgot Fireside Bookshop, which is actually IN my hometown of Chagrin Falls, Ohio (Cleveland suburb). I was too broke to spend much there when I was a kid (they only sold new books) but they’ve since added good-quality used books to their shelves. Trivia of note: Bill Watterson used to live down the road, so they were the only store in the world that regularly carried autographed Calvin & Hobbes collections. I was never quick enough to get my hands on one. He’s since moved and I don’t think he visits anymore. 🙁
I cosign Mysterious Galaxy, both the original San Diego and new Redondo Beach locations, as I have been to readings at both and they are super great.
July 25, 2012 — 7:56 PM
Ute Orgassa says:
Changing Hands in Tempe, AZ is a great local bookstore. They have new and used books galore, a YA section that doesn’t only contain vampires, nifty gifts and games, a thriving community that backs them, a whole host of interesting author visits and book signings each month, a very knowledgable staff, and an easy to use website. To sum it up, this place always brings a smile to my face.
July 25, 2012 — 8:15 PM
Brandi says:
First is one 3 hours from my home, Myopic Books in Chicago. Three floors of awesome. I go everytime I’m in Chicago, I even plan ahead so I have time to shop around.
Second, and much closer, is Hydes Brothers Books in Fort Wayne, IN. They have a huge selection, the friendliest staff, they’ll put in orders for you if they don’t have it, a store cat, and a huge artistic representation of Fort Wayne painted on the side of the building.
July 25, 2012 — 8:29 PM
Tom M says:
From anywhere in Colorado or the mountain west it’s worth a trip to the Tattered Cover in Denver. It’s huge, they have good coffee and the people know their way around any genre I’ve asked about. More locally to me, I like Firehouse Books in Fort Collins. It’s in an old fire house.
July 25, 2012 — 8:37 PM
Mike (@NewGuyMike) says:
The Book Barn in Niantic CT
Its a used book store… in a barn. Its consistantly voted one of the best in Connecticut. Its actually spread out to three stores and has everything. Antiques, newish, loads of out of print paperbacks. All the mass market books are a buck so its fun to take a chance on something you might not otherwise. I own Zelazny’s entire catalogue thanks to that place. Oldest paperback I’ve found there was from 58.
I don’t live in CT anymore but I’ll make the trip as often as I can.
July 25, 2012 — 8:37 PM
yrstrulyREL says:
I love all of these indies! Including Kramerbooks & Afterwords, because of their nice wine selection, and addictive crab omelettes. And great taste in books. I might have to move there.
July 25, 2012 — 9:47 PM
Beth L. says:
It’s been said… but Tattered Cover in Denver. I love the multiple levels of the store, and the way you stumble into little booknooks to browse at your leisure.
July 25, 2012 — 10:25 PM
Robin Piggott says:
Here in the Land of Leprechauns, Banshees and other mythical creatures there is still to be found the odd Indie bookstore despite recession , financial meltdown and more rain than you can cope with. My favourite store, indeed, the only one in Limerick, is O’Mahoneys situated in O’Connell St.. It’s been around since 1902 which indicates it must be doing something right..Thankfully the annual September School book fest is a thing of the past for me so it’s no longer a stressful visit . Great store with helpful and friendly staff.
July 26, 2012 — 4:02 AM