Okay, my life isn't ruined, but I am sad. The only independent used book store in my town, which is conveniently located next to the best coffee shop & cafe in town, is closing its doors August 1.
One of the few joys that this town has provided me in this last year has been my near weekly trip downtown with the baby. He knows the routine, and it always, always, makes for a good day.
We drive downtown and park the car outside of the Brickhouse Cafe. We order; Desi always gets a fruit cup. Isaiah likes smoothies when he comes. I get coffee. We sit, we enjoy.
We leave the Brickhouse and walk four doors down to The Grenada Bookstore, where Mr. Barker's smiling face is always happy to see us. Desi goes straight to the children's section and pulls every sesame street book off of the shelf and sits and looks at them for ages. Isaiah knows where to find the science fiction, the military history, and the $1.00 table which I will never say no to. It is a small space, so I can walk around and look away and it is okay. My baby is safe, happy, and surrounded by books. I am too.
What does Tolstoy have to do with this? It has taken me so damn long to read War and Peace that I haven't bought any books in months! The growing pile next to my bed was too high. I had to stop, and now...Bye Bye Mr. Barker. Surely I alone couldn't have kept him open, but it could have helped.
My advice, get thee to an independent bookstore pronto! They are indeed a dying breed.
1 comment:
I remember when our independent book store closed after Border's came to town. It was a sad sad day, because it was an amazing space that we used for concerts, meetings, and it was just a good place to be.
I also can't pass up a used bookstore. It is heaven on earth to me. I have a giant pile of books that is always growing. Who can pass up a book for a quarter?
Post a Comment