The purpose of Independent Bookstore Day isn't just to remind people that Jeff Bezos is evil to support their local businesses, it also shows just how many stores are still out there! I confess I was surprised when I looked at the list of shops participating just in the greater Seattle area. So often we hear about a bookstore closing; if you'd asked me to guess how many remained, I would have estimated around five. Happily, I would have been waaaaay off--a discovery that inspires me to explore in the name of retail & literary expansion!
Yesterday I ventured out to Edmonds to visit two bookstores with which I was previously unacquainted. The town is located a couple cities north of Seattle, easily accessible by freeway. Most Seattlites discover it when they need to take a ferry across Puget Sound into Kingston. Then when they realize downtown is full of cute shops & one of the awesomest seasonal farmer's markets, they come back.
 |
| If its sounds charming, that's because it is. |
So my first stop was the Edmonds Bookshop, nestled right downtown. Small, tidy, & consistently reminding people to please use the complimentary hand sanitizer before browsing, it had that "we know how to crowd our shelves without being disorganized" feel. I found one book on my list, & one book that I used to own, purged in a move, & then regretted no longer owning. Double success.
 |
| "Persuasion" has long been on my want-to-read list, as one of Jane Austen's lesser-known works. And "The Checklist Manifest" is a great book for anyone wanting to cut down on mistakes in their professional life &/or business. |
Next, I left downtown for the tiny neighborhood of Perrinville. In a quirky little nest of shops I found the Neverending Bookshop--but first I found a bakery called Mel & Mia's, where I fueled up on tea & chocolate pecan pastry.* THEN into the bookstore! As anticipated from the name, it focuses on fiction with an emphasis on the speculative genres. The layout was airy, but felt dense with treasures. My friend & I were the only visitors when we first arrived, so I chatted with the owner for quite a spell. Her name is Annie & I do believe we are kindred spirits. So rather than dig out my list of potential purchases, I described by current writing project & asked her to recommend a comp book.
"Cemetery Boys" is a YA novel, & mine is definitely a book for adults, but from what Annie told me they definitely share core themes so I'm excited to read this! I also bought a bunch of home-made stickers--here's one of them.
I could have stayed longer, but the shop was soon to close & newcomers waited outside (Annie is wisely limiting the number of shoppers as COVID persists), so I left to allow other people the pleasure of visiting. That was my Sunday, & it was a day well-spent. I've already got my next outing planned for the 10-10-10 Bookstore Challenge, & I'm already looking forward to going back to Neverending Bookshop! So I'd say Independent Bookstore Day is definitely serving its purpose.
*They have a full breakfast & lunch menu, & also serve afternoon tea. Guess where I'm taking my Mum for Mother's Day?