Independent Bookstore Day marches on here in the Seattle area! I've been spreading out the joy across my week. On Monday evening, I went with a friend & fellow bibliophile to visit a couple eastside gems. First, we hit up the BookTree in Kirkland--a lovely, cozy, jumbled shop run by a retired couple & their charming canine companion. I asked for some ghost stories as comps for my own project, & Christopher (one of the owners) enthusiastically let me to the horror section to perused with me, offering a great scope of knowledge. He also read us one of his own poems, a fabulous treat! In the end, I took home two of his suggestions.
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| Usually I save my spooky stories for October, but this year I'll be starting early! |
Next we moseyed over to
Brick & Mortar bookstore in Redmond. This has been one of my staples throughout the pandemic, as they've been more than happy to order anything they didn't carry in the store. The staff are knowledgable, nerdy, & the shop has the feel of a sprightly library (if you can imagine such a thing). At that point, I needed to get a little somethin'-somethin' for my spouse, so I picked up a book from his list & brought it home as a surprise.
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| If he likes it, I'll add it to my own list...which is about 70 titles long at this point. |
That brought me halfway to my goal. On Wednesday, I persuaded my fabulous critique group to meet up in person (we're all vaccinated!!!) at
Island Books in Mercer Island. For people who live on Mercer Island, this bookstore is a beloved institution. It's light on the sci-fi & fantasy, but extensive in the children's section & in their graphic novels. Hence why I picked up this great piece:
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Yes, THAT George Takei!
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For some reason, I really like getting my biographies & social equity literature in graphic novel format. I think the art pulls my brain in deeper when usually, the painful topics would make me want to retreat, so I focus & empathize on a deeper level. Anyway, once read this will sit next to "Good Talk" by Mira Jacob, "Persepolis" by Marjane Satrapi, & the "March" trilogy by the late Senator John Lewis, author Andrew Aydin & the artist Nate Powell. I love that this section of my personal library is growing.
That leaves me with four stores I need to hit if I want to make my goal! I have some ideas, but we'll see where the weekend takes me. I know I'll have fun no matter what!
