Heading home from work last night, I happened to turn my head while passing Dudley’s bookstore. The store’s lights were off. If I hadn’t glanced, I wouldn’t have seen the candles lighting up the darkened room and the Argentinean Tango Dance group whirling around in pairs, well after 9 p.m.
It was a sight of unusual beauty en route to home, but more than that, it is one small sign of the goodwill that local bookstores promote in our community. Garden readings (Between the Covers), music, entertainment, meeting space, tango…Rick Steber’s book release party (Camalli).How do they all do it without stepping on each other’s toes and survive? With community support.
What if there were CSB’s? Community Supported Bookstores, where you buy a share for a year and are provided with a steady, healthy helping, and variety, of books?
To my friend who blithely stated, “I haven’t been to a bookstore in over five years; I just go to Amazon,” I don’t think you know what you are missing.
– Jamie Houghton
This article appears in May 13-19, 2010.
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