Indie April -Bookstores to Discover
Independent Bookstore Day is celebrated on April 27th this year. The idea is to remind readers and nonreaders alike that there is more than just free shipping and one click shopping but a variety of shops providing a community, & fellowship to readers, writers, and creatives. Independent Bookstore Day begun in 2015 by Samantha Schoech, a writer, copywriter and editor and the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association. As an author, book reviewer, book club member and reader I’d like to offer up some of my favorite independent bookstores. In this list you’ll find bohemian communities, a book that speak-easy, and quaint shops that lure you into their depths. So, get lost, breathe in the smell of a new book, and run your fingers along the spines of ancient tomes.
The stores mentioned below are from a variety of places, some are my local shops, and some are bookstores I’ve visited while traveling. One person’s vacation bookstore is another person’s local bookstore so come with me and let’s visit a few book utopias.
Shelf Life
https://www.shelflifebookstore.com/
Shelf Life located in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio is located just off the highway past a wine shop (that’s a plus in my book shopping life) and down a set of stairs. The walls of the shop are set stone and brick, but they are blocked mostly by shelves and shelves of ever rotating affordable books. The owner’s circulation varies due to demand, and they offer a variety of books from children's books and adult literature. They also focus on anti-censorship, local independent authors, and literary expansion and discovery. The cozy bookshop is always busy with a guest searching the shelves or chatting with the owner about books and local community happenings. Shelf-Life books in engaged with supporting the local library, a group of local authorities puts on a yearly reading challenge and has a calendar where one can keep track of the multiple events that occur in and around the store. This gem of a store can be hard to find, some check out their website for directions on how to find this little bookstore speak easy.
Silverstone’s Books
https://silverstonesbooks.com/
Ever the advocate as an online books store for independent science fiction and fantasy authors Silverstone’s Book Store opened its brick-and-mortar doors in 2022 to much acclaim. The town of Plattsmouth, Nebraska is blessed with its own independent bookstore, Silverstone’s Books which brings a mixture of well-known traditional science fiction and fantasy names, along with a curated collection of independent authors accompanied by book signings and the occasional special edition book.
The Bookstore is actively online both in selling books, but also engaging, commenting about the publishing world, the store and advocating book reviewers, influencers and independent authors.
The shop provides teas, candles, and small art prints along with a variety of science fiction books and fantasy books. Readers come to pick up the newest traditionally published book and leave with a new favorite independent author’s book in their bag as well.
Last Exit Books
https://www.instagram.com/lastexitbooks/
Poetry, live music, the smell of fresh brewed coffee along with a knowledgeable debate can be at Last Exit Books and Coffee House in downtown Kent, Ohio. The bookshop front features a coffee dispensary, with a variety of seating options and tables for work, study and reading and the back portion of the store provides an extensive collection of secondhand books and vinyl records. The definition of a library is owning one thousand books, and in this library, you can buy those books.
There are a multitude of subjects to choose from including comic books, history, deep literature references, a variety of mystery, romance and paranormal darkness and horror and the shelves of science fiction and fantasy always have something you’re looking for. Last Exit books smell of history, and presents open an open forum for poetry reads, author discussions, spoken word and performance. Come early or check them out later, you’ll leave juggling a stack of books and cup of superior coffee.
City Lights
https://citylights.com/bookstore/
I discovered the idea of City Lights Bookstore while at university through reading Thompson, Wolfe, Kerouac, and Ginsberg. I was able to make my way to the store when I visited the San Francisco area recently and was surprised and awed by its walls and shelves. City Lights is known as the nation's first all-paperback bookstore, but relax, fair reader, they offer hardbacks now as well. The storefront is known for its engaging banner series, representing the store's culture and politics and provoking thoughtful civic engagement.
There are three floors of books offering the engaging reader classics and literary finds along with the store's only line of books they put out as publishers.
City Lights was founded in 1953 by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin, who created a place for readers, artists, and activists. The staff is engaging and can help you find the book you are looking for and the book you didn't know you needed to read. I was impressed by the size of the store and amount of choices available as I walked the hollowed shelves. It's worth a trip if you hit San Francisco; if not, they also have an online store.
How do you support your local bookstore. Easy, shop at your local bookstore! There is another way, if you want to support an independent bookstore, you can log onto bookshop.org, log in, pick your favorite book store and bookshop.org will donate profits directly to that bookstore.
https://bookshop.org/
The stores mentioned below are from a variety of places, some are my local shops, and some are bookstores I’ve visited while traveling. One person’s vacation bookstore is another person’s local bookstore so come with me and let’s visit a few book utopias.
Shelf Life
https://www.shelflifebookstore.com/
Shelf Life located in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio is located just off the highway past a wine shop (that’s a plus in my book shopping life) and down a set of stairs. The walls of the shop are set stone and brick, but they are blocked mostly by shelves and shelves of ever rotating affordable books. The owner’s circulation varies due to demand, and they offer a variety of books from children's books and adult literature. They also focus on anti-censorship, local independent authors, and literary expansion and discovery. The cozy bookshop is always busy with a guest searching the shelves or chatting with the owner about books and local community happenings. Shelf-Life books in engaged with supporting the local library, a group of local authorities puts on a yearly reading challenge and has a calendar where one can keep track of the multiple events that occur in and around the store. This gem of a store can be hard to find, some check out their website for directions on how to find this little bookstore speak easy.
Silverstone’s Books
https://silverstonesbooks.com/
Ever the advocate as an online books store for independent science fiction and fantasy authors Silverstone’s Book Store opened its brick-and-mortar doors in 2022 to much acclaim. The town of Plattsmouth, Nebraska is blessed with its own independent bookstore, Silverstone’s Books which brings a mixture of well-known traditional science fiction and fantasy names, along with a curated collection of independent authors accompanied by book signings and the occasional special edition book.
The Bookstore is actively online both in selling books, but also engaging, commenting about the publishing world, the store and advocating book reviewers, influencers and independent authors.
The shop provides teas, candles, and small art prints along with a variety of science fiction books and fantasy books. Readers come to pick up the newest traditionally published book and leave with a new favorite independent author’s book in their bag as well.
Last Exit Books
https://www.instagram.com/lastexitbooks/
Poetry, live music, the smell of fresh brewed coffee along with a knowledgeable debate can be at Last Exit Books and Coffee House in downtown Kent, Ohio. The bookshop front features a coffee dispensary, with a variety of seating options and tables for work, study and reading and the back portion of the store provides an extensive collection of secondhand books and vinyl records. The definition of a library is owning one thousand books, and in this library, you can buy those books.
There are a multitude of subjects to choose from including comic books, history, deep literature references, a variety of mystery, romance and paranormal darkness and horror and the shelves of science fiction and fantasy always have something you’re looking for. Last Exit books smell of history, and presents open an open forum for poetry reads, author discussions, spoken word and performance. Come early or check them out later, you’ll leave juggling a stack of books and cup of superior coffee.
City Lights
https://citylights.com/bookstore/
I discovered the idea of City Lights Bookstore while at university through reading Thompson, Wolfe, Kerouac, and Ginsberg. I was able to make my way to the store when I visited the San Francisco area recently and was surprised and awed by its walls and shelves. City Lights is known as the nation's first all-paperback bookstore, but relax, fair reader, they offer hardbacks now as well. The storefront is known for its engaging banner series, representing the store's culture and politics and provoking thoughtful civic engagement.
There are three floors of books offering the engaging reader classics and literary finds along with the store's only line of books they put out as publishers.
City Lights was founded in 1953 by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin, who created a place for readers, artists, and activists. The staff is engaging and can help you find the book you are looking for and the book you didn't know you needed to read. I was impressed by the size of the store and amount of choices available as I walked the hollowed shelves. It's worth a trip if you hit San Francisco; if not, they also have an online store.
How do you support your local bookstore. Easy, shop at your local bookstore! There is another way, if you want to support an independent bookstore, you can log onto bookshop.org, log in, pick your favorite book store and bookshop.org will donate profits directly to that bookstore.
https://bookshop.org/
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