5 Things Independent Bookstores Can Give You That Amazon Can’t
Musings in honor of Independent Bookstore Day
Like many bookophiles, the quest for the quintessential bookstore is infinite. They are a destination sought in every location I visit. On National Independent Bookstore Day, I thought I’d share my two cents on this. I am not going to pretend I never buy anything on Amazon. I do. But my love and support for independent bookstores are steadfast and run deep. Why is that? And why is it so important to support them? There are many, many reasons, but here are five things independent bookstores can give you that Amazon can’t:
Indie Bookstores are vibrant centers of community.
Stepping into an independent bookshop, whether in your neighborhood, a different city, or a different country, instantly connects you to that community. It is like a warm hug that says, “Come in and learn what we’re all about.”
Recently, I visited Elliott Bay Book Company with my youngest, who lives in Seattle. The smell of the wood shelving, the creak of the pine floors, and the expansive collection on nature and environmentalism let me know immediately I was in the Pacific Northwest. Likewise, when I visited The Strand with my oldest in New York, I could not help but notice how crowded the shelves were, almost as if they were an extension of the energy of the city. It oozed the proclamation, “We are a literary mecca!” – a statement further supported by the extensive “The Strand” souvenir section near the checkout.
In my neighborhood bookshop, Green Apple Books, you know you’re in San Francisco. It is a maze (quite literally) of crooked and creaky nooks and crannies representing the multiple interests and issues important to this city. You may go down a rabbit hole on Amazon, but you will definitely not find a room dedicated to history, politics, and philosophy with a desk, or a stand with keychains proclaiming your SF zipcode.
The Events!
Besides declaring a community's identity, independent bookstores act as classrooms, inviting you to gather, learn, and experience. Obviously, author events are the bread and butter for any independent bookseller’s calendar. I have met some of my favorite authors this way, and more often than not, before they were big names. These bookstores are performing such a special service, connecting authors with their readers. As an aspiring novelist, I cannot imagine a greater thrill than meeting a reader and hearing what my book meant to them personally.
They also bring readers with similar interests together. Would The Beat Movement have been the same if poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin hadn't started City Lights in San Francisco as “a literary meeting place since 1953?” City Lights is quite literally a “Literary Landmark.” And think of all the children and youth who have been connected to other young readers in their communities because of the story times, poetry slams, and special events. I haven’t heard of any poetry slams on Amazon, have you?
Indie Bookstores offer specially curated collections and thoughtful recommendations.
Part of the joy of going into an independent bookstore is reading those little handwritten tags from the staff that tell you, the visitor, why they love this book. Yes, the cynics among you may say they do this only to sell books. True…partially. But there is a passion for that particular book that you cannot gain from an Amazon review.
The other thrill is when, as a reader, you discover a bookshop that has curated a truly unique collection. My dear friends at Joyride Books are a wonderful example of that. This woman-owned children’s bookstore in San Diego has made it their mission to bring the community books that reach every kind of child. They thoughtfully source from independent presses and major publishers to ensure that every child “feels seen and valued within the pages and spaces we offer.” Their noble mission to connect children to meaningful reading experiences places them in a league of their own.
Indie Bookstores are a lifeblood of the local economy.
Because independent bookstores are gathering places for the community, cater to local interests, and celebrate local authors and heritage, they recirculate more money into the local economy than chains or online retailers like Amazon. They also support local schools and obviously provide employment. When I was a teacher, I worked with local bookstores to carry our summer reading list in stock and on display and promoted student attendance at their events. When schools and bookstores work together, kids get the message, “reading is important - literacy is important.”
“When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does.”
~ Kathleen Kelly in You’ve Got Mail by Nora Ephron
They provide everyone with “a clean, well-lighted place” to go.
Growing up, my favorite bookstore was named “A Clean Well-Lighted Place” after the Hemingway short story. Sadly, the bookstore’s last of three locations closed in 2006. In the Hemingway story, a deaf old man sits in a Spanish cafe drinking brandy as two waiters speculate on his life. The story examines nothingness and loneliness in the world and how we handle them. (I recommend you read the story - it is short.) But, at the end of the day, aren’t we all just looking for a clean, well-lighted place to go in the world? A place to belong.
Every time I step into an independent bookstore, I feel like I am being welcomed into someone’s home. They’re all different, and the experiences are unique. I let my eyes wander over the shelves, each asking, “Did you know?” and begging my response. I pick up a book and think, “I did not know.” And so the conversation begins.
ⓒ Angie Gascho 2024. All rights reserved.