Spotlight on Bookstores: *Rainy Day Books* in Fairway, Kansas

                                        Today’s Spotlight on Bookstores is written by Shana at Literarily.  A stay-at-home mom of three, Shana is addicted to books, running and chocolate.  She moved back to her small Midwestern hometown four years ago and those addictions have saved her sanity on many an occasion.  Shana has a degree in accounting and spent several years working in finance before jumping off the corporate ladder to be home with her children.  She is currently deciding what she wants to be when she grows up, because she would rather pick lint off the carpet than work in corporate finance again.  In the meantime, she blogs about her reading adventures at Literarily and writes occasional book reviews for her local newspaper.  You can also find Shana talking about books at LibraryThing, Shelfari and Goodreads.  Her favorite genre is literary fiction, with historical fiction running a close second but she enjoys reading a variety of books across all genres.
 

The best bookstore in the Kansas City metropolitan area sits nestled in the quaint little strip mall in Fairway, KS, several blocks west of the fabled Country Club Plaza.  Rainy Day Books is a nationally-recognized independent bookseller founded by Vivien L. Jennings, who currently serves as its president and along with her partner Roger Doeren is very active in the operation of the bookstore, as well as local civic and charitable events.

Rainy Day Books is just small enough to feel cozy and inviting, yet has an impressive and comprehensive selection of books.  I always love to browse the shelves of staff picks.  You get the distinct sense that everyone who works at Rainy Day Books knows and loves books.  (Staff reading recommendations can also be found on the store’s website HERE.)

Rainy Day is known throughout the city and surrounding area for the many community author events they sponsor.  According to the Rainy Day Books website, these events average 300 plus a year.  Past author events include major authors such as Isabel Allende, Bill Bryson, Elizabeth Berg, Geraldine Brooks, Janet Evanovich, Philippa Gregory, James Patterson, Ann Rice, and Nora Roberts.  The complete, very impressive list is HERE.

Thanks to Rainy Day Books, my book club saw Jodi Picoult when she was on tour for Nineteen Minutes.  Last summer, my friend Sheila and I saw Laura and Jenna Bush read from their newly released (and absolutely adorable) children’s book Read All About It!. The picture below was taken just before we entered the tightly secured event.

Vivien and Roger have a unique philosophy about books and bookselling that is obvious from the moment you walk into their store: 

“Bigger isn’t better.  Better is better.  We are interested not so much in what we have done, but more in what we still want to do.  It is thrilling to watch people leave our events with the knowledge that authors and their books can expand their awareness, improve their health, make them laugh, touch their hearts, and encourage them to achieve a better life in a better world.  This is truly the spirit of the ‘Legacy of Literacy’ that we hope to contribute to the community.”