Today’s Spotlight on Bookstores is written by Deborah Noyes, the author of Captivity, a historical novel combining the true story of the Fox sisters who started the American Spiritual movement in the mid-1800s with a completely fictional thread about its impact on a certain woman with a tragic past. A previous novel, Angel and Apostle, was also published by Unbridled Books. Not only does Deb write novels for adults, she has written books for children, is an editor, and a photographer whose work has appeared in many publications and exhibitions.
In this essay, Deb speaks of her fondness for Longfellow Books in Portland, Maine, and Harvard Bookstore and Porter Square Books (both in Cambridge, Mass.). Porter Square Books is having a special author event on June 15, 2010 – the official launch party for Captivity!
I haven’t yet visited this near-to-me bookstore, and I’m hoping I can make it in; by the way she describes the children’s department and café area, my brood will be entertained as well. Here’s Deb:
Choosing a favorite bookstore is like choosing a favorite book. That is, impossible, at least for me. So I have to call out at least a couple of alternates.
One is Longfellow Books in Portland, ME. This is an intimate, quirky “fiercely independent community bookstore” where the owners and staff know their stuff and their customers and hand sell like crazy.
The other is Harvard Bookstore in Cambridge, MA. Another post has them covered so I won’t linger except to say they’re a mainstay and terrific.
The store I most often haunt today seemed like a suspect idea when it first arrived in the neighborhood in early 2004 or so.
Porter Square Books is the centerpiece of a strip mall — with a Shaw’s supermarket on one end and a Dunkin’ Donuts on the other. I had my doubts that an indie-minded store could take root in such soil, but PSB, owned and run by a handful of bookish friends with long experience in the industry, transcended the generic surroundings immediately, making the most of a high-traffic location steps from the Red Line T and Tufts University.
Today it’s a destination store offering some of the best author and book events in the area. There’s something going on almost every evening — across a broad range of genres and subject matter — and the events are energetically promoted.
On any given afternoon, you’ll find the counter in the wide front windows lined with laptop coffee drinkers (the store’s Café Zing is a destination all its own; my daughter and I often stop in just for the Vietnamese spring rolls).
PSB stocks a great selection of speculative fare, short story collections, audio, graphic novels, and off-the-beaten track offerings, as well as a wide range of journals and lit mags, and the staff picks are always interesting. (One thing I miss — at least I couldn’t find it the last time I was in — is the “Best of Both Worlds” section, where young adult and adult books of interest to teens [“crossover”] were shelved together. )
For all its intellectual trappings, the store is kid friendly, too, with a large nook in the rear of the store where they can sit, sprawl, read, or play with wooden toys while their adults roam the aisles. And you can always, quickly, zip in and find the perfect card or gift.
This sounds like an excellent store, and the pictures are great too. It looks like they really stock a lot of stuff and that they have a really nice and cozy atmosphere. I would love the chance to find something like this in my area!! Great post!!
All of these posts make me wish I had a great indie closer to me.
What a nice bookstore! The cafe sounds great as well. I love this feature so much, Dawn and even though we have a great indie bookstore in downtown Austin, it’s in downtown. I just don’t go that far into town much and they don’t seem to have too many authors that I’m interested in. I’m planning on reading CAPTIVITY soon. Love that cover.
Sounds like it is in the perfect location – between a grocery store and a place to get coffee!
We visited a tiny indie in Kennebunkport each summer while on vacation. One year I waited in line with my girls at midnight for the latest Harry Potter book. There were several nationalities represented in the line that night which made for a lot of good conversation while we waited – fun memories!
I miss the section she talks about — “Best of Both Worlds” section, where young adult and adult books of interest to teens [“crossover”] were shelved together — I wish there were other bookstores that do that!
Great guest post!
I sure wish someone opened an indie around here.
I’m thinking the strip mall idea is a good one, particularly if the strip mall is sitting in a primarily residential area. It’s handy, quicker to in and out of if you’re looking for a gift, and likely to have very loyal fans once it finds it’s place in the neighborhood.
Just wanted to add that the “best of both worlds” section I mention in the post still exists at PSB; it’s just been moved from the adult section to the teen section, near the checkout desk. So… false alarm!
Thanks to all for these good comments, and to you, Dawn, for the chance to crow about some of my favorite independent bookstores.
All these stores look so great. My have-to-see-bookstore list is becoming very long. Once I get to the northeast, all I’ll be doing is visiting bookstores. But that’s not a bad thing.
zibilee – the pictures Deb included are great – we really get a good sense of the busyness of Porter Square
Bermudaonion – and I wish I had a series like those author luncheons you attend. We both have to know that the “grass is green enough” where we are
Kay – Yes, the cover of CAPTIVITY is haunting, isn’t it!? I’m always pulled in by the cover art on Unbridled Books
Mary – oh, that Kennebunk trip must have been fun! I imagine that your girls have strong memories of the Harry Potter release party, too
Serena – see Deb’s note (below in Comments). The section is still there, it’s been moved …
Beth – Shall I suggest it to occupy your spare time, ha ha! I’m always surprised that there isn’t an indie near you, esp with all the academics in the area
Lisa – Foot traffic is probably good there, too. As you say, people stopping in for a coffe at one end of the mall might wander in …
Deb – thanks for the update, and THANKS so much for this wonderful post. Porter Square Books is only about 15 miles from me, but I’ve never visited the store. When I finally do make it in, I’ll tell them you sent me!
Margot – how many of us can you fit in that RV? We’ll have a bloggers bookstore tour!
[...] Spotlight on Bookstores: *Porter Square Books* in Cambridge, MA … [...]
Interesting! I don’t usually think of indie bookstores in a strip mall setting.