Spotlight on Bookstores

Spotlight on Bookstores!

A weekly series of guest posts spotlighting various bookstores and sharing anecdotes about what makes them special.  Guest posters (bloggers, authors, and readers of all types!) share a personal essay that highlights a bookstore that is “special” in some way.  We’re careful not to say “favorite” as many of us frequent several stores.  They read more like anecdotes than advertisements, and might note a bookseller who is always spot-on with recommendations, an interesting event that happened there, or to-die-for scones in the coffee bar.

This list is alphabetical by state, then by town within state (scroll down for international listings); please visit these stores and share your thoughts in the Comments.  Click the store name to read the guest post, or the blog name to visit the submitter’s website.

Contact me if you’d like to write a Spotlight post!

• Alabama
• The Gnu’s Room in Auburn, by author Kirk Curnutt
• Capitol Book and News in Montgomery, by author Kirk Curnutt
• Tammy’s Book Basket in Wetumpka, by author Kirk Curnutt

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• Arizona
• Singing Wind Bookshop in Benson, by Cathy of Kittling Books
• The Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, by Kay of My Random Acts of Reading

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• California
• R. Franklin Pyke Bookseller in Avalon by Lisa at Books on the Brain
• Book Passage in Corte Madera by Trish at Hey Lady, Whatcha Readin’?
• Book Warehouse in Lake Elsinore by Sumana at I Read
• Linden Tree Children’s Recordings and Books in Los Altos by Harriet Scott Chessman , author of Someone Not Really Her Mother
• Los Osos Book Exchange in Los Osos by Amy at The Black Sheep Dances
• Gallery Bookshop and Bookwinkle’s Children’s Books in Mendocino by Kim at Bookstore People
• Kepler’s Books in Menlo Park by Meg Waite Clayton, author of The Wednesday Sisters
• Kepler’s Books in Menlo Park by Linda Gray Sexton, author of Half in Love
• The Depot Bookstore and Cafe in Mill Valley by Michelle Richmond, author of No One You Know
• Bart’s Books in Ojai by Ti at Book Chatter and Other Stuff
• Books Inc in Palo Alto by Meg Waite Clayton, author of The Wednesday Sisters
• Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena by Christopher Meeks, author of The Brightest Moon of the Century and Months and Seasons
• Copperfield’s Books in Sebastopol by Margot at Joyfully Retired

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• Colorado
• Explore Booksellers, Aspen by author Maria Semple
• Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver by Ti at Book Chatter and Other Stuff
• Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver by Caitlin Hamilton Summie at Unbridled Books

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• Connecticut
• The Book Barn in Niantic/East Lyme by author Sarah Pekkanen
• The Traveler Restaurant (“Food and Books”) in Union, by Dawn at She is Too Fond of Books

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• District of Columbia
• Politics and Prose by Serena at Savvy Verse and Wit
• Politics and Prose “A Secular Temple” by author Susan Jane Gilman

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• Florida
• Urban Think! in Orlando by Sandy at You’ve GOTTA Read This!

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• Georgia
• The Book Lady in Savannah by Meaghan Walsh

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• Illinois
• Book Cellar in Chicago by author Kelly O’Connor McNees
• The Book Table in Chicago, by Sandra Novack, author of Precious
• Sandmeyer’s Bookstore in Chicago by Sandy at You’ve GOTTA Read This!
• Sandmeyer’s Bookstore in Chicago by author Emily Tedrowe
• The Bookstore in Glen Ellyn by Jen at Devourer of Books
• Town House Books & Cafe in St. Charles (coming soon!) by author Julia Glass

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• Indiana
• Waldenbooks(coming soon!), Logansport by The Kool-Aid Mom at In the Shadow of Mt. TBR
• Three Sisters in Shelbyville, by author Kirk Curnutt

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• Iowa
• River Lights 2nd Edition, in Dubuque, by Heather Gudenkauf, author of These Things Hidden
• Barnes & Noble , West Des Moines by Annie at anniegirl1138

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• Kansas
• Rainy Day Books , Fairway by Shana at Literarily

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• Maryland
• Constellation Books, Reisterstown by Heather at Age 30 – A Year in Books

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• Massachusetts
• Willow Books in Acton, by Dawn at She Is Too Fond Of Books
• Charlesbank Books, Belmont by Delia at Girls Sent Away
• The Book Shop, Beverly Farms by Linda Teitel, author of Angus McMouse Brings Down the House
• Brookline Booksmith in Brookline by Daphne Kalotay, author of Russian Winter
• Got Books? Used Book Superstore, Burlington by Dawn at She Is Too Fond of Books
• Harvard Book Store in Cambridge by Dawn at She Is Too Fond of Books
• Porter Square Books in Cambridge by author Deborah Noyes
• WordsWorth Books in Cambridge by Dawn at She Is Too Fond of Books
• Where the Sidewalk Ends, Chatham by Dawn at She Is Too Fond of Books
• The Concord Bookshop, Concord by Dawn at She Is Too Fond of Books
• Annie’s Book Stop, Framingham by LeAnn Neal Reilly, author of The Mermaid’s Pendant
• Troubadour Books in Hadley by Rebecca Rasmussen, author of The Bird Sisters
• The Spirit of ’76 Bookstore in Marblehead by author Brunonia Barry
• New England Mobile Book Fair, Newton by Lori at Lori’s Reading Corner
• Newtonville Books in Newton, by Randy Susan Meyers, author of The Murderer’s Daughters
• Toad Hall Bookstore in Rockport, by Laura Harrington, author of Alice Bliss
• More Than Words, Waltham

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• Michigan
• Saturn Booksellers in Gaylord, by author Katrina Kittle

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• New Hampshire
• The Village Bookstore in Littleton by Rose MacDowell, author of The Lost Book of Mala R.
• RiverRun Bookstore, Portsmouth by Brooks Sigler, author of Five Finger Fiction

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• New Jersey
• The Book Barn, Denville (coming soon!) by Meghan at Medieval Bookworm
• Montclair Book Center, Montclair by author Laura Morowitz
• Watchung Booksellers, Montclair by author Laurie Lico Albanese

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• New Mexico
• Collected Works, Santa Fe by Joyce Hinnefeld author of In Hovering Flight

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• New York
• Talking Leaves, Buffalo by Gabrielle Burton author of Impatient with Desire
• “a magical location for a bookstore” Borders Time Warner, New York by Amy Hendel author of Fat Families Thin Families
• Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks, New York by Dawn at She Is Too Fond of Books
• Bookhampton, New York by Cristina Alger author of The Darlings
• Books of Wonder, New York by Samantha at Living Little Women
• corner of 73rd and Broadway (Kirk Davidson), New York by Robert Tuchman author of 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live
• The Corner Bookstore, New York by Nancy Bachrach, author of The Center of the Universe
• Crawford Doyle Booksellers, New York by Kathleen McCleary author of House & Home
• Housing Works Bookstore Café, New York, by Colleen of Books in the City
• Idlewild Books, New York by Kari of Five Borough Book Review
• McNally Jackson Books, New York by Dawn of She Is Too Fond of Books
• The Strand, New York by Taryn of BookWanderer (coming soon)
• Three Lives & Company, New York by Diana Spechler author of Who By Fire

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• North Carolina
• Malaprops in Asheville, by Nancy Poling, author of Out of the Pumpkin Shell (coming soon!)
• Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café in Asheville, by Kathy from BermudaOnion
• Park Road Books in Charlotte, by Kim Wright, author of Love in Mid Air
• The Book Exchange (RIP!) in Durham, by Sandra Novack, author of Precious
• Quail Ridge Books & Music in Raleigh, by Jean Kwok, author of Girl in Translation
• Blue Ridge Bookstore in Waynesville, by Nancy Werking Poling, author of Had Eve Come First and Jonah Been a Woman and Out of the Pumpkin Shell

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• Ohio
• The Book Loft in Columbus, by Jason Barger, author of Step Back from the Baggage Claim
• Loganberry Books in Shaker Heights, by Meg from A Piece of Evidence

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• Oregon
• Cannon Beach Book Company in Cannon Beach by Tess Hartwick, author of Riversong
• Grass Roots Books and Music in Corvallis by John Addiego author of The Islands of Divine Music
• Annie Bloom’s, Portland by Kathleen McCleary author of House & Home
• Powell’s Books, Portland by Jill at Fizzy Thoughts

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• Pennsylvania
• Moravian Bookstore in Bethlehem (coming soon!) by Jenners at Find Your Next Book Here!
• Moravian Bookstore in Bethlehem by Sandra Novack, author of Precious
• Doylestown Bookshop in Doylestown by Sandra Novack, author of Precious
• Wellington Square Bookshop in Exton by author Marie Lamba
• Aaron’s Books in Lititz by Julie at BookingMama
• Mystery Lovers’ Bookshop, Oakmont (coming soon!) by Susan at West of Mars
• Whodunit in Philadelphia, by Brooke at The Bluestocking Guide
• Trappe Book Center; Trappe (coming soon!) by Ruth at Bookish Ruth
• Readers’ Forum in Wayne, by Adele Griffin author of Picture the Dead
• Chester County Books & Music in West Chester, by Mariah Stewart, author of Almost Home

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• Rhode Island
• A Novel Idea, Bristol by author Eve Marie Mont
• Books on the Square in Providence by author Kelly O’Connor McNees
• Cellar Stories in Providence by Taylor M. Polites, author of The Rebel Wife

• South Carolina
• Fiction Addiction in Greenville, by Kathy at BermudaOnion
• Hub City Books in Spartanburg, by Kathy at BermudaOnion

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• Tennessee
• BookMan BookWoman in Nashville, by Linda Leaming, author of Married to Bhutan
• Wild Hare Books in Signal Mountain, by Cathy Holton, author of Summer in the South

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• Texas
• BookPeople in Austin by Iliana at Bookgirl’s Nightstand

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• Vermont
• Brattleboro Books in Brattleboro, by Jessamyn Smyth
• Sandy’s Books and Bakery in Rochester, by Lisa

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• Virginia
• Over the Moon Bookstore & Artisan Gallery, Crozet by Kathy at BermudaOnion
• Hole in the Wall Books, Falls Church by Kathleen McCleary, author of House & Home
• Creatures ‘n Crooks Bookshoppe by Pamela Kinney, author of Haunted Virginia (RIP, closing 9/30/09)
• C & W Used Books, Woodbridge (coming soon!) by Michelle at In The Louvre
• Fountain Bookstore, Richmond by Pamela Kinney, author of Haunted Virginia

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• Washington
• Griffin Bay Bookstore, Friday Harbor by Robin Oliveira, author of My Name is Mary Sutter
• Ravenna Third Place Books in Seattle by Sarah Jio, author of The Violets of March

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• Wisconsin
• Castle Arkdale and Happy Tales Bookshop; Markesan, by Lisa Roe, Online Book Publicist

*****   INTERNATIONAL   *****

• Australia
• Ariel Bookstore at the Rocks in Sydney, Australia by Joanna Penn of The Creative Penn

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• Canada
• Words Worth Books in Waterloo, Ontario by author Kelly O’Connor McNees

• England
• Foyle’s in London, by Rob
• Barter Books in Alnwick, Northumberland, England by Cathy of Kittling: Books

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• France
• Gibert Jeune in Paris by Dave Rosenthal of Read Street
• Shakespeare & Company in Paris by Dave Rosenthal of Read Street
• Village Voice Bookshop in Paris by Dave Rosenthal of Read Street

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• Italy
• Mondadori in Milan, Italy; by Swapna at S. Krishna’s Books