You can click on the link above to go to the Facebook Event page for Save Bookstores. When I first heard about the event, I thought there might be a website dedicated to making this event a yearly celebration–and judging by the search hits my blog has received on the topic since my first post, I imagine everybody assumed there would be a central website–but I could not find one. I did manage to find the Facebook event.
If you participated today, by buying books at your local independent bookstore, I hope you consider leaving a comment here to let everybody know the name of your favourite independent store…and what you like about them, and perhaps a memory or two you can share about your store. I would love to hear about the events–big or small–that were created to celebrate this day.
Having asked you to share, I’ll share a bit about what happened at my favourite bookstore this morning. I put the call out a couple of weeks ago about June 25th…and created a Facebook Event page for the BLUE HERON BOOKS SWARM. Blue Heron is a beautiful independent bookstore in Uxbridge, Ontario. And like most booksellers, Blue Heron’s owner, Shelley Macbeth, is passionate about books. She is also a huge supporter of the arts in this region. I am quite sure Blue Heron does NOT need saving…but, in the spirit of the day, it–like other bookstores–needs APPRECIATION. We need to show the love we hold for these sacred places we love to visit. If you’re an avid reader, you know what I’m talking about. Entering a bookstore takes your breath away a little bit. It’s a rush to be surrounded by all those unread books.
Let’s take a little look at Blue Heron Books, which was swarmed today by people who love the fact that it’s there…that it’s bricks and mortar holds an inviting and enchanting world just waiting for them to enter.
What SAVE BOOKSTORES event would be complete without CAKE! Thank you, Blue Heron, for such a great (and great tasting) cake! A great surprise.
After looking at these random shots of Blue Heron Books in Uxbridge, Ontario, I think you can get a better understanding of why so many people love this independent. At one point today, I found myself sitting cross-legged on the floor, looking through the stack of books I was pondering, while petting the beautiful Margaret…a four legged friend of Blue Heron Books. I had this moment of complete contentment.
(I just had to share the Margaret love. She’s quite the star of our refrigerator.)
Books I picked up today:
From the Cottage Porch (an anthology)
Irma Voth by Miriam Toews
Alexandria of Africa by Eric Walters
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
Happy Hippo, Angry Duck by Sandra Boynton
Judy Moody Was in the Mood, Judy Moody Gets Famous & Judy Moody Saves the World – by Megan McDonald
Your turn. Tell us what you bought on your Save Bookstores outing. Tell us why you love the store you love. Share your bookstore stories…
KEVIN CRAIG 
2 comments