For the Love of Bookstores - An Ongoing Project

 


(Arcadian Books and Art Prints - New Orleans)

Happy New Year - let's hope that 2022 will be a good one for all of us.

Bookstores are, in short, my lifeblood. I can't imagine my life without them. Several of my tea blends in my company were inspired by books! In a way, it makes me feel good to know that when I walk into a bookstore, there's a really good chance that I'll purchase a book (or three or five). I love the moment when my eyes find a title that seems intriguing or hilarious, or one that makes me think - what the ever-living fuck?! Whenever I visit a new city, one of the first things I do is scout out their bookstores. Not the immense chain stores, but rather the one located on a back street, or one with a sign hanging outside that looks to be older than dirt. The bookstore that has tables sitting outside, filled with hardbacks and paperbacks that are ready to go home with you. You walk inside and immediately, the scents of lavender, old paper, vanilla, and perhaps a touch of pepper greet your nose. A bookstore clerk, seated behind the counter or perhaps engaged in a conversation with a regular customer, greets you, and when they say Welcome to you . . . you can actually feel it in your soul. You want to look around. You want to peruse their titles. You want to be a part of the magick.

My love of bookstores came from my mother. When I was little, she used to take me to our local library branch in Memphis, TN, where I would grab several books and carry them home. As I got older, I would receive money from my grandparents, leading to a trip to a bookstore immediately. I've spent tons of money in bookstores, worked in three bookstores, and even did readings of my books in several. Yet, the feeling, the excitement of discovery of books has never left me as I walk into a new bookstore. A new area of the universe reveals itself to me, and all I can do is solemnly give it its due. 

So, what's up with this? Why an ongoing project? Well, it's because this WILL be ongoing - as long as I travel (limited due to our current COVID matters), I will always locate bookstores. And, in doing so, I want to share my explorations with you, my wonderful readers of this blog. I'll also post fondly of bookstores that I've visited in my past yet still have a place in my heart. As my current home is Denver Metro in Colorado, I'm realizing that there are a number of bookstores in this state that I have yet to explore. I hope that can happen quite soon. And, I have to admit that our thrift stores have wonderful book sections as well - give them a proper moment of respect too!

Take my hand and let's go to a bookstore. 

(currently listening to Suzanne Vega - she's so amazing and I bet she's a bibliophile) 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Crows

Image
  (tea leaves photo by me) The old crow flew down from the skies and perched next to me. Of all the times when I flew, he said in a gravelly voice, I wished to be on the ground. He cocked his head at me and waited for my reply. Instead, I set a small tin cup before him and filled it with my morning Tea. He cawed once, then lowered his beak into the warm liquid. Conversations are always important, I replied while he drank. That's why we are lost without them. The crow continued to drink the Tea. Just then, a woman with red hair and dressed in all black, walked up to us and sat down on the other side of me. I've forgotten how to think, she said in a singsong voice. The crow raised his head and cawed - then how are you talking now? His black beady eyes focused on her crooked smile. She closed her eyes and transformed into another crow. I stared off at the clouds and wondered if our thoughts betray us, or if we are the result of them. I then poured Tea into another cup and gave it
Read more

Choices - Flash Fiction

Image
  A young woman walked into the room, glanced around at the plethora of books for sale, and then noticed the older man assisting a customer as he stood behind the checkout table. He must be a volunteer, she thought as she began to slowly peruse the titles ready to be purchased and carted off to their new home. She flipped through a box of Fiction titles, only to wander to another box filled with graphic novels. She pulled out several books in a non-committal manner, then walked up to the man and set the books before him. Oliver offered her a smile that spoke - Welcome to the library book sale. So glad to see you here! Can you help me, she asked him, as his smile faltered just a little. I'm not sure which book to purchase, so could you read through them and let me know which ones sound interesting? The man resumed his regular smile as he replied - sure, glad to do it. The two other volunteers watched with careful eyes as he gently flipped through each book and read their dust jacket
Read more

Tea Is A Good Friend of Mine - Celia Carmen Aceae

Image
Here's another great interview - meet Celia Carmen Aceae! What’s your name and what part of the world do you live in? Hi! My name is Celia Carmen Aceae and I live in Montreal, QC, Canada How long have you been drinking tea? What’s the story, morning glory? I’ve been drinking tea since I can remember. In my house, we never drank water and there was no rule against children consuming caffeine at all! I’ve only recently realized that the reason my sister and I were always labeled as crazy, wild and hyper at school, was probably because my mom sent us to class every day with a giant jug of tea. We were constantly caffeinated! Tea also means more than just Camellia sinensis for me. I’ve been reading about medicinal herbs since I was eight. My mother forbade all forms of medication in our household, so I learned at a young age how to cure small ailments with plants and tisanes. My sister was very prone to headaches and anytime she started to get one, I would hop on my
Read more