Independent Bookstore Day in Boston
Allyson Floridia ’16 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer
Books are an escape, a lesson, a leisure activity, a supporting friend in times of need, and they would not be possible without the author, for the author writes and creates the story. However, what people often forget, in an era of chain conglomerates and big business mentalities, are the stores that sell the books. Barnes & Noble and Ama are two of the largest retailers, but there are thousands of little, independent bookstores that are privately owned and have struggled to survive. However, as the excitement over ebooks dies down and Barnes & Noble finds itself in a static position, independent bookstores are making a resurgence.
In 2014, the Northern California Booksellers Association spearheaded California Bookstore Day. After the roaring success, they expanded to make it a national event. Now, more than 400 independent bookstores around the country participate in Independent Bookstore Day (IBD), hosting special author readings and activities, and selling exclusive merchandise. April 30 marks Independent Bookstore Day’s second national year. Through collaboration and community outreach, it aims to celebrate the local bookstores and booksellers who work tirelessly to bring creative works to readers. It successfully brings readers together and increases community connection and appreciation. Moreover, it reminds readers that the bookstores are just as important as the books themselves.
There are numerous independent bookstores within Boston, including Porter Square Books, Papercuts J.P., and Trident Booksellers and Café, among others. Many of them are participating in Independent Bookstore Day. For a full list, visit indiebookstoreday.com. Below are some of the special events three stores are hosting:
Opened in 1984, Trident has been a popular independent bookstore and café for more than 30 years. For Independent Bookstore Day, they are hosting a literary-themed scavenger hunt. People can scour the bookshelves for clues and at the end of the hunt, they’ll receive a small gift card to the store. However, before leaving, Trident stresses signing a large blank sheet of paper they’ll have out with a favorite author and book, thus commemorating the writers and novels that have changed lives.
This independent bookstore opened in 2014 in Jamaica Plain prides itself on its handpicked selection of books. On April 30, they will offer morning mimosas and cupcakes for visitors while they browse the shelves. At noon, local author Nathalia Holt will read from her New York Times bestselling nonfiction book Rise of the Rocket Girls. It tells the true story of the women in the 1940s and 50s who crossed the boundary between gender and science to design satellites. At 4 pm, Jesse Andrews, author of Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, which was adapted into a moderately well-received film, will read from his newest novel The Haters. Both authors will sign books following their readings.
Porter Square Books is going all in for this year’s Independent Bookstore Day. Any visitor to the store will be able to speak with Mary Shelley, Edith Wharton, Margaret Wise Brown, or J.R.R. Tolkien as some of their booksellers will be dressing and acting as one of these famous dead authors. Aside from talking with customers browsing the shelves, Brown, Shelley, and Tolkien will also be speaking on a panel of authors from 5pm-6pm. Among these authors are urban fantasy writer Max Gladstone, picture book author and illustrator Julia Denos, and Endicott College professor and author Charlotte Gordon. Advanced reader copies of soon-to-be-published books are additionally available for a donation to the Hildebrand Family Self-Help Center, an organization that helps families experiencing homelessness, and a 20% discount is offered if a customer presents a receipt from a select store in the Porter Square shopping plaza.
However, Independent Bookstore Day marks something more than simply a day to show support for local book businesses. Josh Cook, Marketing Director of Porter Square Books, said in an interview,
“Independent Bookstore Day is a celebration of what bookstores mean to communities and a chance to acknowledge the services bookstores provide that we too often take for granted. Along with selling books and connecting authors to readers, independent bookstores offer a safe space to meet, relax, do your homework, read, grab a cup of coffee, or just wander around the shelves for a few minutes on your way somewhere else. By tying all the cool bookish items to the physical bookstores, IBD reminds people of just how important bookstores are, not just as places to shop, but as places outside the home, outside the job, and even outside the store to be human. Indeed, Independent Bookstore Day, while still in its infancy, continues to remind readers and writers alike that books come from communities.”