Building a Bookstore
Winter view from the art library in my home studio
For me, the connection between books and travel is inseparable. It is through books that I became emboldened to dream and imagine myself into other experiences. Places far beyond anything I had ever known. Seeing the artwork, reading the stories of others and their adventures abroad--these were the seeds that planted the beginning of my own journey as a traveler.
I like to think of books as navigation tools, in opening doors within us and beyond us. They help us chart the course of our own journeys, and inspire us to take the next step. Especially in this time, when travel is restricted and we are all closer to home, a good story can lift the ceiling and reveal the sky through our minds. Through books, we become empowered to open our world, see new possibilities, broaden our interests, and feel inspired.
Throughout this past year I have been revisiting many of my favorite books, as well as discovering new ones. I started a series on this blog entitled, “Books and Coffee,” where I’ve had a virtual space to share two of my favorite things on a weekly basis. As I discover new stories and salvage old vintage volumes from thrifting, I’ve been reflecting on my own relationship to books and where it began.
Since I was very young, I’ve always loved getting lost in a library. Nothing is worse than a time limit in a library, for me. When I was in my early teens, I volunteered at a small used bookstore in my hometown. I can still see the lady who owned it--she had a slight frame and wore her silvery hair up, with wisps framing her face like a thin halo backlit by the dim haze of the space. It was a cluttered place, and I was helping her organize. I honestly don’t remember much about what I did, apart from sorting inventory and cleaning shelves, But I do remember the books she encouraged me to take home. She had remarkable life stories, and a strong passion for sharing her love of reading.
In my early twenties I was working multiple service jobs and painting in my tiny apartment at night. I cherished the few hours I could squeeze in to spend time at the local library, reading every copy of a travel guide that they had. I took fervent notes while I was there, and grew in my understanding of how to see the world with a limited budget and big dreams. It gave me something to focus on and reminded me of what I was working for. This experience was an essential lift from the stress of basic survival, and encouraged me to keep going.
I remember running over to the nearby Barnes & Noble during breaks or after my shift when I was working as a baker, maximizing every minute I could to browse guides for travel, maps, books on art history, psychology, classics… This was a way for me to stay connected to who I was and what I wanted my life to become. A reminder that everything I hoped for was possible, and I had the power to create that with effort, commitment, and perseverance.
Perhaps this is why I am so passionate about reading, and sharing the gifts that literature can give us. Music, art, stories--they inspire and color our lives. This is what’s moved me throughout my own life to be a storyteller through my art, music, and writing. I want to do what I can to share the sources that have influenced my journey. With that in mind, I’ve decided to add a “bookstore” section to our travel shop! It’s going to be a place where I can make vintage and antiquarian editions available, and I might have some fun with creating book sets that incorporate pieces of art and nature. Eventually, it is my dream to have my own books available through our shop. But at this time, they are deep in the process of being created…
On every trip I take, I try to find an independent bookstore to explore. They hold a special kind of power to reveal the character of a place, and the owners are often fascinating to talk to. A favorite pastime of the Grumpy Gnome is to peruse through media stores (records, movies, comics, collectibles) when we’re traveling abroad. As a trip progresses, he gradually empties his suitcase of clothing to make space for books, DVDs, records, and other treasures. Less in baggage fees on the return flight.
While I haven’t been to any far-off bookstores lately, I discovered a great one in a neighboring town last summer. O’Gara & Wilson Antiquarian Booksellers in Chesterton, Indiana, is a fantastic historic bookshop located downtown with truly wonderful owners. I spent a bright afternoon there browsing through an impressive stack of late 1800’s photogravures, and talked with the owner, Doug, about his interests and experiences in the business of bookselling. His collection is extensive, and his store is marvelous. I highly recommend allowing your curiosity to guide you through his shop, and see where it lands.
In fact, that is the best advice I can give for all adventures in a bookstore or library:
Let curiosity be your guide.
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