Vernacular Literary Blog

The Boston Globe reports that the Harvard Book Store is going up for sale. Though the owner, Frank Kramer, promises he’ll do his best to maintain the integrity of the store as it moves into its “next chapter” (as the Globe article so punningly points out), the news does strike fear into the independent bookstore-lover’s heart.

The conflict between corporate and independent bookstores has a long history, depicted in such fine films as You’ve Got Mail. The chain store is always demonized, portrayed as faceless, money-driven, and unfeeling, while the adorable and beautifully-decorated independent shop is well-liked by all–except nobody spends their money there. Since writers start their lives as readers, we’re probably a bit more attuned to bookstore tastes than the average kid on the street.

Growing up in the suburbs, the only bookstores I was familiar with were Barnes and Noble and the Waldenbooks in the mall that was owned by either Barnes and Noble or Borders. So it was exciting to come to Boston and find that each Square had its own unique shop with its own specialty niche. (Davis Square, for example, used to play host to my beloved anthropology-heavy used bookstore McIntyre and Moore, before high rents forced them to new digs outside Porter.)

Why do writers favor independent bookstores? Is it because we can more easily envision our literary baby tastefully displayed on a new releases table at the Brookline Booksmith than at one of six Borders downtown?

Or am I assuming too much here? Maybe you have a favorite independent bookstore in Boston or maybe you prefer to get your books good and cheap and anonymously from Amazon (useful for those embarrassing bodice-rippers or Star Trek novelizations)?

So, let me pose a question to you, fair readers: What’s your favorite Boston-based bookstore (used or new) and what is it that keeps you coming back?

Hey, maybe we oughta start a poll. But in the meantime, leave your thoughts in the comments section.