Independent bookstores may be closing across America, but not Seattle's own Open Books: A Poem Emporium. After 15 years in business, the little Wallingford shop with the big poetry inventory is still full of beans — and 9,000-plus volumes for browsing, as well as poetry readings not to be missed.
Open Books is one of the only two bookstores in the U.S. devoted exclusively to poetry. Proprietors Christine Deavel and John Marshall not only provide a home for the many forms this literary passion takes. They are also fine poets in their own right, with an encyclopedic knowledge of poets and a comprehensive collection to draw on. They can personally shepherd almost any poetry-shy reader into a gentle addiction to the genre.
Visit Open Books this week and help celebrate its 15th anniversary on Wednesday (April 28). In gratitude to Seattle readers, Deavel and Marshall will donate 15 percent of all sales between today and Sunday (April 27-May 2) to the Seattle and the King County Public Libraries.
Open Books: A Poem Emporium, 2414 N. 45th St., 206-633-0811. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 11 am-6 pm, and the first Sunday of the month 12-4 pm. Poetry readings, always free and open to the public, include coming appearances by Lana Hechtman Ayers & Lorraine Healy on Thursday (April 29) and Joanie Mackowski on May 4.
