Books Galore

     One of St. Louis' independent bookstores--the Book House--is having to move. Yes, it's a larger place and it's a better location (if they're able to snag the spot they're hoping for), but with multiple floors full of books (3), it's going to be a gargantuan task to move.

    However, they're still open, so if you're in the St. Louis area and want to check them out in their soon-to-be-"old" location, call ahead (if you're looking for a particular book) and head their way.

Three floors of books...It's a cool place, and no, the owners are not
whackadoo--they don't have the place all decked out for the
holidays all year long. This is a photo from last December's Chicken Soup
 for the Soul's book signing. At this book
signing, a rare sighting of the elusive "Val" occurred.

      And it's a building that's brimming over with character (the building is being torn down--it was built in 1863), so it's going to be a loss to the Rock Hill community...but not to the independent book store community because the Book House is moving to a place that is going to be bigger and better. 

      One of my favorite independent book stores I visited earlier this summer is Half Price Books in Kansas City. It's a huge expanse of used books and is meticulously organized. My son got me hooked introduced me to it.

      What is your favorite book store (and why) or what is a book you've read this summer that you are recommending? (I've read Joe Hill's NOS4A2, which is brilliant, if you like scary/creepy stories. I'm also still singing the praises for Leonard Pitts Jr.'s epic novel Freeman, and earlier this summer I read Hosseini's And the Mountains Echoed. All three I would give 5 out of 5 stars.)