Buying Novels in Our Pajamas
The Sudbury Town Crier
Independent Bookstore Day is always the last Saturday in April. (A good reason to get out of our pajamas, yes?)
April 20, 2021, Amy Wilson Sheldon, Special to the Crier —
My husband and I recently read Richard Powers’ Pulitzer-winning novel The Overstory. It is brilliant and full of discussion-worthy plot points and ideas (even though some people will say that it’s just about “trees”), but one of the standout themes to me was the author’s subtle way of exploring the idea of a book. Not just a “story,” but an actual, physical book. (You know, one that’s made from trees.)
I perked up at Powers’ thinly veiled descriptions of a nascent Amazon, way back in the 1990s. One character is working at a warehouse in Bellevue, WA mindlessly packing and sorting books. He ruminates:
"The product here is not so much books as that goal of ten thousand years of history, the thing the human brain craves above all else and nature will die refusing to give: convenience... Once you've bought a novel in your pajamas, there's no turning back." In other words, has the thrill and convenience of “buying a novel in our pajamas” become peak experience?
The Silver Unicorn Bookstore, West Acton, MA
Independent Bookstore Day is this Saturday, April 24. Throughout the month of April, IBD – an initiative of “local first” shopping movement and independent bookstore network IndieBound – is hosting virtual author events, giveaways, and store-specific celebrations. In short, it’s a way to recognize and applaud all the ways that independent bookstores contribute to our communities. Because they do. Here’s a sampling of ways independent bookstores encourage a more connected and vibrant community:
Local stores sponsor sports teams and school initiatives;
Local stores provide personalized service and usually offer something more off-the-beaten-path than, say, the book aisle at Target;
Local stores support gathering – or not. Choose Your Own Adventure: Visit for the events or peruse without chatting.
While there are certainly some perks to Amazon – including (sometimes) lower cost, widespread access to books for those who live in areas with fewer resources, and yeah, I guess buying a novel in your pajamas – independent bookstores have more than met the moment. One can still support the mission of independent bookstores when “buying a novel in your pajamas” does, in fact, sound appealing. Because many – if not all – of them offer online ordering. Still want that “everything’s curated for me” Amazon-esque experience? Simply pop over to Bookshop.org, which is basically just like Amazon except that a portion of proceeds of go toward independent bookstores. This Benefit Corporation has raised $13 million for indies since its launch in 2020. For ebooks, Bookshop partners with Hummingbird and for audio books with Libro.fm. Both allow you to purchase via your favorite independent bookstore using Bookshop’s platform. As Libro.fm’s tagline states: “Same audiobooks. Different story.”
But if you’re able, sometimes you adopt inconvenience for something greater. Hopefully this past year has taught us to lean in to that concept. Ready to exchange pajamas for “hard pants”?
Here are some local bookstores to support. Yes, you can buy from them online, but if you’re comfortable, I bet they’d love to see your friendly masked face, especially on Independent Bookstore Day.
Bearly Read Books, Sudbury: In addition to appointment shopping, this treasure trove of used, antiquarian, and rare books now offers open-shop hours from 10 am to 6 pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays. BearlyReadBooks.com.
Word on the Street, Marlborough: Nothing better than a bookstore devoted just to children! Owner Alyson Cox is a librarian, teacher, mom, and lover of books. Word on the Street is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm (until 8 pm Thursdays). WordStreetBooks.indielite.org.
The Silver Unicorn Bookstore, West Acton: This is admittedly a favorite of mine, especially since I partnered with them to sell books at the first literary event I produced back in 2019. This shop has a strong selection of literary fiction, children’s books, and – perhaps surprisingly – romance novels. Silver Unicorn is open Monday through Saturday 10 am to 6 pm and Sundays 10 am to 5 pm. SilverUnicornBooks.com.
Hygge House Books, Westborough: I just found out about this pop-up bookshop owned by middle school ELA teacher Beth Orsini. Schedule Beth to “pop up” at your backyard, school, or corporate event and she’ll curate a selection of books to fit the occasion. All of Hygge House’s net profits go toward buying books for classroom libraries and children's programs in need. HyggeHouseBooks.square.site.
This Saturday consider embracing “inconvenience” and pay a visit to an indie bookstore. (You can find one near you via IndieBound.org.) As Penelope Fitzgerald wrote in her novel The Bookshop, “A good book is the precious life-blood of a masterspirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life, and as such it must surely be a necessary commodity.” Some things are worth getting dressed up for.
Amy Wilson Sheldon is a writer, editor, and communications consultant – with a dash of literary event production. You can visit her online at ALifelyRead.com as well as on Instagram (@alifelyread) where she shares about books and reading culture.