Just as books at independent bookshops are carefully curated and hand-sold, the names of the stores themselves often reflect the owner’s personal vision and preferences, such as The Wild Detectives in Dallas, Texas; Wild Rumpus and Moon Palace in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Tin Can Mailman in Arcata, California; the Tattered Cover in Denver, Colorado; and in San Diego, such stores as The Book Catapult and Run for Cover, as well as Mysterious Galaxy and Verbatim. When author Connie Schultz asked Twitter users for their favorite independent-bookshop names, readers responded with dozens more. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Well-Crafted Bookstore Names”
You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use it.
I’m Grant Barrett.
And I’m Martha Barnette.
One of the more enjoyable Twitter threads I’ve come across recently was started by author and columnist Connie Schultz. She asked people to name their favorite bookshops, and the list of names really, to me, it sort of read like poetry. It was so pleasant and warming to read other people’s favorite names for bookstores.
There’s just something about those carefully chosen names that are not so much brainstormed by a marketing department, but rather sort of handcrafted and curated, almost sort of the naming equivalent of the way that indie bookstore owners hand sell their books.
Yeah, yeah. It’s kind of like when you ask people on a survey what their favorite word is, they will say love and mother. So there’s heart in the names as well as in the craft.
Yeah, and the vision of the owners and a reflection of their personality. And, of course, if I mention to you the name of an indie bookstore, whether it’s in business or maybe it’s long gone, just that single name evokes so much. You know, so many memories and a feeling of being within their four walls and perusing their shelves and, you know, maybe going to that bookstore on a mission or just browsing until you make a serendipitous discovery.
I think, of course, instantly of the tattered cover in Denver. And another one that I really liked in the thread was Wild Rumpus. That’s in Minneapolis. And there’s Moon Palace books in Minneapolis. I love that as well, the idea that here I am on my throne reading a book. Moon Palace? By the light of the moon.
Oh, that’s nice. Yeah, in San Diego we have Mysterious Galaxy. Guess what they sell a lot of? Fantasy fiction and science fiction. Of course, regular fiction as well. Book Catapult, you know they’re just throwing good books into your bag, right? And Verbatim, I spent so much money there. I think if you search my bank account, you’ll find lots of receipts for Verbatim.
And Run for Cover, which recently closed the shop, but I think they’re doing online orders now. You and I have gone to so many bookstores on the road, too, when we’ve done our tours and our speaking gigs around the country. Tin Can Mailman in Arcata, Wild Detectives in Dallas. Guess what? I bought a lot of there. Lots of spy novels, of course, and detective novels and mystery fiction.
Oh, yeah. Yeah, I’m sure you went out with two bags full, right? At least.
Well, tell us your favorite bookstore names. 877-929-9673 or send them to us in email. That address is words@waywordradio.org.
