“Hey Dave, let’s go see that new RomCom, ‘Anyone But You.’”
“Sure, Hon, but I want to read some reviews first.”
“It looks fun. Who cares about what other people think?”
“I do!”
I’m sure it drives my wife to distraction when I dance this particular dance, always seeking out yet another opinion, but I just can’t help myself. Although I hate research with a red-hot passion, I DO love reading reviews. If I’m spending time and money on a movie in a theater, for example, you can bet I’m reading both what the critics have to say, as well as the opinions of audience members. Before I book a hotel room somewhere, I definitely want to scan a broad sampling of comments from past visitors. And when it comes to books, I certainly need to survey a healthy consensus of reader advice on Goodreads. In other words, when in doubt, ask people their opinion – the more the merrier!
Bookstores understand people like me. The good ones always have a shelf or two labeled “Staff Recommendations,” where the workers share little blurbs about some of their favorite books.
Powells’ Books, in Portland, Oregon, takes it to a whole other level.
Dubbed “Powell’s City of Books,” the store takes up a full city block and feels bigger than that. It’s huge! Independently owned since the early 70s and three stories high, Powells color codes each section so you always know where to go. Sci-fi? – that’s the gold room. History? Head to red. Chemistry? You’ll want pearl, obviously. (I made that last line up – no one in Powell’s is snarky.)
What I like the most about the place is the aforementioned book-review blurbs. They’re everwhere! As you walk in, you find a whole wall of reader recommendations to the right. On each end cap (the shelves at the end of rows) – more blurbs. There must be hundreds and hundreds of such reviews in Powell’s Books, which is nectar of the gods for a review-enthusiast like me. “OMG, some 18-year-old Goth with a nose ring loved this book! I have to read it.”
That’s the irony of reviews, of course. Just because another person liked or disliked something, who’s to say that they and I have a similar taste? That’s why you have to look for clues (another one of my favorite pasttimes). Do they mention other books you like? Do they hit on shared touchstones like “character development” or “world building”? Certainly if they mention horror or bloodshed, forget it. I don’t read books to be grossed out.
Powell’s Books is an incredible place, featuring lectures, special events, cool swag, used and new books, and an excellent coffee shop. Best of all, everyone there is so darn nice. While in the store, you get the feeling that everyone working there just loves books. They read them. They want to talk about them. They’re personally invested in guiding you to just the right one for you. And your fellow shoppers appear to be the same way. They haven’t come here to “see and be seen.” This is not a fashion show. These people are here to browse books, buy books, and then go home and read books. How rare and wonderful in this digital age.
That gets a rave review from me!
(I heard about a survey the other day reporting that the average American reads exactly one book…a year! Hmphh. I get it, of course. Reading a book is time consuming. It can take you days or even weeks to read a long, literary tome, whereas a movie only requires two hours of your precious time. Heck, you can binge a Netflix series in 8 hours or less. Nevertheless, I recommend book reading. A good book stimulates your imagination. It teaches you new vocabulary. It asks you to actively engage your brain. It teaches patience. Go online right now to http://www.powells.com and order yourself something. Support local bookstores. You’ll be glad you did!)