Chelsea Grinstead is a South Carolina native and a reporter for The Post and Courier covering arts, entertainment and culture. As a previous contributing editor at Charleston City Paper, she spotlighted the diverse voices of the local music scene.
Independent bookstores in Charleston don't just sell books, they promote community connectivity.
The Holy City has a plethora of places to browse for a good book, attend a book club or meet a favorite author. Here's a rundown of what's going on at a handful of indie bookstores.
New to the Charleston scene is Philosophers & Fools, a bar-bookstore hybrid where folks can come in to find a good read and enjoy a glass of wine.
"We wanted to create a place where people can gather and feel comfortable coming by themselves and reading a book at the bar, or they can meet up with friends and hang out," said Jenny Ferrara, co-owner of Philosophers & Fools with her husband, Michael Bourke.
The new spot also welcomes private book clubs to reserve lounge space in addition to offering a monthly book club meetup, books of diverse genres for sale and trivia nights every third Thursday.
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Philosophers and Fools also hosts a series the first Thursday of every month called "Extra Credit" featuring talks from professors at the College of Charleston. The next talk takes place from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 7 with Dr. Michael Lee, CofC professor of communications, who will discuss civility in contentious times.
Also new on the scene is Sweeter Than Fiction, a bookstore opening Oct. 26 centered around romance novels, Taylor Swift and all things "girly."
Blue Bicycle Books
One bookstore not new to the scene is Blue Bicycle Books on King Street, which originally opened in 1995 as Boomer's Books before longtime employee Jonathan Sanchez bought the store and renamed it in 2007.
Blue Bicycle Books aims to sell books that readers will want to have on their shelves for a long time, Sanchez said. Its shelves are chock-full of rare and classic books alongside new releases.
The neighborhood bookstore has hosted its fair share of events, including YALLFest, the largest young adult book festival in the South, as well as a creative writing summer camp for kids.
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YALLFest had its beginnings in 2011, and has since grown into a two-day event hosting dozens of book signings and several discussion panels and speaker events at various locations downtown such as Charleston Music Hall, The Charleston Museum and the American Theater. YALLFest 2024 takes place Nov. 15 and 16. Visit yallfest.org for details.
"The young adult world is explosive, connective and social media-driven," Sanchez said, and YALLFest is driven by this collaborative spirit. Over the last few years, big-name publishers have signed on as sponsors, including Penguin Books, Random House Children's Books and HarperCollins Publishers. Around 70 authors will be featured at this year's YALLFest.
"It's a lot of fun. It's a lot of energy, It's a lot of people," Sanchez said.
Buxton Books
Another staple on King Street is Buxton Books, which opened almost nine years ago. In addition to its cozy space specializing in signed and special edition books, Buxton Books plays host to events at various locations in Charleston and offers weekly walking tours based on storytelling from writers, historians and educators.
"One of the most important things independent bookstores do is encourage conversation," said Polly Buxton, owner of Buxton Books.
"In conversation, we're connecting over something lighthearted, or we're connecting over something deep and controversial," Buxton said. "Life is complicated. And books are life. When we share these stories, we inevitably talk about our own stories. We connect to other people and feel less alone each time. It's the encouragement of curiosity and conversation and connection that happens in bookstores."
Besides partnering with Charleston Literary Festival, which takes place Nov. 1-10, Buxton Books will host several events in November, including a talk with the authors of "Trans Kids, Our Kids" at 6 p.m. Nov. 18; a talk detailing the life of America's first Black Supreme Court justice, Jasper Wright, at 6 p.m. Nov 19; and an exclusive appearance of Roxana Robinson on her latest New York Times bestselling novel at noon on Nov. 20.
"It matters when you show up to a theater to see a live performance -- they can't do it without you," Buxton said. "It matters when you show up to hear an author in person. It matters where you buy your books. The people who shop with us and come to our events are the lifeblood, the magic that makes our community vibrant."
Charleston Library Society
Nestled next to Buxton Books is the Charleston Library Society, the oldest cultural institution in the South. The organization has brought a wide variety of lectures and book launches to Charlestonians in partnership with Buxton Books, said Laura Pelzer, executive director of the Charleston Library Society.
Buxton's year-round author events are "putting us on the map as a city to be included in all major book tours," Pelzer said.
"All of our local independent bookstores are to be celebrated and supported, and we do all that we can to drive business toward the business of books," she said.
The Charleston Library Society has just launched its first wide-reaching community initiative called the Book Drop to promote early childhood literacy.
The Book Drop is focused on removing barriers and increasing access to books during the developmental years before kindergarten. Starting in January 2025, the Library Society will gift a three-book set to newborns in the tri-county area through a partnership with Books in Every Bag, a Charleston-based nonprofit that provides enrolled children with a free book every month until age 5.
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The Book Drop is also partnering with other community nonprofits to establish "Little Free Libraries," which will be placed in strategic locations and filled with donated books.
The Charleston Library Society was founded in 1748 as a member-supported lending library to promote lifelong learning. And 275 years later, the organization continues to serve the Lowcountry by providing access to diverse collections of books, historic manuscripts and archival material, hosting more than 200 events a year spanning performing arts, literature, history and world affairs. For details on upcoming events visit charlestonlibrarysociety.org/events.
Turning Page Bookshop
Turning Page Bookshop in Goose Creek is South Carolina's only brick-and-mortar Black-owned bookstore. The shop was in danger of closing in April of this year, said owner VaLinda Miller, but a GoFundMe page was instrumental in keeping the doors open. People also showed their support by donating bookcases and paying full price for discounted books.
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Buying books locally goes a long way, she said. Shopping at local bookstores not only supports small businesses in a retail climate dominated by corporations offering discounts they can't compete with, but keeps alive the little shops that care about building lasting legacies.
"The reason I opened the store 10 years ago goes back to my grandmother, who was not allowed to go into a library because she was Black," Miller said. "I don't want any child -- Black, White, blue, green or purple -- to go without a book. Put a book in a child's hand, and get them away from the TV and off of their phones."
Reading helps people become more empathetic and understanding of different cultures and helps prepare kids for what's ahead, Miller said, which is why she is passionate about encouraging people of all ages to read.
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Turning Page will host a book table at Cultures in the Creek, an inaugural arts, performance and heritage event taking place from noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Joseph S. Daning Amphitheater in Goose Creek.
No matter which bookstores or literacy initiatives Charlestonians support, their impact is integral.
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