Sarasota News and Books

All across America, independent booksellers keep the spirit of the free presses alive. While selling books of all kinds, these stores manage to make a name for themselves in the way that larger franchises can’t.

• City Lights (San Francisco, California): City Lights was founded in 1953 by Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti. The building used to be a religious revival center, but under Ferlinghetti’s hand became known as a meeting place of off-beat literary icons. Today, the seller also functions as a publisher, with Ferlinghetti still playing a leading role.
• Powell’s Books (Portland, Oregon): Powell’s is an independent chain with its headquarters rumored to be the largest independent bookstore in the world. The original Portland location was founded in 1971. You can find “new, used, and rare books” at the store and its online site, where you can also enter contests and read reviews. [»]