I had mixed feelings when I learned of a publicity stunt perpetrated by another indie bookstore in Kansas City this weekend. According to CNN, Tom Wayne, the owner of Prospero's Books in Kansas City, organized a bookburning of some of the books that Wayne claims that Prospero can't sell, "in protest of what he sees as society's diminishing support for the printed word." I have much respect for Prospero's Books, which is the premier used bookstore in Kansas City, known for its support of local authors. I'm reluctant to criticize another independent bookstore in a metropolitan area that is seriously deficient in indie bookstores. Wayne and his partner may be making a valid point about the decline on book reading in the United States, but the national publicity from this stunt not only makes Kansas City look ignorant and backward, but it does a disservice to other independent booksellers in the Kansas City area
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You can express your opinion to Prospro's (info@prosperosbookstore.com) or you could do something more constructive, like visiting your local indie bookstore this week. Hug the owner if you have to, but more importantly buy a book and give it a place of honor at home.
Please feel free to support the work we are doing at the Crossroads Infoshop & Radical Bookstore. We're always interested in book donations. Hell, tell Propsero's to drop some books off with us. We won't burn them.
Please feel free to support the work we are doing at the Crossroads Infoshop & Radical Bookstore. We're always interested in book donations. Hell, tell Propsero's to drop some books off with us. We won't burn them.
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