Independents' Day

in.de.pend.ent. adj. Free from influence, guidance or control of others; self-reliant.


Movies may come to mind when you hear John Sayles' name. But books? Back in the 1970s, the future independent film director was writing short stories and novels. Check out his collection of short stories, "Anarchists' Convention." Not surprisingly, his films, including "Secret of Roan Inish", "Eight Men Out" and "Matewan" are all character-driven stories. Not a car chase or a green screen special effect to be seen.


An idea for a book had been kicking around in Sayles' mind and when a strike hit the entertainment industry a few years ago, he took that time off to return to writing and completed "A Moment in the Sun." A massive 968 pages, the book is a sweeping look at the world in the late 1800s. Fictional characters mingle with actual historic figures such as Mark Twain and Joseph Pulitzer.

Sayles discovered that selling a highly independent (and long) book had the same troubles as selling a highly independent film. Does the book industry believe that Americans, in general, no longer have the patience or attention span for a long and serious book? Enter McSweeney's publishing house which was founded by Dave Eggers, an author himself. At last, the book saw the light of day and was published this past summer.

When it was time for Sayles to tour for "A Moment in the Sun" he chose independent book stores from coast-to-coast. He and his partner, Maggie, set off to drive across America in a rented Prius and shared their adventures in a blog:


http://johnsaylesbaryo.blogspot.com


Visiting an independent bookstore is a good way to get to know a city. Make some time to kick back in a leather chair, have a cup of coffee or glass of wine, and thumb through a few books at any of these fine establishments. Buy a book, too!


*Tattered Cover - Denver (three locations). The 16th Street at Wynkoop location has wooden floors, scarred leather furniture and almost endless rooms. In other words, a perfect bookstore.

*Strand - New York City. The ad said 18 miles of books. I thought it was hyperbole until I stepped inside. Now I think they may have underestimated the mileage!

*City Lights - San Francisco. It felt like walking into a shrine. And the shop is a shrine of sorts, dedicated to books and ideas. (above photo - City Lights)

*Prairie Lights - Iowa City, IA. The shining star of Iowa City, which is also a UNESCO City of Literature. IC is the home to the famed University of Iowa Writers' Workshop. (Trivia question: can you name any of the other UNESCO Cities of Literature? See answer below)

*Powell's - Portland, OR. A really good travel agent will suggest trying a bottle of wine from one of Oregon's excellent wineries (I suggest Chehalem), and a walk through Powell's.


While roaming around bookstores, look for these books by John Sayles:


A Moment in the Sun
Anarchists' Convention (short stories)
Union Dues
Pride of the Bimbos
Thinking in Pictures
Los Gusanos
Dillinger in Hollywood (short stories)


The reading community of Nashville has a new patron saint. Author Ann Patchett (State of Wonder, Bel Canto) was so upset that her city would be left without an indy bookstore that she is now the co-owner of Parnassus, which opened in November 2011. Thank you, Ann!!





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