Book inscriptions inspire travel, and make great souvenirs

I walked into the wrong bookstore in Granada, Spain last February, but I’m so glad I did. I was looking for an English-language bookstore on Calle Gracia called Metro, but instead I wound up at a different shop just a few doors down. Libreria Praga shelves mostly Spanish titles, but has a small section of used English-language books. A spine with Simon Winchester’s name caught my eye, and I was soon the owner of a used copy of The Professor and the Madman. This story about the making of the Oxford English Dictionary seemed like something I’d enjoy (which I did when I read it a few months later) but I bought the book simply because of the fascinating inscription I found written in blue ink on the title page:

August 18, 2003: For darling Maggie on her one hundred and fifty-sixth birthday from him who unabashedly adores her – U. David.

Actually, there is another short word scribbled before “U. David”, probably a first name or initial, but I can’t quite make it out. But what an interesting discovery, huh? Was it an inside joke between old friends? Or did someone really live for as many years as Hong Kong was under British rule? Highly unlikely. There is surely a backstory, and one that most likely will remain untold. But for a book-lovin’ traveler, this is one of the best souvenirs around.

If you’ve come across interesting inscriptions, consider submitting them to The Book Inscription Project, a neat online effort to collect special book messages found by readers worldwide. Two recently posted travel-inspired inscriptions on the site reminded me that I have to submit my Granada discovery. Take a look at these: First, a short note to a voyager about finding his special island, inside a copy of Vonnegut’s Galapagos. Second, a Christmas gift for a nomad — a copy of On the Road, the only book that moves as incessantly as he does.

Books move and messages get carried with them, from one reader to the next. What travel treasures have you found (or left for others) inside the front cover of a book?

Foyles’ Read Around the World

One of London’s best independent bookstores, Foyles, has been hosting an in-store promotion that armchair travelers may want to know about. Read Around the World is a campaign that highlights literature and authors from different regions around the world. The Foyles grand tour of the continents includes promotions, competitions and events that center around a different part of the world every two months. They highlight cookbooks, travel guides, photography and art books, as well as world music from each region, all hand-picked by Foyles staff.

They are still showcasing Europe titles on their (recently revamped) website and also South America, the next continent to be highlighted in their literary tour. Beginning in December they will shift their focus to Asia, and round out the circumnavigation with a final promotional phase for Australasia. If you live in the UK or will be visiting at all between now and the end of February, be sure to visit one of Foyles locations, and be transported to someplace else.

The “Why Indie Bookstores Matter” Tour

Oh man, do I want to ride along on this one! (In fact, be certain that I will at some point!) My bookstore lovin’ pal Larry Portzline has planned an awesome traveling adventure. The creative genius behind the Bookstore Tourism movement has just announced that he will embark on a 10-week cross country road trip that will include stops at 200 independent bookstores in all fifty states.

What better way to spread awareness of indie bookstores, promote literacy and reading, and spread the word about Bookstore Tourism? Larry will drive across the U.S. and fly to Alaska and Hawaii, celebrating indie spirit all the way. At each bookstore Larry will interview owners, booksellers and customers and ask: “Why do indie bookstores matter?” He’ll post updates, pictures and podcasts on the tour’s blog.

It’s no coincidence that
Larry chose “Independence Week” to announce the kickoff of his tour. And what about his April 1, 2008 departure date? “April Fool’s Day seems appropriate for something a little Quixotic like a cross-country trip to support indie booksellers,” he explained.

That’s nine months from today, so hopefully it gives Larry plenty of time to line up the sponsorship he is seeking to help defray the cost of the trip. He’ll also be soliciting folks for suggestions about bookstores to add to his itinerary; and will invite fans to make a donation and ride along with him for a day or two. “We won’t have luxury accommodations, but it’ll be a ridiculous amount of fun,” he said.

The national tour is merely a variation on the group bookstore road trips that he and others have led around the U.S. Except, as Larry makes sure to point out: “Instead of a luxury motorcoach, we’re taking my minivan. And I get the final say on the music choices.” Seems fair and sounds like loads of fun. But Larry — will you be pimping-out the van with a super cool bookstore-on-wheels motif?

Here at Gadling, we’ll be sure to keep you updated on tour plans as things progress. Kudos to Larry for a most excellent road trip idea.


Reading the World

For the third year in a row, June marks the beginning of Reading the World, a collaboration between publishers and booksellers to bring readers attention to a variety of global literary voices. Throughout the month, indy bookstores across the country will prominently display a selection of international books that have been translated into English. The forty books featured this year represent literature from Lithuania, Iraq, Norway, Chile and more.

I attended a session at Book Expo this year where I listened to the folks behind this program speak about the challenges of getting foreign translations published and available for larger audiences. Did you know that over 50 percent of all books in translation now published worldwide are translated from English, but only 6 percent are translated into English?! That’s a ton of stuff being written around the world that we just don’t have access to…unless we can read in other languages, of course.

Here’s the first part of an interview with the program’s manager, Chad Post. In it, he explains that the spirit of Reading the World is one that seeks to raise cultural awareness and showcase viewpoints and opinions from the international literature community, and does so by highlighting works originally written in a language other than English. Take a look at their list of suggested books, maybe you’ll find one written by an author from or about a place you may be visiting soon.

Dupont Circle: Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe

While I’ve got D.C. on my mind, it’s best I mention one of the coolest bookstores in town: Kramerbooks and Afterwords Cafe is probably the first indy bookstore I’ve been to where the cafe is bigger than the bookstore. Actually, the first time I visited this Dupont Circle landmark, it was a dark summer evening and we sat outside and had dinner on the restaurant side. I didn’t even know there was a bookstore on the other side.

This could mean that some folks who enter from the bookstore side are so immersed in their browsing that they don’t notice the cafe in the back…doubtful, but I guess still a possibility?! The point is, my dear readers, that regardless of which side you enter from, be sure to partake in both halves of this wonderful bookstore cafe, which recently celebrated 30 years in the biz.

Besides the bookshop and cafe, there is an adjoining bar and live music performances. I’ve heard great things about their Sunday brunch, and I can report that the generous serving of cinnamon ice cream is worth the trip alone. Do you need any more reasons to visit?