March 24, 2025 • 46 mins
Join Amanda and Kelsey as they navigate BookTok drama, reveal their favorite bookstores in Seattle and Portland, and debate the essentials of the perfect store. Delight in their tangents, cramped bookstore dilemmas, and dreams of running their own literary haven.
Follow us on TikTok & Youtube @litvibesonlypodcast and on Instagram @litvibesonly_podcast. We'd love to hear from you!
See you on Mondays!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Amanda (00:04):
Welcome to Lit Vibes Only, where we lit the shit out
of books we love and hate.
I'm Amanda.
Kelsey (00:09):
And I'm Kelsey.
Yes, you are.
Welcome back here.
today we have a fun Lit chatsepisode for you.
but before we get into it, wewant to redirect you yet again
to our socials so that you cancome hang out with us.
once you've listened to theepisode, we are on Instagram at
live vibes, only underscorepodcasts.
(00:32):
And we are on tick tock at livevibes, only podcast.
And our full length episodes arealso on YouTube at live vibes,
only podcast.
And, Always feel free to emailus with your thoughts,
perspectives, hot takes, atlitvibesonlypodcasts at gmail.
com.
So I
Amanda (00:51):
always forget our email.
Kelsey (00:53):
Yeah, well, I don't, yeah, people aren't using it
yet.
So
Amanda (00:57):
we're plugging it.
Kelsey (00:58):
so yeah, and always, always please come rate and
review the podcast as that isthe thing that helps us the most
in getting traction and otherlisteners,, to see us.
And so, do that as well.
We can't
Amanda (01:12):
stick around without that.
Kelsey (01:13):
Yeah.
Apple and Spotify.
That would be lovely.
Thank you.
All
Amanda (01:18):
right.
Kelsey (01:19):
So excited for this lovely little chat
Amanda (01:21):
today.
Yeah.
But before that.
It's time for my like weeklytick tock, no book talk news
update book talk tea, like yoursegment, the book talk tea with
Kelsey with Kelsey.
Kelsey (01:33):
so funny.
Okay.
So I don't, I was just tellingAmanda, I don't have like the
full low down because like theoriginal video is like deleted
and stuff and I haven't beenable to find it, but, yeah.
It's already a hot take.
but anyway, the.
The fact that so this is comingout in March, but we are
recording in February and it isstill black history month and
(01:53):
there is rage bait happening,around black history month and
black authors.
And so somebody said, I don'teven know who the original video
is from, but somebody said thatthey were like, I don't.
Like reading Black authors,because I can't relate to the
content in the books.
(02:13):
Oh my god.
And then also, someone said, andI think it was the same person,
but someone said, Oh yeah,because also, there's so much
trauma in those books.
By Black authors.
Amanda (02:27):
Oh, there is, oh my god.
This is the first time thatAmanda is hearing this.
This is appalling, like, I, ohmy, oh,
Kelsey (02:36):
yeah.
So yeah, so there's like just,there's a lot of conversation
happening around like, yeah, whyyou read black authors or like
authors from differentperspectives than your own.
And then also just the issuesaround.
Well, it's just like
Amanda (02:52):
such a privileged thing to say, right.
To be able to be like, well,this has no impact on me and
like, it doesn't affect me and Idon't understand it.
Like, whereas like.
Everyone else has to understandwhite culture and how to be
white and how to move throughthis world in order to survive
and get by and be successful.
Like we don't have the option.
And so for you to be like, Oh,like I can't relate to it.
(03:14):
Like it means nothing to me.
I'm like, that's also soselfish, like.
Where is your empathy?
Where's your curiosity?
Where's your desire to learn andunderstand and connect?
it is, yeah, that's just sooutrageous.
Kelsey (03:28):
Reading is such a great way to do that too.
And that is a safe way to do itbecause you're just doing it by
yourself.
You're just reading on your ownand you don't have to like make
videos about it or anything.
You just like.
You just get to read it and thenbe like, Oh yeah, I didn't like
that.
Or yeah, I did like that.
Like, or let me process this.
Amanda (03:46):
Yeah.
And I think the other thing thatmakes me really infuriated is
like the bit about like, Oh,their books are full of trauma.
I'm like, Oh yeah.
Why don't you stop for a momentand think about why that might
be the case?
Where am I, where might thistrauma be coming from?
Good question.
Oh my God.
I don't, you know, it's a goodthing.
(04:08):
I just dip my toes into theworld of Tik Tok because I just,
yeah, I think I get too likeoverly invested and be like, I
mean, they're accomplishing thegoal that they have if it's rage
bait because I'm just like, what
Kelsey (04:23):
is the other point of that?
You know, like it's justsomeone, yeah.
Yeah.
I don't know.
Exactly.
And so if you didn't know,Amanda and I kind of split up
social media in a way where Imostly monitor take talk and she
mostly monitors Instagram, incomments.
(04:44):
And so she'll watch moreInstagram videos than I do.
and I'll watch more Tik Tokvideos than she does.
that kind of was a
Amanda (04:52):
natural, I feel like bookstagram is kinder than
booktalk.
I mean, I feel like booktalk isa lovely community as well, I'm
sure.
But I just feel like I don'tcome across as much like.
Controversy on bookstagram,whereas booktalk, it feels like
that's where like chaos happensoccasionally,
Kelsey (05:11):
maybe only.
Yeah, no, I think rage bait isdefinitely a huge trigger, for
videos to become popular onbooktalk.
and so that for sure is a tacticthat people will use.
Gosh, who is that woman thatdoes the, whiteboard stuff?
Is it Brit and her books?
Amanda (05:29):
I think it's Brit and her books.
Kelsey (05:31):
That, those are the only Instagram ones
Amanda (05:34):
I will watch.
Oh my god, I fucking love thataccount.
She's so funny.
And like, does not care.
She will just say whatever sheneeds to say.
She has no filter.
She's like, fuck
Kelsey (05:43):
off
Amanda (05:44):
then.
Kelsey (05:45):
Like, in the comments I've seen her say stuff like
that.
I'm like, yes, she does not havetime.
She'll be like, she'll have her,this is where the side of like,
social media we should stay on.
But, she, she goes and sayslike, what is it called?
Book?
Recommendations.
I don't want people people
Amanda (06:03):
that I don't want book recommendations.
Yeah.
And a
Kelsey (06:05):
lot of them have to do like, I one was like when she,
Had this white person getting,like, oh braids.
I like often black women womenwear and she was like No, thank
you.
And then someone, someone waslike, this is really awful that
you're just stereotyping oneperson because of this.
And she's like, fuck off.
(06:26):
Yes.
It was so great.
It was so great.
I don't even engage.
I want to shut it down and moveon.
Yes.
I want to like in have some ofthat energy.
Oh my gosh.
Great.
Wow.
Amanda (06:44):
Anyway, no, it's actually not a change because
like.
BookTok will actually leadreally beautifully into this
topic, which we're going to betalking about like bookstores
today.
And BookTok has like played areally pivotal role.
I think I don't have like a tonof proof necessarily to back
this up, but it feels likeBookTok has played a really
pivotal role in helping to,bolster the independent like
(07:07):
book seller community.
Right.
And making sure that like those.
Their doors are staying open.
Kelsey (07:12):
Oh, totally.
But not even just independentbookstores like Barnes and Noble
even was like on a downwardspiral and they were closing
stores.
And what was it this year?
They're opening like 60 orsomething.
Amanda (07:24):
So yeah.
Kelsey (07:26):
And.
Go ahead.
Amanda (07:28):
Well, I was going to say the other thing that's so funny
is that BookTok has becomelegitimized in the sense that if
you go to bookstores now, evenon, on Amazon, actually, it'll
be like this book is likerecommended by BookTok, right?
It'll have like the BookTokstamp of approval and it's, it's
a little wild if you think aboutit.
Right.
Cause it really just started offas a group of, you know.
Folks just like us, like readingbooks and stating their opinions
(07:50):
and creating this community.
And now people are like lookingto booktalk, right?
To determine like, what's thenext big read and what should I
be reading?
Kelsey (07:57):
Honestly, like.
That's where I get a lot of my,I know
Amanda (08:01):
for you, especially
Kelsey (08:02):
it's Rex.
I'll be like, they'll say onesentence about it.
I'm like, that sounds good.
I don't even read about it.
I just like pick it up.
I'm
Amanda (08:11):
trying to think like, where do I get my book recs
from?
Cause it's not from book talk.
I feel like it's from.
Sometimes on bookstagram.
I feel like I've gottenrecently, I've gotten quite a
few from book huddle.
she's an Instagrammer.
but also I will find like listsof book recommendations on like
through different social mediaaccounts that aren't necessarily
like on bookstagram proper.
(08:31):
I know like Betches, which islike a, Yeah.
books
Kelsey (08:35):
and bitches.
Amanda (08:36):
You mean different?
No, not books and bitches.
Just bitches.
Oh.
I'll, they'll like, every nowand then they'll post like a
list of like, books to read andI'll always scroll through
those.
Oh, funny.
Yeah.
But, or just like word of mouth,like, I just got ninth house not
that long ago from like a fellowbook lover that I am friends
with and she's like, I know it'sfantasy, but I think you would
like it that I picked
Kelsey (08:54):
up So there's another like Indian girl, books to gram
mm-hmm That I follow and I'mlike, Ooh, I could read that.
Yeah.
Amanda (09:01):
Yeah.
I mean, and literally, like Iwas just on Instagram this
morning and found, and I justactually posted about it on our
Instagram, she's like anotherhistorical fiction, girly, and
was talking about an author I'dnever heard of.
And I was like, Oh my gosh, thisis like right up my alley.
And I just added one of theirbooks to my TBR and I'm like,
Kelsey (09:17):
there you go.
Amanda (09:17):
That's what happens.
Your TBR has been getting
Kelsey (09:20):
longer and longer.
Oh,
Amanda (09:21):
it never, I literally, I have one, two, three, four,
five, six, seven, seven books,not including the one I'm
currently reading stacked up onmy.
coffee table that I, that I needto read.
And that is my like physicalTBR.
It's not my like Libby holds TBRor like my longer good reads
TBR.
Like,
Kelsey (09:38):
yeah, I was always curious like how people like
talk about their TBR.
Like when they're talking aboutphysical TPR, TBR, TBR, is that
what they're saying?
Like, Oh, this is my TBR.
Or, are they talking about,like, their Goodreads TBR, you
know, cause like,
Amanda (09:58):
Goodreads, cause that's like all Cause all of the books
currently on my coffee table,aside from the one that you gave
me for my birthday, are like, onmy TBR.
Well, except for Iron Flame anda Court of Wings and Ruin,
because that's just, I have toread that.
I mean, now it is.
Yeah, so I guess, yeah.
But yeah, they're all books thatare on my legitimate TBR, which
(10:21):
is my Goodreads.
Okay.
Yeah.
Where you can talk abouteverything.
Or it's Yeah.
Anyways, yes, yes, yes.
But bookstores, bookstores.
So today's all about bookstores.
We're going to talk about likewhat we love in bookstores, what
we look for.
And we're also going to, youknow, we're in Seattle, we're in
the PNW.
So we're also going tohighlight, a couple of Seattle
bookstores for those who areeither in the area or who might
(10:41):
be visiting soon.
And then we have one that is notin Seattle, but that is in
again, the larger PNW area.
Yeah.
but before we get started withthe things that we look for, I
do have a confession to make,which, which might surprise
people because, you know, we arebook podcasters.
We both love to read like booksare a thing, but, I don't go to
(11:03):
bookstores often and I feel alittle bad saying that out loud
because it makes me feel like,oh my gosh, I must not be a
truly good book person, but likemy reason for not going quite
simply is.
Well, two reasons.
One, if I go to a bookstore, I'mgoing to be compelled to buy too
many books.
And I financially cannot justsupport that habit too, is I
(11:25):
find it.
I don't know if anybody else canspeak to this.
This might just because bebecause I'm an anxious person.
I find bookstores anxietyinducing.
Because it's why I have a lovehate relationship with them
because part of me is like, Ohmy God, so many books, how
exciting and party was like, Ohmy God, so many books, I'm never
going to get to all of them.
Like, I feel so overwhelmed.
Where do we even start?
I find it very, over stimulatingin a way.
(11:48):
Cause I'm just like, there's somuch here.
There's so many amazing storiesand I'm never going to get to
them all.
and I've told people that I've,I've said this for years and
years and years and they're alllike, you know, okay, Amanda,
but it's true.
And then I take out my phonecause I'm like, okay, I'm not
going to buy all of these books.
And then I'm just adding so manybooks to my Goodreads TBR and I
leave with like 20 new books.
I'm like, I can't do this.
Like I'm sure.
(12:09):
Okay.
Bye.
So I just want to like prefacethat all by saying that I'm not
somebody who goes to bookstoresoften as much as I appreciate
them.
I tend to go to them more oftenwhen I'm traveling because I
love seeing new bookstores.
Oh yeah.
And their layout and things, butdidn't want to just like preface
all of that.
Sometimes I kind of avoid themto be honest.
Kelsey (12:26):
That all makes a lot of sense though.
It's so funny though, but, youtalk about your spending habit,
like you would.
You're like, I have to avoidthis.
And, a lot of book talk is justabout like, Oh, just bought some
new books, even though I'm on abook buying band.
Like there's like no, no supportin that area.
(12:48):
Everyone's kind of just like, Ohyeah, I'll just buy.
Whatever I need.
I have no self control either.
Amanda (12:54):
Well, cause that's the other thing too is like, and
we've talked about this before,I think on here, like I live in
a one bedroom apartment.
Like I, if I bought books at therate I read them, I, it would
look like an episode of hoardersin here.
You know, like it just like,
Kelsey (13:07):
it's not stateable.
What's the date today?
It's February 23rd.
And Amanda, tell us how manybooks you've read so far this
year already.
Amanda (13:16):
I think 17 or 18.
It's not that late.
Kelsey (13:19):
No,
Amanda (13:20):
you've been reading so much recently.
It's been great.
Kelsey (13:23):
But yeah, you would have a library very soon.
Yeah,
Amanda (13:27):
I would just be like, yeah, as much as I would love
that, I would love to have alibrary, but I have no space.
I'm also, since I'm not arereader, it's like, they would
just be there for show after Iread them.
Like, I'm not going to go backand reread them.
So it's not really practical forme.
Kelsey (13:41):
But I really do like reading and like, referencing.
books.
Yeah.
Or just like, yeah.
one thing that I do that isn'tvery typical of like booktalkers
is, I don't like buying anunfinished series because I do,
I do want them all to match.
And also it.
(14:02):
What if they have like a reallygreat, like special edition when
it's all done?
And like, what are we supposedto do?
Like have all these mismatched?
Yeah, I feel like people dothat.
Oh yeah, people do.
But like, yeah, I haven't boughtACOTAR because of that.
And I haven't bought Fourth Wingbecause of that.
(14:23):
I thought ACOTAR was finished.
Amanda (14:24):
Is it not done?
No, it's
Kelsey (14:26):
not.
Wait, what?
Yeah.
There's going to be anotherbook.
Another book is coming out like2026.
Oh Lord.
And it's likely going to beabout Elaine.
Amanda (14:36):
Oh, so it's
Kelsey (14:37):
not following, what's her name?
Feyre.
Feyre.
No, I think like Feyre's seriesis done.
Like the three.
Amanda (14:43):
Oh, so it's kind of like, okay.
And
Kelsey (14:45):
then it's an extension.
Yeah.
Amanda (14:47):
Oh, okay.
Well, okay.
All right.
Yeah.
Kelsey (14:49):
Wings didn't run the one that you have right now.
Yeah.
that is like the final.
That, not the end, but it's anatural wrap up, but she's in
the other books.
Okay.
But not as the main character.
Not as the main character.
I see.
Amanda (15:03):
Okay.
Because
Kelsey (15:04):
Nesta is the main character of the, book after,
but there is that novella whereI guess she is the main
character, but it's a novella.
Amanda (15:12):
Well, I, yeah, I do have Ackawar on my, I'm looking at
Ackawar because I got it from myfriend Anna and, Yeah.
It's just so freaking long andI'm like, oh,
Kelsey (15:22):
it is long, but I think you're going to like it more
though.
Amanda (15:26):
yeah, I might save it for another school break.
I might wait to dive into itthen, but I will get, I think
I'm going to read Iron Flamewithin the next couple of weeks
because it's here and it'sshorter and I don't want the
details from the first book toleave my mind.
So, but anyhow, we keep goingoff on tangents.
Okay.
So let's talk about.
Like our ideal bookstore.
(15:47):
Like what we look for in abookstore that makes us happy.
I can see from our, like ourlist, like there's definitely
some pretty overlap, but it'spretty similar.
I think the only thing that'sdifferent from mine, which is
the one I'll start with this,like.
For me, I enjoy bookstores thatare like airy and open and
(16:07):
spacious.
And I know you're like, okay,that's kind of a random thing to
say, but have you ever been inlike one of those little, I
don't know, kind of mom and popkind of bookstores where it's
just, you're crammed in there.
There's.
Books on the floor.
The aisles are narrow.
Everyone's on top of each other.
Like I am claustrophobic andwhen I'm in stores like that, I
(16:28):
know some people might find itlike cute and cozy and cluttered
and I'm like, get me out ofhere.
I can't actually enjoy browsingbecause I feel like I'm
suffocating and so then I don'twant to dawdle.
Right.
I'm like in and out.
So I think for me, like.
and I'm like, okay, like I cantake a moment because I have
(16:49):
been, and this is usually forlike used bookstores, I think
more so than ones that focus onlike new books.
I'm sure you've been in themtoo.
You know what I'm talking about?
It's just like, Yeah.
It kind of feels like, a room inyour grandmother's house, right?
And it's just like kind ofmusty, right?
There's kind of stuffeverywhere.
The organization isn't supergreat.
Kelsey (17:08):
Yeah.
Amanda (17:09):
Not for me.
Kelsey (17:10):
I, I also am not a huge fan of used bookstores because
they do feel like that.
and like the whole stacking ofbooks on the floor.
I'm like, I don't get that.
I'm sorry, I'm not going to gosifting through them, just
looking for random books.
So I partially agree.
I don't need them to have likewide open spaces and things like
(17:33):
that.
That's nice.
But I, I definitely don't likethe stacked books or like that,
that feeling.
That
Amanda (17:40):
you can't win.
Or just like the narrow aislesthat bothers me.
Cause like, especially ifthere's multiple people in
there, you just kind of feellike you're all on top of each
other.
I just, I don't know.
That's a me thing.
And I'm just like, no, like Ineed space.
Kelsey (17:50):
But, yeah, yeah.
Amanda (17:53):
But one thing we do have in common is like employee
recommendations.
Love them.
Yes.
Especially because like as Imentioned, I get overwhelmed
sometimes with bookstores.
So having those little notes andthings helps to narrow my focus
down.
Like, all right, let me justkind of focus on these books,
see what they had to say.
And, you
Kelsey (18:09):
know, I sometimes wish they had fewer in the bookstore
actually, like employeerecommendations.
Cause I want to read all ofthem.
And I can't read 50 of them, youknow, what I also like is,
sometimes that that is adisplay, but then a huge
display, but then also they'lldo the smaller tags like within
(18:30):
the bookshelves itself thatthose ones I really like because
then I'm like, Oh, I was lookingat this book.
What are they saying about it?
Like, that's, that's
Amanda (18:37):
what I was referring to.
It's like, I like the tags morethan the display is like, here's
what our employees are reading.
Cause yeah, they're kind ofsprinkled throughout.
And generally there's a littleparagraph that accompanies it.
That's like, here's why I likedit.
And here's what you can expectfrom this book.
And it just, I don't know, it'ssuch a personal thing.
And yeah, you feel like you'rejust like book buds and you can
(18:58):
find books, similar tastes.
Kelsey (19:00):
I do like that.
Amanda (19:01):
So I really love when bookstores have those.
and then I think also we bothsaid this to you, just having
places to sit and read.
And I know not, not everybookstore can.
A comedy for this because it's,you know, you're, you're paying
for square footage and a biggerspace, but, it's nice especially
if you're book browsing to likesit down and maybe go through a
(19:22):
couple of pages and read throughit to see if it's something you
want to invest in or yeah,revisit a book that you already
love that you haven't picked upin a while.
cause it also feels more like alibrary and I love libraries.
Kelsey (19:36):
Yes.
So that's a
Amanda (19:36):
big one, a big one.
I agree.
I agree.
Kelsey (19:38):
I feel like Yeah, I want bookstores to feel like
libraries, you know, like youcan come in, study, or meet with
people, or read, or, you know,
Amanda (19:48):
yeah, just like bask in the bookishness.
Kelsey (19:51):
Yeah, I really love that.
I just went to a giant library.
And it was somewhat like that,but in Mexico city, if you ever
go, it's this, like, seriously,I, they probably have a million
books in there and it wasmassive and the shelves were
like hanging above you and youhad to like climb up on these
(20:15):
stairs and then, they had likeseven, maybe seven different
floors and you go up and thenyou can see all the books and
there's like giant space in themiddle and like.
Both sides.
Like, yeah, it was just, itlooks crazy from the
Amanda (20:29):
pictures you put.
And there
Kelsey (20:30):
were tons of areas to sit and read or study or do
whatever you're doing.
yeah.
Do you remember the name
Amanda (20:36):
of it
Kelsey (20:36):
yes.
Bibliotheca.
Okay,
Amanda (20:39):
I was like, aside from the word for library.
Kelsey (20:45):
La Biblioteca Vasconcelos.
Vasconcelos.
And it is in Ciudad de Mexico.
And, you can visit there and itdoesn't cost anything to visit.
You can just go and check thingsout.
Yeah, it looks
Amanda (20:56):
amazing.
Yeah.
Part of it reminded me of the,like, the top.
floor of the Seattle PublicLibrary, like the main one
downtown, because just like thestructure and like the
architecture of it reminded me abit of that.
but yeah, I love the library.
Oh my gosh.
I, I appreciate, I was going to,I was like, do I like libraries
more than bookstores?
I was like, no, I think I lovethem equally because they offer
(21:18):
different things.
But I, I remember even when Iwas looking for a college.
Back when I was in high school,one of my number one criteria
when I was, you know, going todo these campus visits was like
the library.
Like if it had a bad library, Iwas like, Nope, not even going
to consider this college.
Where
Kelsey (21:33):
did you go to college?
Do I even know?
I,
Amanda (21:35):
probably not.
It's so, it was when I went, itwas called Mount Union College.
It was like this teeny tiny,like 2000 person liberal arts
college in Ohio.
And then it's now the Universityof Mount Union.
so it's a bit bigger, but it'ssuper teeny.
and like their libraries was,was good, but I mainly went
cause I got a scholarship.
I was like,
Kelsey (21:55):
I was like, but if the library sucks, I'm not taking
the money.
Amanda (22:00):
I definitely would have at that point.
but yeah, libraries, I love,but, the last thing that I had
in common and you can mentionthe one thing that you had that
was different, or actually Iagree with this as well.
I just didn't put it on thelist.
That having an addition ofhaving like places to sit.
It is also nice if there's likean adjoining.
Cafe, and then that way, yeah,you can grab some friends, grab
your latest read it, grab a hotbeverage and a snack and stay
(22:22):
for a while, especially inSeattle.
Right.
Because we have these gray, wetwinters where you're not
necessarily going to want to beoutside, although you could.
And so finding places to curl upwith a book other than your
couch is just really, yes.
So, or
Kelsey (22:38):
bed or your bed,
Amanda (22:40):
your bed or your reading chair.
so I really love when, again,I'm not every bookstore can
accommodate for that, but whenthey can, I think that's just
such a lovely addition.
Kelsey (22:51):
And just makes me want to stay longer.
Exactly.
I got food.
Exactly.
Good
Amanda (22:55):
business model.
Kelsey (22:57):
I could see this going places, Amanda, for us.
as in we create a bookstorestore.
And on one side of thebookstore, it's Amanda's recs
And then the other side isKelsey's recs And it's like
completely different, likedecorations.
And then we have a boxing
Amanda (23:15):
ring in the middle where we just like go to town once a
month.
We don't actually fight.
We just sit in it and we likechat.
Yes.
Oh my gosh.
It'd be so fun.
But I like read your otherbullet points.
I like this one too.
Yeah.
Kelsey (23:29):
So I think one thing I think That Elliot Bay does
really well and we're going tohighlight that bookstore in a
bit, but they Highlight likevery different perspectives.
And authors like very well andthey do like, you know That was
monthly themes, but I think itgoes beyond that too where they
have very specific section Youknow, they have a queer section.
(23:51):
You're going to find like justabout anything there but they're
also putting that to theforefront too.
It's not just like, Oh, they'rejust like trinkled in, to, did
you say trinkled?
Trickled into the section.
Trinkled.
I've heard that.
so,
Amanda (24:06):
trinkled into, it's like a mix of trinkle and sprinkle.
It's trinkled.
Oh, there you go.
I'm
Kelsey (24:14):
just gonna say that now, it's actually at the forefront
and, they'll have like theirdisplays that showcase these
different, books and they'renot, they don't have a section
like found on TikTok.
Cause also I think that it's notdoing, I don't know, maybe they
are making a lot of sales forthat, but like, I don't come to
a bookstore to just find booksfrom book talk, right?
(24:37):
The ones that are popular.
I go to bookstores to see whatelse is out there, right?
And if those are the only oneshighlighted, then those are the
only ones that are going to beread.
You know what I mean?
And so I really love it when abookstore is going beyond that
and going beyond the trends andit's, it's interesting
Amanda (24:53):
that you mentioned that though, because, one of my
friends sent me a video maybelast month about Barnes and
Nobles and how there are kind ofseeing this like uptick, in
patronage and customers.
And one of the things theymentioned in there was the fact
that, you know, Book talk isreally helping with that.
And so a lot of bookstores arecreating displays, right.
Around what's trending on booktalking, what's turning on
(25:15):
social media to get people init.
I mean, it's working right.
And a lot of people are visitingfor those reasons, but yeah, I
think it's important to gobeyond that.
And yeah, I agree that ElliottBay does a really good job of
just in general, having like.
They have a very diversecollection and like they carry
books that I think some otherplaces might not, especially
depending on what state you'rein, or community.
and so yeah, that's superimportant and you know, a big
(25:36):
part of what we want to do hereon the podcast too.
And it's why we have like ourbook recs episodes each month as
well, because we want folks toread.
You know, different perspectivesand diverse authors.
are there any other things thatwe love about bookstores?
I'm trying to, I feel like thoseare the main ones for me.
That's gonna like make me.
Kelsey (25:53):
Yeah, I think those are the main ones.
And then even just like beingable to Because Seattle is a big
city, however, like I frequentplaces like Elliot Bay, like, I
don't know people yet there,but, there is another bookshop
that I go to where I know thewoman, and, I just think that
having that what is it?
(26:14):
Familiarity
Amanda (26:15):
around
Kelsey (26:16):
The workers there or even the actual owners with
their customers.
I really love that whenbookstores do that, or they're
just like.
And
Amanda (26:31):
I think going off of that too, like for me, a big
thing with bookstores isproximity.
So one of the reasons why I loveit because it's like a great
book, it is a great bookstore.
It's not just that it's alsolike, it's so convenient for me.
Like I can literally walk there.
from where I work and so I cango there before after work or
like during a long break andpick up a book or meet someone
after work for some tea in theircafe and a
Kelsey (26:50):
photo sesh
Amanda (26:51):
for a podcast.
We did do yes.
We did our promo photos atElliott Bay.
but yeah, so proximity is a bigthing.
And one thing.
Seattle's an interesting city.
Because, I mean it's notmassive, but it's, you know, a
sizable city, but it's broken upinto a series of like really
distinct neighborhoods.
Yeah.
And so each of thoseneighborhoods has like their
(27:12):
local bookshop or bookstore,which I love.
and.
Even though I don't live in CapHill, I work there and so it
feels kind of like, oh, this isone of my neighborhood like
bookstores and Yeah, just havingthat connection like you said
and familiarity is reallyimportant Yeah,
Kelsey (27:30):
one last thing is a lot of bookstores do this but Having
events for authors to come Ithink is really really fun.
I was so upset because I PennCole, the author of Spark of the
Other Flame, came to, actually Idon't know if you knew this, but
Third Place Books is owned byElliott Bay.
(27:51):
They're the same owners.
Oh, I didn't,
Amanda (27:52):
I didn't know that.
Kelsey (27:52):
And, Third Place Books had her talk last week and I was
like, oh my god, I'm so going.
Amanda (27:59):
And then you were gone.
I was in Mexico City and I wasso upset.
I was
Kelsey (28:05):
so upset.
Amanda (28:06):
She'll probably be back.
Kelsey (28:07):
Oh, because she's definitely an author.
I want to see.
And like, she is well known, butlike our local bookstores will
have authors like that.
Oh yeah.
I love that when, they do that.
Amanda (28:19):
I actually have another confession to make.
I've never been to an authorbook talk, ever, it's just never
happened.
Like I've gone to presentationsand speeches by people who have
written books, especially atconferences.
Yeah.
You know, and I've gotten tolike, kind of hear authors talk
about their work in that sense,but I've never gone to like a
bookstore.
Like that had you know an authorcoming in and giving a talk and
(28:43):
then doing a book signing likeI've never done that in Like an
intimate setting which would becool to do.
Kelsey (28:48):
I Have but it's been a while But one of the ones that I
have gone to which was partiallybecause he's a celebrity but
Rainn Wilson Actually, he's fromhere.
Yeah.
he wrote the book.
What was it called?
Boom.
Soul boom or something likethat.
he came to Seattle and yeah,he's from here and grew up.
(29:11):
Oh my God.
It was like wild, to think.
But anyway, that was like, Itwas a book talk, but it also
like, you know, cause he's acelebrity.
He talked about some otherthings too.
yeah.
Soul boom is what it's called.
Amanda (29:23):
That was a more
Kelsey (29:24):
recent ones.
Yeah.
Amanda (29:26):
I need to add that to my bucket list to try and do a book
talk this year.
okay.
Yeah, we should go together andthen we can like, tell people
we're going and be like hey.
Kelsey (29:35):
And
Amanda (29:36):
Amanda loves it.
We have to find, we have to findan author, do we have an author
that we both mutually like?
I don't know.
I, well, we both liked, wellshe's not alive anymore, but we
both liked Kindred.
Oh yeah, yeah.
And we both for the most partliked Kennedy Ryan from last
Kelsey (29:52):
month as well.
Yeah, yeah.
If Ijeoma ever does a talk, likewe could go to one of hers.
Oh, that would be cool, yeah.
We would definitely go to that.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Amanda (29:59):
For sure.
For sure.
We'll put it on our bucket listfor this year.
so what we want to do as well,like we've mentioned before, is
take a little bit of time justto highlight a couple of, again,
local and PNW based bookstores.
Again, for folks who both arelistening and live in this area
and for folks who, you know,might find yourself in this neck
of the woods.
So we have two, largerbookstores and then two that are
(30:22):
a bit more niche.
and we're going to start withthe, the bookstore you hear
about so much from this podcast,from us, which is the Elliott
Bay book company.
it's here in Seattle, it's inCap Hill.
and I learned a little bit moreabout its background.
Preparing for this episode.
So it started back in theseventies in 1973.
(30:42):
and, a lovely man named WalterCarr started it.
And he actually, for those ofyou who are familiar with the
Seattle area, it started out inpioneer square, so not a cap
Hill.
And then in 2010, they relocatedeverything over to cap Hill
where it is now.
it is.
Yeah.
It's crazy.
Kelsey (30:59):
I heard that it's actually, it was a much bigger
down in Pioneer Square.
Amanda (31:03):
Yeah.
That's what I heard too.
Kelsey (31:05):
So
Amanda (31:05):
they downsized a bit, but it's still, I mean, the, the
L.
A.
Bay, like book company, it'sstill quite a sizable store.
It's not like you're like alittle kind of hole in the wall
store at all.
very spacious.
There.
Yeah.
Just along their front, I guess.
Actually, I think there's no,there's windows in the cafe.
On the backside.
(31:25):
Yeah.
There's one.
There's like two, I think.
There's natural light.
and the cool thing about LA BabeBook Company is that now, even
though it was founded by a man,it's now a both a woman owned
and a queer owned business.
So like, we love that.
Very cool.
and like we said, has not only adiverse collection of books, but
a very large selection.
(31:46):
They carry around 150, 000titles, which is
Kelsey (31:49):
a lot.
Amanda (31:51):
so you can find pretty much anything there, like, it's
like library sized.
Kelsey (31:56):
And if they don't have it, you can order it through
them.
So, so that's,
Amanda (32:00):
I'm glad you pointed that out because like, in
addition to it having like,their brick and mortar
collection, they also have awebsite that you can order books
through as well.
If they don't have them in storeand like all of the books that I
pre ordered, I pre ordered itlike online through their
website.
and then another cool thing,this ties into what we were just
talking about, like almost dailythey host, like author reading
(32:20):
series as well.
So it's also a hub for thecommunity as well.
So they've got events going onall the time.
and it's just, yeah, very much aspace to connect and, you know,
meet other bookish folks.
You know, a
Kelsey (32:33):
funny thing too, I, I've seen multiple times because, oh
God.
I love going to Elliott Bay, isthat they host a coffee tasting
at, Elliott Bay.
I think, it's like one of thosewhere they have a relationship
with someone that does the tour.
And so they come in and they'llhave these like people sitting
(32:53):
around that big table in thecafe and they'll be like tasting
their coffee.
Yeah.
They go off to their next place.
Amanda (32:59):
I will say though, one of the things that is a little
frustrating about Elliott Bay isthat it is so hard to get a seat
in their cafe.
I absolutely, I have actuallynever been to the, I mean, I've
walked into it and every singletime I've gone to like find a
spot, I there's, I've never,I've literally never been able
to get a seat.
So I don't know if my timing isjust, it's probably the timing.
Kelsey (33:19):
Yeah.
Amanda (33:20):
Because I'm going, after school, and so it's like, I
don't know, like, 315, 330, so Iguess people are still, like,
doing work from home type stuff,and also, Or
Kelsey (33:27):
kids, you know, like, older kids are, Getting off.
Amanda (33:31):
No, but there's just never seats.
Kelsey (33:33):
Yeah.
I would say Saturdays andSundays are really hard, but
then like Friday evenings arepretty quiet.
Oh, that would, that would makesense.
But you, that doesn't make sensefor you to like be there.
So anyway.
I would say, yeah, those are thetimes that we have had success,
but yeah, they could definitelyuse like an expansion,
Amanda (33:53):
we love Elliot Bay.
like I said, we did our promophotos there.
And so if you're in the area, orvisiting, and it's also like in
the heart of Cap Hill too, so ifyou are visiting, it's like, oh,
you're already in Cap Hillanyway, like stop by and snag a
book.
Yeah.
Support a local bookstore.
Kelsey (34:08):
Mm hmm.
Amanda (34:09):
Okay.
Cool.
Give me the next one.
Kelsey (34:10):
Well, I'm going to be highlighting Powell's City of
Books, which is located inPortland, Oregon.
And this is like a really famousbookstore, even across the
country.
it is larger than Ellia Bay.
Much longer by a lot.
but like you said, it is not inSeattle.
It is in Portland, Oregon, whichis not too far from us.
(34:33):
and anytime I go down there, Ilike to go to at least one of
their locations.
but this particular one we arehighlighting is the largest.
of their, locations and theoriginal, I believe, right?
Mm
Amanda (34:47):
hmm.
Yep.
Kelsey (34:47):
so they're located in the Pearl District, opened in
1971.
So similar to Elliott Bay.
Yeah, two years apart.
They've been around
Amanda (34:57):
for
Kelsey (34:57):
quite a while.
I wonder what it was about the70s.
The 70s.
Everyone's like, let's buybooks.
Yeah, yeah.
so this is a third generationfamily owned business that is
now being run by Emily Powell,which is just, that's wild.
It's just like stayed in thefamily.
That's insane.
she's the granddaughter of thefounder, Michael Powell.
(35:19):
It is the largest used and newbookstore in the world.
Amanda (35:24):
It's crazy.
It occupies an entire cityblock.
That's yeah.
That's like one of the reasonswhy it's like.
Kelsey (35:30):
I did know it was an entire city block, but that,
okay, largest bookstore in the,wow.
I am just like wrestling withthat.
They're like used and newbookstore.
I
Amanda (35:40):
think that's the important thing.
Cause it's probably like alarger, just like new
Kelsey (35:44):
bookstore.
Amanda (35:44):
Yeah.
New bookstore.
Yeah.
Kelsey (35:46):
so yeah.
And it's occupying an entirecity block and housing
approximately.
Yeah.
Totally.
1 million books.
Yep.
Which is crazy.
There's a shit ton of booksthere.
Elliot Bay has
Amanda (35:57):
150, 000, which we think that's a lot.
That is a lot.
Kelsey (36:01):
1 million.
But yeah, I get it because ifyou've ever been to Powell's, it
is a maze for one.
And there's like differentsections and it's so wild
because I was looking for,Specifically, when I was there
last, I was looking for, what isit called?
Dang it, it is a really popular,Zodiac Academy, okay?
Oh yeah, I've heard of that.
(36:21):
Zodiac Academy, and it has like12, 15 books, whatever.
And I thought I was gonna findit, like, really quickly.
But they, they were like, Oh,it's in our Romance section.
But in the Romance section, theyhave all these different
sections in it.
Yeah, sections.
Where it's like, paranormal, andlike, Dark romance, like it, it
is wild and it's like at leastthree different areas, right?
(36:44):
Like shelves or whatever.
Rose is what I want to say forjust that one genre and all of
the sub genres and then you gointo a completely different room
and then you're in likehistorical fiction or a fantasy.
It's a completely differentsection and it's just like,
it's, it's wild.
And then there's children'sbooks, there's technical books,
there's everything under the sunthere.
(37:06):
Well, to your
Amanda (37:07):
point, it has nine different color coded rooms and
within those there are over3000.
500 different sections.
Just like that.
That's never wash over you.
3, 500 sections.
Yes.
It's insane.
I remember when I went, it'swild.
My speaking of anxiety inducing,I was like, Oh my good Lord.
Like I physically don't knowwhere to start.
(37:28):
Like where do I even begin towander through this massive
building?
and it's difficult findingthings, but they also do the
employee recs, which I love.
Kelsey (37:35):
Yeah.
and then.
Also just highlighting one last,like not important detail but
like side note about them, isthat they have a one of a kind
rare book room.
Did you go to it or have you?
I didn't.
Did
Amanda (37:49):
you?
Kelsey (37:50):
No, I've, I've, I've actually never seen it.
It's
Amanda (37:53):
very rare.
It's just tucked away somewhere,
Kelsey (37:57):
which would not be surprising because it is a maze.
But there was something else Iwanted to say about Powell's,
but now I forgot.
Amanda (38:03):
I don't know.
Well, maybe it'll come to you,but I would say, yeah, if you
are in the PNW, if you're inPortland and you're a book
lover, like you, you can't notgo to Powell's.
I remember the very first time Iwent to Portland, that was like
one of the number one reasonswhy I was going was to check out
the bookstore, but definitelygive yourself.
At minimum an hour, like atminimum, just to like get the
(38:25):
lay of the land.
If you actually want to browse,give yourself like half a day or
several hours.
Kelsey (38:29):
Several, like for real though.
For real though.
Yeah.
Amanda (38:32):
No, it takes forever, especially if you want to go to
every section.
Kelsey (38:36):
That was the other thing I was going to say too, is that
I'll go to the bookstores, withmy husband, but like, I should
really go to bookstores bymyself because I'm never ready
to leave the bookstore, likeit's never, that's never, Oh
yeah, I'm done.
I just like peruse and peruseand peruse and peruse, be like,
Ooh, this book sounds cool.
(38:57):
Oh, what about this book?
And just like read.
The backs of all of them andjust find new things.
I love doing that.
And I can do that for hours.
Like maybe you and I should just
Amanda (39:09):
go down to Powell sometime and, just spend the day
later.
See this woman buried in thestack somewhere, like our hair's
a mess or just like haven'teaten.
Kelsey (39:26):
We're like, we're like, okay, here's the first three
hours, go do what you want.
And then we'll go to lunch andthen go back
Amanda (39:33):
and
Kelsey (39:35):
be so fun.
Amanda (39:35):
It would be so fun.
We should just do like a litvibes only book, a road trip
like down there.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's really wild.
And it's certainly.
Totally.
Totally.
I want to say it's the largestbookstore I've ever personally
been in.
I don't think I've ever been ina larger one.
Kelsey (39:50):
Bookstore, yes.
Library, no.
No, yeah.
I was just talking about thatlibrary.
I was surprised too, though,like there were bookstores
everywhere in the city of MexicoCity.
Sorry, I was like talking inSpanish.
The
Amanda (40:09):
city of Mexico.
Kelsey (40:11):
Yeah.
Around every corner, like I'd belike, and so Saudi would look at
me and he'd be like, anotherone.
And I'd be like, DJ Khaled,another one.
I actually just put down thesebooks that I bought in, Mexico
city.
I'm so excited about them.
I can't believe you boughtPride.
Your favorite.
Oh
Amanda (40:29):
my God.
Oh yeah.
I love anyhow, but now, now
Kelsey (40:34):
there's gonna be a second one.
And now I'm like, oh, great.
Now it's a series and I alreadybought the first one in the
series.
But you knew that
Amanda (40:40):
already.
'cause
Kelsey (40:41):
we talked about it on the phone.
I forgot
Amanda (40:44):
I was like, I want it.
Oh my goodness.
Well, any who?
Yes.
so yes, Powell's is amazing.
Elliot Bay is amazing.
But we also wanted to take time.
To highlight to lesser known andsmaller bookstores that we like,
they're a bit more niche and,have something a little
different to offer and kind ofstand out from the bookstore
world in their own special ways.
(41:05):
So Kelsey's got one.
And then I've got one as well.
Kelsey (41:08):
So also situated in Capitol Hill, is twice sold
tales and, Amanda, you've neverbeen here.
Amanda (41:15):
I've never been, I've literally dropped people off to
go there, but I've never beeninside.
Kelsey (41:19):
You're like, bye.
Peace.
So, the cool thing about Twicesold Tales, it is a used
bookstore, and does have thatthing going on, you know, where
it has stacks.
I know, I saw
Amanda (41:32):
through the window and
Kelsey (41:33):
I was like, don't need to go in there.
but it also has collectible andrare books, highlighted.
And so, The other really coolthing about this bookstore is
that it has four cats.
And I don't know what it isabout bookstores and cats, but
this is a really popular thing.
This was even, I just came backfrom Exo City, we didn't talk
about it.
(41:53):
There were also bookstores downthere with cats.
I'm like, what is this?
Cats love to read.
They're highly literate.
So,
Amanda (42:00):
and very discerning in their tastes.
Kelsey (42:04):
so it's a cool bookstore to check out if you're ever in
the area or you didn't knowabout it and you live here.
twice sold tails.
Amanda (42:11):
Yes.
If you're a cat lover, that isthe place for you.
In fact,, my cousin who came tovisit.
She loves cats, has like two ofher own, and she was like, I
have to go here.
And I was like, let me drop youoff and I will continue on my
way.
You're like, literally I willnot go in there.
I mean, maybe I will at somepoint, but, the other one we
wanted to highlight also in catpill.
and this one, It is, again, veryclose to where I work, but
(42:33):
haven't been, mainly becausethis place is a technical
bookstore, and so, on thesurface, I'm like, oh, there's
probably not a lot in there thatI would be interested in
reading, but, the name of it isAda's Technical Books and Cafe.
So it's another like combobookstore cafe, which we love.
And it's actually named afterAda Lovelace, who is considered
to be the world's first computerprogrammer.
(42:53):
which is amazing.
And we want to like, again,celebrate, highlight women.
and they're just a selfproclaimed home for geeks,
right.
And like want to bring out theinner geek in all of us.
And so their book collection isvery much focused on like STEM
related books.
And, with, you know.
Trinkled in there is, I honestlydidn't realize that you did it.
(43:16):
I was like, wait for it.
Is she going to pick a pocket?
That sounds like the real world.
I know just trinkled in there.
Trinkled in this STEM relatedbook.
She'll also find some fantasybooks and some sci fi books as
well.
So if that is your thing, it's areally cool spot to check out.
if it's not your thing.
You probably should as well.
I definitely should check itout.
(43:38):
But again, just something likethat's a little bit more off the
beaten path, a little bit out ofthe ordinary, not your standard
bookstore.
And, again, if you find yourselfin the area or if you live here
and haven't been, definitely acool local business, local
bookstore to support.
They
Kelsey (43:52):
also have like one cozy chair and it's always taken.
It's a smaller area.
Yeah.
It's a smaller They do have,they have like the cafe, they
have like the one cozy chair andthen like in the back, they also
have like another table thatpeople can sit on, or sit at.
I want to highlight them too, ina way where I think that they
(44:12):
also do a good job ofhighlighting diverse authors,
because this is also where Ifound black sun, which is by
Rebecca Roanhorse.
And, it was like one of thehighlighted books, you know?
And so I was like, Oh, I didn'tknow that she had another book
out or whatever.
And it's a whole series.
And, can't wait to get intothat, but.
That's where I found that one.
That's awesome.
Amanda (44:32):
Yeah.
I mean, you can tell in the nameof the story as well.
Yeah.
Like the fact that they'recelebrating a female computer
programmer.
So that's definitely reallyimportant.
I don't, I don't believe it's.
Woman owned, I think it's ownedby a couple actually.
Oh, okay.
I think it's, yeah, it's ownedby Danielle and David Holton.
so they're the founders andforever geeks, that's what it
(44:53):
says on their website.
but yeah, so we just wanted to,again, talk a little bit about,
like, what we love aboutbookstores and, share some kind
of local recs for places tocheck out.
I know I say this all the time,but again, we really do want to
hear from you.
And so if you were in like theSeattle or PNW, PNW area and
have recommendations, share themif you're not sure of them
(45:14):
anyway, like we have differentfollowers in different parts of
the country.
And so we can just kind ofcompile a lovely list of
bookstores that we can, youknow, do our best to support.
Cause we really want it.
We want them to stick around.
We need our bookstores to stickaround and that's just a great
way to spread the love.
So let us know.
And then also let us know whatyou love about a good bookstore.
(45:35):
Like, do you agree with our listor do you have other
qualifications that we did?
Yeah, that we overlooked, thatwe didn't touch on.
so let us know about that, but Ithink that wraps it up for us.
I guess I can, we did the thingI'll, quickly do the social
since you did them at thebeginning.
it's such a lovely job.
so We are Lit Vibes only podcaston Instagram and then Lit Vibes
(45:58):
Only Podcast on YouTube.
And TikTok, if you feel soinclined, you could send us an
email at Lit Vibes onlypodcast@gmail.com.
Say hey, just say hey again.
No, one's done it yet.
You could be the first.
And I'm just going to say thishere.
Now, whoever sends us the firstemail, we will send you a
sticker, just like include yourmailing address in the body of
(46:19):
the email, and we'll absolutelysend you a free limited edition
lip vibes, only sticker justbecause, but yeah, don't forget
to rate and review like that'ssuper, super important as well.
Again, especially if you'rejust.
rating.
It literally takes less than asecond to just click that five
stars.
and we would be deeplyappreciative.
And, otherwise we will see younext Monday.
Kelsey (46:41):
See you next Monday.
Bye.
Welcome to Lit Vibes Only, where we lit the shit out
of books we love and hate.
I'm Amanda.
Kelsey (00:09):
And I'm Kelsey.
Yes, you are.
Welcome back here.
today we have a fun Lit chatsepisode for you.
but before we get into it, wewant to redirect you yet again
to our socials so that you cancome hang out with us.
once you've listened to theepisode, we are on Instagram at
live vibes, only underscorepodcasts.
(00:32):
And we are on tick tock at livevibes, only podcast.
And our full length episodes arealso on YouTube at live vibes,
only podcast.
And, Always feel free to emailus with your thoughts,
perspectives, hot takes, atlitvibesonlypodcasts at gmail.
com.
So I
Amanda (00:51):
always forget our email.
Kelsey (00:53):
Yeah, well, I don't, yeah, people aren't using it
yet.
So
Amanda (00:57):
we're plugging it.
Kelsey (00:58):
so yeah, and always, always please come rate and
review the podcast as that isthe thing that helps us the most
in getting traction and otherlisteners,, to see us.
And so, do that as well.
We can't
Amanda (01:12):
stick around without that.
Kelsey (01:13):
Yeah.
Apple and Spotify.
That would be lovely.
Thank you.
All
Amanda (01:18):
right.
Kelsey (01:19):
So excited for this lovely little chat
Amanda (01:21):
today.
Yeah.
But before that.
It's time for my like weeklytick tock, no book talk news
update book talk tea, like yoursegment, the book talk tea with
Kelsey with Kelsey.
Kelsey (01:33):
so funny.
Okay.
So I don't, I was just tellingAmanda, I don't have like the
full low down because like theoriginal video is like deleted
and stuff and I haven't beenable to find it, but, yeah.
It's already a hot take.
but anyway, the.
The fact that so this is comingout in March, but we are
recording in February and it isstill black history month and
(01:53):
there is rage bait happening,around black history month and
black authors.
And so somebody said, I don'teven know who the original video
is from, but somebody said thatthey were like, I don't.
Like reading Black authors,because I can't relate to the
content in the books.
(02:13):
Oh my god.
And then also, someone said, andI think it was the same person,
but someone said, Oh yeah,because also, there's so much
trauma in those books.
By Black authors.
Amanda (02:27):
Oh, there is, oh my god.
This is the first time thatAmanda is hearing this.
This is appalling, like, I, ohmy, oh,
Kelsey (02:36):
yeah.
So yeah, so there's like just,there's a lot of conversation
happening around like, yeah, whyyou read black authors or like
authors from differentperspectives than your own.
And then also just the issuesaround.
Well, it's just like
Amanda (02:52):
such a privileged thing to say, right.
To be able to be like, well,this has no impact on me and
like, it doesn't affect me and Idon't understand it.
Like, whereas like.
Everyone else has to understandwhite culture and how to be
white and how to move throughthis world in order to survive
and get by and be successful.
Like we don't have the option.
And so for you to be like, Oh,like I can't relate to it.
(03:14):
Like it means nothing to me.
I'm like, that's also soselfish, like.
Where is your empathy?
Where's your curiosity?
Where's your desire to learn andunderstand and connect?
it is, yeah, that's just sooutrageous.
Kelsey (03:28):
Reading is such a great way to do that too.
And that is a safe way to do itbecause you're just doing it by
yourself.
You're just reading on your ownand you don't have to like make
videos about it or anything.
You just like.
You just get to read it and thenbe like, Oh yeah, I didn't like
that.
Or yeah, I did like that.
Like, or let me process this.
Amanda (03:46):
Yeah.
And I think the other thing thatmakes me really infuriated is
like the bit about like, Oh,their books are full of trauma.
I'm like, Oh yeah.
Why don't you stop for a momentand think about why that might
be the case?
Where am I, where might thistrauma be coming from?
Good question.
Oh my God.
I don't, you know, it's a goodthing.
(04:08):
I just dip my toes into theworld of Tik Tok because I just,
yeah, I think I get too likeoverly invested and be like, I
mean, they're accomplishing thegoal that they have if it's rage
bait because I'm just like, what
Kelsey (04:23):
is the other point of that?
You know, like it's justsomeone, yeah.
Yeah.
I don't know.
Exactly.
And so if you didn't know,Amanda and I kind of split up
social media in a way where Imostly monitor take talk and she
mostly monitors Instagram, incomments.
(04:44):
And so she'll watch moreInstagram videos than I do.
and I'll watch more Tik Tokvideos than she does.
that kind of was a
Amanda (04:52):
natural, I feel like bookstagram is kinder than
booktalk.
I mean, I feel like booktalk isa lovely community as well, I'm
sure.
But I just feel like I don'tcome across as much like.
Controversy on bookstagram,whereas booktalk, it feels like
that's where like chaos happensoccasionally,
Kelsey (05:11):
maybe only.
Yeah, no, I think rage bait isdefinitely a huge trigger, for
videos to become popular onbooktalk.
and so that for sure is a tacticthat people will use.
Gosh, who is that woman thatdoes the, whiteboard stuff?
Is it Brit and her books?
Amanda (05:29):
I think it's Brit and her books.
Kelsey (05:31):
That, those are the only Instagram ones
Amanda (05:34):
I will watch.
Oh my god, I fucking love thataccount.
She's so funny.
And like, does not care.
She will just say whatever sheneeds to say.
She has no filter.
She's like, fuck
Kelsey (05:43):
off
Amanda (05:44):
then.
Kelsey (05:45):
Like, in the comments I've seen her say stuff like
that.
I'm like, yes, she does not havetime.
She'll be like, she'll have her,this is where the side of like,
social media we should stay on.
But, she, she goes and sayslike, what is it called?
Book?
Recommendations.
I don't want people people
Amanda (06:03):
that I don't want book recommendations.
Yeah.
And a
Kelsey (06:05):
lot of them have to do like, I one was like when she,
Had this white person getting,like, oh braids.
I like often black women womenwear and she was like No, thank
you.
And then someone, someone waslike, this is really awful that
you're just stereotyping oneperson because of this.
And she's like, fuck off.
(06:26):
Yes.
It was so great.
It was so great.
I don't even engage.
I want to shut it down and moveon.
Yes.
I want to like in have some ofthat energy.
Oh my gosh.
Great.
Wow.
Amanda (06:44):
Anyway, no, it's actually not a change because
like.
BookTok will actually leadreally beautifully into this
topic, which we're going to betalking about like bookstores
today.
And BookTok has like played areally pivotal role.
I think I don't have like a tonof proof necessarily to back
this up, but it feels likeBookTok has played a really
pivotal role in helping to,bolster the independent like
(07:07):
book seller community.
Right.
And making sure that like those.
Their doors are staying open.
Kelsey (07:12):
Oh, totally.
But not even just independentbookstores like Barnes and Noble
even was like on a downwardspiral and they were closing
stores.
And what was it this year?
They're opening like 60 orsomething.
Amanda (07:24):
So yeah.
Kelsey (07:26):
And.
Go ahead.
Amanda (07:28):
Well, I was going to say the other thing that's so funny
is that BookTok has becomelegitimized in the sense that if
you go to bookstores now, evenon, on Amazon, actually, it'll
be like this book is likerecommended by BookTok, right?
It'll have like the BookTokstamp of approval and it's, it's
a little wild if you think aboutit.
Right.
Cause it really just started offas a group of, you know.
Folks just like us, like readingbooks and stating their opinions
(07:50):
and creating this community.
And now people are like lookingto booktalk, right?
To determine like, what's thenext big read and what should I
be reading?
Kelsey (07:57):
Honestly, like.
That's where I get a lot of my,I know
Amanda (08:01):
for you, especially
Kelsey (08:02):
it's Rex.
I'll be like, they'll say onesentence about it.
I'm like, that sounds good.
I don't even read about it.
I just like pick it up.
I'm
Amanda (08:11):
trying to think like, where do I get my book recs
from?
Cause it's not from book talk.
I feel like it's from.
Sometimes on bookstagram.
I feel like I've gottenrecently, I've gotten quite a
few from book huddle.
she's an Instagrammer.
but also I will find like listsof book recommendations on like
through different social mediaaccounts that aren't necessarily
like on bookstagram proper.
(08:31):
I know like Betches, which islike a, Yeah.
books
Kelsey (08:35):
and bitches.
Amanda (08:36):
You mean different?
No, not books and bitches.
Just bitches.
Oh.
I'll, they'll like, every nowand then they'll post like a
list of like, books to read andI'll always scroll through
those.
Oh, funny.
Yeah.
But, or just like word of mouth,like, I just got ninth house not
that long ago from like a fellowbook lover that I am friends
with and she's like, I know it'sfantasy, but I think you would
like it that I picked
Kelsey (08:54):
up So there's another like Indian girl, books to gram
mm-hmm That I follow and I'mlike, Ooh, I could read that.
Yeah.
Amanda (09:01):
Yeah.
I mean, and literally, like Iwas just on Instagram this
morning and found, and I justactually posted about it on our
Instagram, she's like anotherhistorical fiction, girly, and
was talking about an author I'dnever heard of.
And I was like, Oh my gosh, thisis like right up my alley.
And I just added one of theirbooks to my TBR and I'm like,
Kelsey (09:17):
there you go.
Amanda (09:17):
That's what happens.
Your TBR has been getting
Kelsey (09:20):
longer and longer.
Oh,
Amanda (09:21):
it never, I literally, I have one, two, three, four,
five, six, seven, seven books,not including the one I'm
currently reading stacked up onmy.
coffee table that I, that I needto read.
And that is my like physicalTBR.
It's not my like Libby holds TBRor like my longer good reads
TBR.
Like,
Kelsey (09:38):
yeah, I was always curious like how people like
talk about their TBR.
Like when they're talking aboutphysical TPR, TBR, TBR, is that
what they're saying?
Like, Oh, this is my TBR.
Or, are they talking about,like, their Goodreads TBR, you
know, cause like,
Amanda (09:58):
Goodreads, cause that's like all Cause all of the books
currently on my coffee table,aside from the one that you gave
me for my birthday, are like, onmy TBR.
Well, except for Iron Flame anda Court of Wings and Ruin,
because that's just, I have toread that.
I mean, now it is.
Yeah, so I guess, yeah.
But yeah, they're all books thatare on my legitimate TBR, which
(10:21):
is my Goodreads.
Okay.
Yeah.
Where you can talk abouteverything.
Or it's Yeah.
Anyways, yes, yes, yes.
But bookstores, bookstores.
So today's all about bookstores.
We're going to talk about likewhat we love in bookstores, what
we look for.
And we're also going to, youknow, we're in Seattle, we're in
the PNW.
So we're also going tohighlight, a couple of Seattle
bookstores for those who areeither in the area or who might
(10:41):
be visiting soon.
And then we have one that is notin Seattle, but that is in
again, the larger PNW area.
Yeah.
but before we get started withthe things that we look for, I
do have a confession to make,which, which might surprise
people because, you know, we arebook podcasters.
We both love to read like booksare a thing, but, I don't go to
(11:03):
bookstores often and I feel alittle bad saying that out loud
because it makes me feel like,oh my gosh, I must not be a
truly good book person, but likemy reason for not going quite
simply is.
Well, two reasons.
One, if I go to a bookstore, I'mgoing to be compelled to buy too
many books.
And I financially cannot justsupport that habit too, is I
(11:25):
find it.
I don't know if anybody else canspeak to this.
This might just because bebecause I'm an anxious person.
I find bookstores anxietyinducing.
Because it's why I have a lovehate relationship with them
because part of me is like, Ohmy God, so many books, how
exciting and party was like, Ohmy God, so many books, I'm never
going to get to all of them.
Like, I feel so overwhelmed.
Where do we even start?
I find it very, over stimulatingin a way.
(11:48):
Cause I'm just like, there's somuch here.
There's so many amazing storiesand I'm never going to get to
them all.
and I've told people that I've,I've said this for years and
years and years and they're alllike, you know, okay, Amanda,
but it's true.
And then I take out my phonecause I'm like, okay, I'm not
going to buy all of these books.
And then I'm just adding so manybooks to my Goodreads TBR and I
leave with like 20 new books.
I'm like, I can't do this.
Like I'm sure.
(12:09):
Okay.
Bye.
So I just want to like prefacethat all by saying that I'm not
somebody who goes to bookstoresoften as much as I appreciate
them.
I tend to go to them more oftenwhen I'm traveling because I
love seeing new bookstores.
Oh yeah.
And their layout and things, butdidn't want to just like preface
all of that.
Sometimes I kind of avoid themto be honest.
Kelsey (12:26):
That all makes a lot of sense though.
It's so funny though, but, youtalk about your spending habit,
like you would.
You're like, I have to avoidthis.
And, a lot of book talk is justabout like, Oh, just bought some
new books, even though I'm on abook buying band.
Like there's like no, no supportin that area.
(12:48):
Everyone's kind of just like, Ohyeah, I'll just buy.
Whatever I need.
I have no self control either.
Amanda (12:54):
Well, cause that's the other thing too is like, and
we've talked about this before,I think on here, like I live in
a one bedroom apartment.
Like I, if I bought books at therate I read them, I, it would
look like an episode of hoardersin here.
You know, like it just like,
Kelsey (13:07):
it's not stateable.
What's the date today?
It's February 23rd.
And Amanda, tell us how manybooks you've read so far this
year already.
Amanda (13:16):
I think 17 or 18.
It's not that late.
Kelsey (13:19):
No,
Amanda (13:20):
you've been reading so much recently.
It's been great.
Kelsey (13:23):
But yeah, you would have a library very soon.
Yeah,
Amanda (13:27):
I would just be like, yeah, as much as I would love
that, I would love to have alibrary, but I have no space.
I'm also, since I'm not arereader, it's like, they would
just be there for show after Iread them.
Like, I'm not going to go backand reread them.
So it's not really practical forme.
Kelsey (13:41):
But I really do like reading and like, referencing.
books.
Yeah.
Or just like, yeah.
one thing that I do that isn'tvery typical of like booktalkers
is, I don't like buying anunfinished series because I do,
I do want them all to match.
And also it.
(14:02):
What if they have like a reallygreat, like special edition when
it's all done?
And like, what are we supposedto do?
Like have all these mismatched?
Yeah, I feel like people dothat.
Oh yeah, people do.
But like, yeah, I haven't boughtACOTAR because of that.
And I haven't bought Fourth Wingbecause of that.
(14:23):
I thought ACOTAR was finished.
Amanda (14:24):
Is it not done?
No, it's
Kelsey (14:26):
not.
Wait, what?
Yeah.
There's going to be anotherbook.
Another book is coming out like2026.
Oh Lord.
And it's likely going to beabout Elaine.
Amanda (14:36):
Oh, so it's
Kelsey (14:37):
not following, what's her name?
Feyre.
Feyre.
No, I think like Feyre's seriesis done.
Like the three.
Amanda (14:43):
Oh, so it's kind of like, okay.
And
Kelsey (14:45):
then it's an extension.
Yeah.
Amanda (14:47):
Oh, okay.
Well, okay.
All right.
Yeah.
Kelsey (14:49):
Wings didn't run the one that you have right now.
Yeah.
that is like the final.
That, not the end, but it's anatural wrap up, but she's in
the other books.
Okay.
But not as the main character.
Not as the main character.
I see.
Amanda (15:03):
Okay.
Because
Kelsey (15:04):
Nesta is the main character of the, book after,
but there is that novella whereI guess she is the main
character, but it's a novella.
Amanda (15:12):
Well, I, yeah, I do have Ackawar on my, I'm looking at
Ackawar because I got it from myfriend Anna and, Yeah.
It's just so freaking long andI'm like, oh,
Kelsey (15:22):
it is long, but I think you're going to like it more
though.
Amanda (15:26):
yeah, I might save it for another school break.
I might wait to dive into itthen, but I will get, I think
I'm going to read Iron Flamewithin the next couple of weeks
because it's here and it'sshorter and I don't want the
details from the first book toleave my mind.
So, but anyhow, we keep goingoff on tangents.
Okay.
So let's talk about.
Like our ideal bookstore.
(15:47):
Like what we look for in abookstore that makes us happy.
I can see from our, like ourlist, like there's definitely
some pretty overlap, but it'spretty similar.
I think the only thing that'sdifferent from mine, which is
the one I'll start with this,like.
For me, I enjoy bookstores thatare like airy and open and
(16:07):
spacious.
And I know you're like, okay,that's kind of a random thing to
say, but have you ever been inlike one of those little, I
don't know, kind of mom and popkind of bookstores where it's
just, you're crammed in there.
There's.
Books on the floor.
The aisles are narrow.
Everyone's on top of each other.
Like I am claustrophobic andwhen I'm in stores like that, I
(16:28):
know some people might find itlike cute and cozy and cluttered
and I'm like, get me out ofhere.
I can't actually enjoy browsingbecause I feel like I'm
suffocating and so then I don'twant to dawdle.
Right.
I'm like in and out.
So I think for me, like.
and I'm like, okay, like I cantake a moment because I have
(16:49):
been, and this is usually forlike used bookstores, I think
more so than ones that focus onlike new books.
I'm sure you've been in themtoo.
You know what I'm talking about?
It's just like, Yeah.
It kind of feels like, a room inyour grandmother's house, right?
And it's just like kind ofmusty, right?
There's kind of stuffeverywhere.
The organization isn't supergreat.
Kelsey (17:08):
Yeah.
Amanda (17:09):
Not for me.
Kelsey (17:10):
I, I also am not a huge fan of used bookstores because
they do feel like that.
and like the whole stacking ofbooks on the floor.
I'm like, I don't get that.
I'm sorry, I'm not going to gosifting through them, just
looking for random books.
So I partially agree.
I don't need them to have likewide open spaces and things like
(17:33):
that.
That's nice.
But I, I definitely don't likethe stacked books or like that,
that feeling.
That
Amanda (17:40):
you can't win.
Or just like the narrow aislesthat bothers me.
Cause like, especially ifthere's multiple people in
there, you just kind of feellike you're all on top of each
other.
I just, I don't know.
That's a me thing.
And I'm just like, no, like Ineed space.
Kelsey (17:50):
But, yeah, yeah.
Amanda (17:53):
But one thing we do have in common is like employee
recommendations.
Love them.
Yes.
Especially because like as Imentioned, I get overwhelmed
sometimes with bookstores.
So having those little notes andthings helps to narrow my focus
down.
Like, all right, let me justkind of focus on these books,
see what they had to say.
And, you
Kelsey (18:09):
know, I sometimes wish they had fewer in the bookstore
actually, like employeerecommendations.
Cause I want to read all ofthem.
And I can't read 50 of them, youknow, what I also like is,
sometimes that that is adisplay, but then a huge
display, but then also they'lldo the smaller tags like within
(18:30):
the bookshelves itself thatthose ones I really like because
then I'm like, Oh, I was lookingat this book.
What are they saying about it?
Like, that's, that's
Amanda (18:37):
what I was referring to.
It's like, I like the tags morethan the display is like, here's
what our employees are reading.
Cause yeah, they're kind ofsprinkled throughout.
And generally there's a littleparagraph that accompanies it.
That's like, here's why I likedit.
And here's what you can expectfrom this book.
And it just, I don't know, it'ssuch a personal thing.
And yeah, you feel like you'rejust like book buds and you can
(18:58):
find books, similar tastes.
Kelsey (19:00):
I do like that.
Amanda (19:01):
So I really love when bookstores have those.
and then I think also we bothsaid this to you, just having
places to sit and read.
And I know not, not everybookstore can.
A comedy for this because it's,you know, you're, you're paying
for square footage and a biggerspace, but, it's nice especially
if you're book browsing to likesit down and maybe go through a
(19:22):
couple of pages and read throughit to see if it's something you
want to invest in or yeah,revisit a book that you already
love that you haven't picked upin a while.
cause it also feels more like alibrary and I love libraries.
Kelsey (19:36):
Yes.
So that's a
Amanda (19:36):
big one, a big one.
I agree.
I agree.
Kelsey (19:38):
I feel like Yeah, I want bookstores to feel like
libraries, you know, like youcan come in, study, or meet with
people, or read, or, you know,
Amanda (19:48):
yeah, just like bask in the bookishness.
Kelsey (19:51):
Yeah, I really love that.
I just went to a giant library.
And it was somewhat like that,but in Mexico city, if you ever
go, it's this, like, seriously,I, they probably have a million
books in there and it wasmassive and the shelves were
like hanging above you and youhad to like climb up on these
(20:15):
stairs and then, they had likeseven, maybe seven different
floors and you go up and thenyou can see all the books and
there's like giant space in themiddle and like.
Both sides.
Like, yeah, it was just, itlooks crazy from the
Amanda (20:29):
pictures you put.
And there
Kelsey (20:30):
were tons of areas to sit and read or study or do
whatever you're doing.
yeah.
Do you remember the name
Amanda (20:36):
of it
Kelsey (20:36):
yes.
Bibliotheca.
Okay,
Amanda (20:39):
I was like, aside from the word for library.
Kelsey (20:45):
La Biblioteca Vasconcelos.
Vasconcelos.
And it is in Ciudad de Mexico.
And, you can visit there and itdoesn't cost anything to visit.
You can just go and check thingsout.
Yeah, it looks
Amanda (20:56):
amazing.
Yeah.
Part of it reminded me of the,like, the top.
floor of the Seattle PublicLibrary, like the main one
downtown, because just like thestructure and like the
architecture of it reminded me abit of that.
but yeah, I love the library.
Oh my gosh.
I, I appreciate, I was going to,I was like, do I like libraries
more than bookstores?
I was like, no, I think I lovethem equally because they offer
(21:18):
different things.
But I, I remember even when Iwas looking for a college.
Back when I was in high school,one of my number one criteria
when I was, you know, going todo these campus visits was like
the library.
Like if it had a bad library, Iwas like, Nope, not even going
to consider this college.
Where
Kelsey (21:33):
did you go to college?
Do I even know?
I,
Amanda (21:35):
probably not.
It's so, it was when I went, itwas called Mount Union College.
It was like this teeny tiny,like 2000 person liberal arts
college in Ohio.
And then it's now the Universityof Mount Union.
so it's a bit bigger, but it'ssuper teeny.
and like their libraries was,was good, but I mainly went
cause I got a scholarship.
I was like,
Kelsey (21:55):
I was like, but if the library sucks, I'm not taking
the money.
Amanda (22:00):
I definitely would have at that point.
but yeah, libraries, I love,but, the last thing that I had
in common and you can mentionthe one thing that you had that
was different, or actually Iagree with this as well.
I just didn't put it on thelist.
That having an addition ofhaving like places to sit.
It is also nice if there's likean adjoining.
Cafe, and then that way, yeah,you can grab some friends, grab
your latest read it, grab a hotbeverage and a snack and stay
(22:22):
for a while, especially inSeattle.
Right.
Because we have these gray, wetwinters where you're not
necessarily going to want to beoutside, although you could.
And so finding places to curl upwith a book other than your
couch is just really, yes.
So, or
Kelsey (22:38):
bed or your bed,
Amanda (22:40):
your bed or your reading chair.
so I really love when, again,I'm not every bookstore can
accommodate for that, but whenthey can, I think that's just
such a lovely addition.
Kelsey (22:51):
And just makes me want to stay longer.
Exactly.
I got food.
Exactly.
Good
Amanda (22:55):
business model.
Kelsey (22:57):
I could see this going places, Amanda, for us.
as in we create a bookstorestore.
And on one side of thebookstore, it's Amanda's recs
And then the other side isKelsey's recs And it's like
completely different, likedecorations.
And then we have a boxing
Amanda (23:15):
ring in the middle where we just like go to town once a
month.
We don't actually fight.
We just sit in it and we likechat.
Yes.
Oh my gosh.
It'd be so fun.
But I like read your otherbullet points.
I like this one too.
Yeah.
Kelsey (23:29):
So I think one thing I think That Elliot Bay does
really well and we're going tohighlight that bookstore in a
bit, but they Highlight likevery different perspectives.
And authors like very well andthey do like, you know That was
monthly themes, but I think itgoes beyond that too where they
have very specific section Youknow, they have a queer section.
(23:51):
You're going to find like justabout anything there but they're
also putting that to theforefront too.
It's not just like, Oh, they'rejust like trinkled in, to, did
you say trinkled?
Trickled into the section.
Trinkled.
I've heard that.
so,
Amanda (24:06):
trinkled into, it's like a mix of trinkle and sprinkle.
It's trinkled.
Oh, there you go.
I'm
Kelsey (24:14):
just gonna say that now, it's actually at the forefront
and, they'll have like theirdisplays that showcase these
different, books and they'renot, they don't have a section
like found on TikTok.
Cause also I think that it's notdoing, I don't know, maybe they
are making a lot of sales forthat, but like, I don't come to
a bookstore to just find booksfrom book talk, right?
(24:37):
The ones that are popular.
I go to bookstores to see whatelse is out there, right?
And if those are the only oneshighlighted, then those are the
only ones that are going to beread.
You know what I mean?
And so I really love it when abookstore is going beyond that
and going beyond the trends andit's, it's interesting
Amanda (24:53):
that you mentioned that though, because, one of my
friends sent me a video maybelast month about Barnes and
Nobles and how there are kind ofseeing this like uptick, in
patronage and customers.
And one of the things theymentioned in there was the fact
that, you know, Book talk isreally helping with that.
And so a lot of bookstores arecreating displays, right.
Around what's trending on booktalking, what's turning on
(25:15):
social media to get people init.
I mean, it's working right.
And a lot of people are visitingfor those reasons, but yeah, I
think it's important to gobeyond that.
And yeah, I agree that ElliottBay does a really good job of
just in general, having like.
They have a very diversecollection and like they carry
books that I think some otherplaces might not, especially
depending on what state you'rein, or community.
and so yeah, that's superimportant and you know, a big
(25:36):
part of what we want to do hereon the podcast too.
And it's why we have like ourbook recs episodes each month as
well, because we want folks toread.
You know, different perspectivesand diverse authors.
are there any other things thatwe love about bookstores?
I'm trying to, I feel like thoseare the main ones for me.
That's gonna like make me.
Kelsey (25:53):
Yeah, I think those are the main ones.
And then even just like beingable to Because Seattle is a big
city, however, like I frequentplaces like Elliot Bay, like, I
don't know people yet there,but, there is another bookshop
that I go to where I know thewoman, and, I just think that
having that what is it?
(26:14):
Familiarity
Amanda (26:15):
around
Kelsey (26:16):
The workers there or even the actual owners with
their customers.
I really love that whenbookstores do that, or they're
just like.
And
Amanda (26:31):
I think going off of that too, like for me, a big
thing with bookstores isproximity.
So one of the reasons why I loveit because it's like a great
book, it is a great bookstore.
It's not just that it's alsolike, it's so convenient for me.
Like I can literally walk there.
from where I work and so I cango there before after work or
like during a long break andpick up a book or meet someone
after work for some tea in theircafe and a
Kelsey (26:50):
photo sesh
Amanda (26:51):
for a podcast.
We did do yes.
We did our promo photos atElliott Bay.
but yeah, so proximity is a bigthing.
And one thing.
Seattle's an interesting city.
Because, I mean it's notmassive, but it's, you know, a
sizable city, but it's broken upinto a series of like really
distinct neighborhoods.
Yeah.
And so each of thoseneighborhoods has like their
(27:12):
local bookshop or bookstore,which I love.
and.
Even though I don't live in CapHill, I work there and so it
feels kind of like, oh, this isone of my neighborhood like
bookstores and Yeah, just havingthat connection like you said
and familiarity is reallyimportant Yeah,
Kelsey (27:30):
one last thing is a lot of bookstores do this but Having
events for authors to come Ithink is really really fun.
I was so upset because I PennCole, the author of Spark of the
Other Flame, came to, actually Idon't know if you knew this, but
Third Place Books is owned byElliott Bay.
(27:51):
They're the same owners.
Oh, I didn't,
Amanda (27:52):
I didn't know that.
Kelsey (27:52):
And, Third Place Books had her talk last week and I was
like, oh my god, I'm so going.
Amanda (27:59):
And then you were gone.
I was in Mexico City and I wasso upset.
I was
Kelsey (28:05):
so upset.
Amanda (28:06):
She'll probably be back.
Kelsey (28:07):
Oh, because she's definitely an author.
I want to see.
And like, she is well known, butlike our local bookstores will
have authors like that.
Oh yeah.
I love that when, they do that.
Amanda (28:19):
I actually have another confession to make.
I've never been to an authorbook talk, ever, it's just never
happened.
Like I've gone to presentationsand speeches by people who have
written books, especially atconferences.
Yeah.
You know, and I've gotten tolike, kind of hear authors talk
about their work in that sense,but I've never gone to like a
bookstore.
Like that had you know an authorcoming in and giving a talk and
(28:43):
then doing a book signing likeI've never done that in Like an
intimate setting which would becool to do.
Kelsey (28:48):
I Have but it's been a while But one of the ones that I
have gone to which was partiallybecause he's a celebrity but
Rainn Wilson Actually, he's fromhere.
Yeah.
he wrote the book.
What was it called?
Boom.
Soul boom or something likethat.
he came to Seattle and yeah,he's from here and grew up.
(29:11):
Oh my God.
It was like wild, to think.
But anyway, that was like, Itwas a book talk, but it also
like, you know, cause he's acelebrity.
He talked about some otherthings too.
yeah.
Soul boom is what it's called.
Amanda (29:23):
That was a more
Kelsey (29:24):
recent ones.
Yeah.
Amanda (29:26):
I need to add that to my bucket list to try and do a book
talk this year.
okay.
Yeah, we should go together andthen we can like, tell people
we're going and be like hey.
Kelsey (29:35):
And
Amanda (29:36):
Amanda loves it.
We have to find, we have to findan author, do we have an author
that we both mutually like?
I don't know.
I, well, we both liked, wellshe's not alive anymore, but we
both liked Kindred.
Oh yeah, yeah.
And we both for the most partliked Kennedy Ryan from last
Kelsey (29:52):
month as well.
Yeah, yeah.
If Ijeoma ever does a talk, likewe could go to one of hers.
Oh, that would be cool, yeah.
We would definitely go to that.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Amanda (29:59):
For sure.
For sure.
We'll put it on our bucket listfor this year.
so what we want to do as well,like we've mentioned before, is
take a little bit of time justto highlight a couple of, again,
local and PNW based bookstores.
Again, for folks who both arelistening and live in this area
and for folks who, you know,might find yourself in this neck
of the woods.
So we have two, largerbookstores and then two that are
(30:22):
a bit more niche.
and we're going to start withthe, the bookstore you hear
about so much from this podcast,from us, which is the Elliott
Bay book company.
it's here in Seattle, it's inCap Hill.
and I learned a little bit moreabout its background.
Preparing for this episode.
So it started back in theseventies in 1973.
(30:42):
and, a lovely man named WalterCarr started it.
And he actually, for those ofyou who are familiar with the
Seattle area, it started out inpioneer square, so not a cap
Hill.
And then in 2010, they relocatedeverything over to cap Hill
where it is now.
it is.
Yeah.
It's crazy.
Kelsey (30:59):
I heard that it's actually, it was a much bigger
down in Pioneer Square.
Amanda (31:03):
Yeah.
That's what I heard too.
Kelsey (31:05):
So
Amanda (31:05):
they downsized a bit, but it's still, I mean, the, the
L.
A.
Bay, like book company, it'sstill quite a sizable store.
It's not like you're like alittle kind of hole in the wall
store at all.
very spacious.
There.
Yeah.
Just along their front, I guess.
Actually, I think there's no,there's windows in the cafe.
On the backside.
(31:25):
Yeah.
There's one.
There's like two, I think.
There's natural light.
and the cool thing about LA BabeBook Company is that now, even
though it was founded by a man,it's now a both a woman owned
and a queer owned business.
So like, we love that.
Very cool.
and like we said, has not only adiverse collection of books, but
a very large selection.
(31:46):
They carry around 150, 000titles, which is
Kelsey (31:49):
a lot.
Amanda (31:51):
so you can find pretty much anything there, like, it's
like library sized.
Kelsey (31:56):
And if they don't have it, you can order it through
them.
So, so that's,
Amanda (32:00):
I'm glad you pointed that out because like, in
addition to it having like,their brick and mortar
collection, they also have awebsite that you can order books
through as well.
If they don't have them in storeand like all of the books that I
pre ordered, I pre ordered itlike online through their
website.
and then another cool thing,this ties into what we were just
talking about, like almost dailythey host, like author reading
(32:20):
series as well.
So it's also a hub for thecommunity as well.
So they've got events going onall the time.
and it's just, yeah, very much aspace to connect and, you know,
meet other bookish folks.
You know, a
Kelsey (32:33):
funny thing too, I, I've seen multiple times because, oh
God.
I love going to Elliott Bay, isthat they host a coffee tasting
at, Elliott Bay.
I think, it's like one of thosewhere they have a relationship
with someone that does the tour.
And so they come in and they'llhave these like people sitting
(32:53):
around that big table in thecafe and they'll be like tasting
their coffee.
Yeah.
They go off to their next place.
Amanda (32:59):
I will say though, one of the things that is a little
frustrating about Elliott Bay isthat it is so hard to get a seat
in their cafe.
I absolutely, I have actuallynever been to the, I mean, I've
walked into it and every singletime I've gone to like find a
spot, I there's, I've never,I've literally never been able
to get a seat.
So I don't know if my timing isjust, it's probably the timing.
Kelsey (33:19):
Yeah.
Amanda (33:20):
Because I'm going, after school, and so it's like, I
don't know, like, 315, 330, so Iguess people are still, like,
doing work from home type stuff,and also, Or
Kelsey (33:27):
kids, you know, like, older kids are, Getting off.
Amanda (33:31):
No, but there's just never seats.
Kelsey (33:33):
Yeah.
I would say Saturdays andSundays are really hard, but
then like Friday evenings arepretty quiet.
Oh, that would, that would makesense.
But you, that doesn't make sensefor you to like be there.
So anyway.
I would say, yeah, those are thetimes that we have had success,
but yeah, they could definitelyuse like an expansion,
Amanda (33:53):
we love Elliot Bay.
like I said, we did our promophotos there.
And so if you're in the area, orvisiting, and it's also like in
the heart of Cap Hill too, so ifyou are visiting, it's like, oh,
you're already in Cap Hillanyway, like stop by and snag a
book.
Yeah.
Support a local bookstore.
Kelsey (34:08):
Mm hmm.
Amanda (34:09):
Okay.
Cool.
Give me the next one.
Kelsey (34:10):
Well, I'm going to be highlighting Powell's City of
Books, which is located inPortland, Oregon.
And this is like a really famousbookstore, even across the
country.
it is larger than Ellia Bay.
Much longer by a lot.
but like you said, it is not inSeattle.
It is in Portland, Oregon, whichis not too far from us.
(34:33):
and anytime I go down there, Ilike to go to at least one of
their locations.
but this particular one we arehighlighting is the largest.
of their, locations and theoriginal, I believe, right?
Mm
Amanda (34:47):
hmm.
Yep.
Kelsey (34:47):
so they're located in the Pearl District, opened in
1971.
So similar to Elliott Bay.
Yeah, two years apart.
They've been around
Amanda (34:57):
for
Kelsey (34:57):
quite a while.
I wonder what it was about the70s.
The 70s.
Everyone's like, let's buybooks.
Yeah, yeah.
so this is a third generationfamily owned business that is
now being run by Emily Powell,which is just, that's wild.
It's just like stayed in thefamily.
That's insane.
she's the granddaughter of thefounder, Michael Powell.
(35:19):
It is the largest used and newbookstore in the world.
Amanda (35:24):
It's crazy.
It occupies an entire cityblock.
That's yeah.
That's like one of the reasonswhy it's like.
Kelsey (35:30):
I did know it was an entire city block, but that,
okay, largest bookstore in the,wow.
I am just like wrestling withthat.
They're like used and newbookstore.
I
Amanda (35:40):
think that's the important thing.
Cause it's probably like alarger, just like new
Kelsey (35:44):
bookstore.
Amanda (35:44):
Yeah.
New bookstore.
Yeah.
Kelsey (35:46):
so yeah.
And it's occupying an entirecity block and housing
approximately.
Yeah.
Totally.
1 million books.
Yep.
Which is crazy.
There's a shit ton of booksthere.
Elliot Bay has
Amanda (35:57):
150, 000, which we think that's a lot.
That is a lot.
Kelsey (36:01):
1 million.
But yeah, I get it because ifyou've ever been to Powell's, it
is a maze for one.
And there's like differentsections and it's so wild
because I was looking for,Specifically, when I was there
last, I was looking for, what isit called?
Dang it, it is a really popular,Zodiac Academy, okay?
Oh yeah, I've heard of that.
(36:21):
Zodiac Academy, and it has like12, 15 books, whatever.
And I thought I was gonna findit, like, really quickly.
But they, they were like, Oh,it's in our Romance section.
But in the Romance section, theyhave all these different
sections in it.
Yeah, sections.
Where it's like, paranormal, andlike, Dark romance, like it, it
is wild and it's like at leastthree different areas, right?
(36:44):
Like shelves or whatever.
Rose is what I want to say forjust that one genre and all of
the sub genres and then you gointo a completely different room
and then you're in likehistorical fiction or a fantasy.
It's a completely differentsection and it's just like,
it's, it's wild.
And then there's children'sbooks, there's technical books,
there's everything under the sunthere.
(37:06):
Well, to your
Amanda (37:07):
point, it has nine different color coded rooms and
within those there are over3000.
500 different sections.
Just like that.
That's never wash over you.
3, 500 sections.
Yes.
It's insane.
I remember when I went, it'swild.
My speaking of anxiety inducing,I was like, Oh my good Lord.
Like I physically don't knowwhere to start.
(37:28):
Like where do I even begin towander through this massive
building?
and it's difficult findingthings, but they also do the
employee recs, which I love.
Kelsey (37:35):
Yeah.
and then.
Also just highlighting one last,like not important detail but
like side note about them, isthat they have a one of a kind
rare book room.
Did you go to it or have you?
I didn't.
Did
Amanda (37:49):
you?
Kelsey (37:50):
No, I've, I've, I've actually never seen it.
It's
Amanda (37:53):
very rare.
It's just tucked away somewhere,
Kelsey (37:57):
which would not be surprising because it is a maze.
But there was something else Iwanted to say about Powell's,
but now I forgot.
Amanda (38:03):
I don't know.
Well, maybe it'll come to you,but I would say, yeah, if you
are in the PNW, if you're inPortland and you're a book
lover, like you, you can't notgo to Powell's.
I remember the very first time Iwent to Portland, that was like
one of the number one reasonswhy I was going was to check out
the bookstore, but definitelygive yourself.
At minimum an hour, like atminimum, just to like get the
(38:25):
lay of the land.
If you actually want to browse,give yourself like half a day or
several hours.
Kelsey (38:29):
Several, like for real though.
For real though.
Yeah.
Amanda (38:32):
No, it takes forever, especially if you want to go to
every section.
Kelsey (38:36):
That was the other thing I was going to say too, is that
I'll go to the bookstores, withmy husband, but like, I should
really go to bookstores bymyself because I'm never ready
to leave the bookstore, likeit's never, that's never, Oh
yeah, I'm done.
I just like peruse and peruseand peruse and peruse, be like,
Ooh, this book sounds cool.
(38:57):
Oh, what about this book?
And just like read.
The backs of all of them andjust find new things.
I love doing that.
And I can do that for hours.
Like maybe you and I should just
Amanda (39:09):
go down to Powell sometime and, just spend the day
later.
See this woman buried in thestack somewhere, like our hair's
a mess or just like haven'teaten.
Kelsey (39:26):
We're like, we're like, okay, here's the first three
hours, go do what you want.
And then we'll go to lunch andthen go back
Amanda (39:33):
and
Kelsey (39:35):
be so fun.
Amanda (39:35):
It would be so fun.
We should just do like a litvibes only book, a road trip
like down there.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's really wild.
And it's certainly.
Totally.
Totally.
I want to say it's the largestbookstore I've ever personally
been in.
I don't think I've ever been ina larger one.
Kelsey (39:50):
Bookstore, yes.
Library, no.
No, yeah.
I was just talking about thatlibrary.
I was surprised too, though,like there were bookstores
everywhere in the city of MexicoCity.
Sorry, I was like talking inSpanish.
The
Amanda (40:09):
city of Mexico.
Kelsey (40:11):
Yeah.
Around every corner, like I'd belike, and so Saudi would look at
me and he'd be like, anotherone.
And I'd be like, DJ Khaled,another one.
I actually just put down thesebooks that I bought in, Mexico
city.
I'm so excited about them.
I can't believe you boughtPride.
Your favorite.
Oh
Amanda (40:29):
my God.
Oh yeah.
I love anyhow, but now, now
Kelsey (40:34):
there's gonna be a second one.
And now I'm like, oh, great.
Now it's a series and I alreadybought the first one in the
series.
But you knew that
Amanda (40:40):
already.
'cause
Kelsey (40:41):
we talked about it on the phone.
I forgot
Amanda (40:44):
I was like, I want it.
Oh my goodness.
Well, any who?
Yes.
so yes, Powell's is amazing.
Elliot Bay is amazing.
But we also wanted to take time.
To highlight to lesser known andsmaller bookstores that we like,
they're a bit more niche and,have something a little
different to offer and kind ofstand out from the bookstore
world in their own special ways.
(41:05):
So Kelsey's got one.
And then I've got one as well.
Kelsey (41:08):
So also situated in Capitol Hill, is twice sold
tales and, Amanda, you've neverbeen here.
Amanda (41:15):
I've never been, I've literally dropped people off to
go there, but I've never beeninside.
Kelsey (41:19):
You're like, bye.
Peace.
So, the cool thing about Twicesold Tales, it is a used
bookstore, and does have thatthing going on, you know, where
it has stacks.
I know, I saw
Amanda (41:32):
through the window and
Kelsey (41:33):
I was like, don't need to go in there.
but it also has collectible andrare books, highlighted.
And so, The other really coolthing about this bookstore is
that it has four cats.
And I don't know what it isabout bookstores and cats, but
this is a really popular thing.
This was even, I just came backfrom Exo City, we didn't talk
about it.
(41:53):
There were also bookstores downthere with cats.
I'm like, what is this?
Cats love to read.
They're highly literate.
So,
Amanda (42:00):
and very discerning in their tastes.
Kelsey (42:04):
so it's a cool bookstore to check out if you're ever in
the area or you didn't knowabout it and you live here.
twice sold tails.
Amanda (42:11):
Yes.
If you're a cat lover, that isthe place for you.
In fact,, my cousin who came tovisit.
She loves cats, has like two ofher own, and she was like, I
have to go here.
And I was like, let me drop youoff and I will continue on my
way.
You're like, literally I willnot go in there.
I mean, maybe I will at somepoint, but, the other one we
wanted to highlight also in catpill.
and this one, It is, again, veryclose to where I work, but
(42:33):
haven't been, mainly becausethis place is a technical
bookstore, and so, on thesurface, I'm like, oh, there's
probably not a lot in there thatI would be interested in
reading, but, the name of it isAda's Technical Books and Cafe.
So it's another like combobookstore cafe, which we love.
And it's actually named afterAda Lovelace, who is considered
to be the world's first computerprogrammer.
(42:53):
which is amazing.
And we want to like, again,celebrate, highlight women.
and they're just a selfproclaimed home for geeks,
right.
And like want to bring out theinner geek in all of us.
And so their book collection isvery much focused on like STEM
related books.
And, with, you know.
Trinkled in there is, I honestlydidn't realize that you did it.
(43:16):
I was like, wait for it.
Is she going to pick a pocket?
That sounds like the real world.
I know just trinkled in there.
Trinkled in this STEM relatedbook.
She'll also find some fantasybooks and some sci fi books as
well.
So if that is your thing, it's areally cool spot to check out.
if it's not your thing.
You probably should as well.
I definitely should check itout.
(43:38):
But again, just something likethat's a little bit more off the
beaten path, a little bit out ofthe ordinary, not your standard
bookstore.
And, again, if you find yourselfin the area or if you live here
and haven't been, definitely acool local business, local
bookstore to support.
They
Kelsey (43:52):
also have like one cozy chair and it's always taken.
It's a smaller area.
Yeah.
It's a smaller They do have,they have like the cafe, they
have like the one cozy chair andthen like in the back, they also
have like another table thatpeople can sit on, or sit at.
I want to highlight them too, ina way where I think that they
(44:12):
also do a good job ofhighlighting diverse authors,
because this is also where Ifound black sun, which is by
Rebecca Roanhorse.
And, it was like one of thehighlighted books, you know?
And so I was like, Oh, I didn'tknow that she had another book
out or whatever.
And it's a whole series.
And, can't wait to get intothat, but.
That's where I found that one.
That's awesome.
Amanda (44:32):
Yeah.
I mean, you can tell in the nameof the story as well.
Yeah.
Like the fact that they'recelebrating a female computer
programmer.
So that's definitely reallyimportant.
I don't, I don't believe it's.
Woman owned, I think it's ownedby a couple actually.
Oh, okay.
I think it's, yeah, it's ownedby Danielle and David Holton.
so they're the founders andforever geeks, that's what it
(44:53):
says on their website.
but yeah, so we just wanted to,again, talk a little bit about,
like, what we love aboutbookstores and, share some kind
of local recs for places tocheck out.
I know I say this all the time,but again, we really do want to
hear from you.
And so if you were in like theSeattle or PNW, PNW area and
have recommendations, share themif you're not sure of them
(45:14):
anyway, like we have differentfollowers in different parts of
the country.
And so we can just kind ofcompile a lovely list of
bookstores that we can, youknow, do our best to support.
Cause we really want it.
We want them to stick around.
We need our bookstores to stickaround and that's just a great
way to spread the love.
So let us know.
And then also let us know whatyou love about a good bookstore.
(45:35):
Like, do you agree with our listor do you have other
qualifications that we did?
Yeah, that we overlooked, thatwe didn't touch on.
so let us know about that, but Ithink that wraps it up for us.
I guess I can, we did the thingI'll, quickly do the social
since you did them at thebeginning.
it's such a lovely job.
so We are Lit Vibes only podcaston Instagram and then Lit Vibes
(45:58):
Only Podcast on YouTube.
And TikTok, if you feel soinclined, you could send us an
email at Lit Vibes onlypodcast@gmail.com.
Say hey, just say hey again.
No, one's done it yet.
You could be the first.
And I'm just going to say thishere.
Now, whoever sends us the firstemail, we will send you a
sticker, just like include yourmailing address in the body of
(46:19):
the email, and we'll absolutelysend you a free limited edition
lip vibes, only sticker justbecause, but yeah, don't forget
to rate and review like that'ssuper, super important as well.
Again, especially if you'rejust.
rating.
It literally takes less than asecond to just click that five
stars.
and we would be deeplyappreciative.
And, otherwise we will see younext Monday.
Kelsey (46:41):
See you next Monday.
Bye.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes present: Aubrey O’Day, Covering the Diddy Trial
Introducing… Aubrey O’Day Diddy’s former protege, television personality, platinum selling music artist, Danity Kane alum Aubrey O’Day joins veteran journalists Amy Robach and TJ Holmes to provide a unique perspective on the trial that has captivated the attention of the nation. Join them throughout the trial as they discuss, debate, and dissect every detail, every aspect of the proceedings. Aubrey will offer her opinions and expertise, as only she is qualified to do given her first-hand knowledge. From her days on Making the Band, as she emerged as the breakout star, the truth of the situation would be the opposite of the glitz and glamour. Listen throughout every minute of the trial, for this exclusive coverage. Amy Robach and TJ Holmes present Aubrey O’Day, Covering the Diddy Trial, an iHeartRadio podcast.
Good Hang with Amy Poehler
Come hang with Amy Poehler. Each week on her podcast, she'll welcome celebrities and fun people to her studio. They'll share stories about their careers, mutual friends, shared enthusiasms, and most importantly, what's been making them laugh. This podcast is not about trying to make you better or giving advice. Amy just wants to have a good time.