Comments on: What Makes A Bookstore Great?

By: Anthony

Anthony — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:17:06 +0000

I love Prairie Lights! They have a terrific reading series and I saw so many authors there while I lived in Iowa City. It’s one of the places I miss the most and I’m happy to see this splendid write up of the place.

By: Erin

Erin — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:11:07 +0000

Wonderful bookstore review! I’m working on the business plan for my own future bookstore (summer 2010 – fingers crossed), and will apply some of these tips. I especially love the idea of listing award winners (and perhaps even a few of those “100 books you must read” lists, although no one can ever agree!) and posting the future release dates of highly anticipated books.

By: moonrat

moonrat — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 01:51:52 +0000

I especially appreciate the bit about award winners and authors with followings being clearly designated… I wonder why more bookstores don’t do that? I always feel like if I walked into a table of Pulitzer winners, I’d suddenly buy a bunch of books I would never have been interested in otherwise. (Ok, I KNOW that would happen.) I understand it means taking on a little more inventory for the store, but I feel like the risk would pay itself back in a heartbeat…

By: Susi

Susi — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:29:56 +0000

I’d love to visit Prairie Lights next time I visit my friends in Iowa City. (Hint to the friends!) I’d enjoy a place like that to give me some insight on what I should be reading next rather than the endless tables of books that I have no clue about the author or if the book is any good! Kudos to Prairie Lights and thanks for allowing the Big City girls to visit the country bookstore to get inspiration!

By: Gaelle

Gaelle — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:19:01 +0000

Hey, so I just wanted to add that I just joined the library in Clifton NJ (where I live) and they have lists very similar to what you’re talking about… but theirs say :

If you like Dan Brown (for example) you may also like:

and then they give a list of 5 or so other authors, which I thought was awesome. And they do this for every letter of the alphabet as you’re going along the row of books. I want to ask next time I go who put together the lists, I thought it was a really cool idea.

By: Trudy

Trudy — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:15:26 +0000

Since I live in Iowa City I’m aware of the wonders of Prairie Lights. But now that this blog entry has been written, I’m wondering if I should be hanging out there waiting to see all you New Yorkers when you stop in for a visit!

By: Amanda

Amanda — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:04:38 +0000

I love the idea of the booklists in the bookstore. I find I don’t have enough time to read all the books I want, so I use lists to find new authors and branch out into new genres– having the list right there would be fantastic for someone like me!

By: Ladybookr

Ladybookr — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:09:47 +0000

Debbie,

Sounds like you could write a book and tour the country visiting bookstores and giving your recommendations on why some of these bookstores are great. You are most definitely welcome at our store anytime.

Ladybookr
(lover of books )

By: Joann Davis

Joann Davis — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:33:09 +0000

Sorry I missed out. Love to be there next time.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:41:39 +0000

@Joann — we missed you! We’re going to try to do a get together once a month. Maybe the last Thursday of every month, starting in Sept. I’ll keep you posted.

By: Joann Davis

Joann Davis — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:31:49 +0000

Thanks for this intelligent, insightful post. I feel I’ve been on a virtual tour of the store.
As a result, I hope to one day visit Prairie Lights.