Booklovers@Powell's.com

We spent an impressively short four hours in the World-famous Powell's Bookstore on Saturday, and left only because we were both tired, a bit overwhelmed, and hungry. The weather has been crazy - going from warm spring sun to torrential downpour in the blink of an eye - and though we were glad to stay inside a cozy bookstore during the downpours, I began to get a bit impatient to get outside once the sun came out.

Of course, it began to pour only a few minutes after we left the store.

Anyway. Back to Powell's, the destination that puts Portland on the map (in my opinion). Five+ floors of new and used biblio-goodness, arranged in a coherent and comfortable way makes for a delicious way to spend a day. Or a weekend. (Maybe a week?) S&P, the lit geek, and I puttered our way around the aisles, giggling at some of them:

(I have to explain that this image is from the Regretsy book pictured above - it's a slightly creepy and obstetrically-correct maternity sock monkey, delivering a wee sock bootie from her sock va-jay-jay. It made us double up in laughter so I took a picture and texted it to Briana... but no replies. I wonder why....!?)

Intrigued by others....

and finally indulging our book addictions with a basketful of volumes on our favourite topics, new and old. The bonus for S&P was that she needed some books for her GRE and current English courses, so this wasn't just a recreational visit (though methinks she was being a VERY conscientious student this day). We collapsed into the busy coffee shop in Powell's and enjoyed a cuppa and some snacks while we absorbed and sorted the books we hoped to give good homes to. For those of you hoping to win S&P's contest, it hasnt' closed until we leave on the train tomorrow evening so don't get your hopes up! I'll never tell how many she bought!

I've always thought that the best bookstores were those that were noticeably assembled with purpose - the books weren't just blockbusters or easily sold volumes of airport-novel trash (though those are plentiful as well) - good bookstores show evidence of deliberate care and attention to the reader, and the interests of the proprietor. This is the value that independent bookstores offer to readers. Powell's, given how large it is, offers its value in how it engages the customer in helping them satisfy their reading curiosity. There are plenty of "rooms" of books arranged by subject, where a reader could browse through the shelves until something caught their eye, and there are plenty of information desks where a real human being will help point out where the volumes on the list crumpled in your hand are tucked away on the tall birch shelves. Powell's is actually in four large buildings spanning a whole city block, so in the many odd mezzanines and vestibules connecting the different rooms there are large displays and lists of books that invite you to sample something new. From the list of international book award winners that is two stories tall and updated regularly, to the collections of books fitting various themes that connect diverse subjects, readers are invited to sample something old while they can still soak in titles on subjects they love.

I actually also like that Powell's has a thoughtful and wide selection of interesting cards, gifts and games that fit a booklover's taste. S&P spent probably an hour looking at the card section - laughing and sniffling and enjoying the very literary selection - and taking home enough to last us through months of birthdays and other sentiment-requiring occasions.

We ended up leaving happy but burdened and sought refuge at the aforementioned !Obe! Cuban restaurant for happy hour, but returned to our hotel in the evening to dive into our book booty. I won't reveal to whom these books all belong so as not to spoil S&P's contest but this will give you an idea of the depth of our book sickness (and perhaps lack of restraint).

We hope to return to Powell's to say goodbye tomorrow! :)