I live just outside of a small village – it’s called Cambridge – in upstate New York, right on the Vermont border. An anomaly, Battenkill Books is a thriving independent bookstore on Main Street in our small agricultural village, with perhaps a dozen shops and restaurants.
In the age of Amazon and the Kindle and Alexa and all kinds of online shopping and countless distractions, Battenkill Books is just not supposed to exist, certainly not a beautiful store with thousands of current books and three book-loving employees plus the owner, Connie Brooks, a superhero of the book world to me.
Connie isn’t supposed to exist anymore either; perhaps she is a magical Book Witch. And a precious friend.
Her store is chock full of books. And people. And kids (she has a kids book section.) All my dogs are happy there.
Conny is a savvy business person and a savvy book lover, and she would be the first to admit that it is not a simple or easy combination.
She does it with grace, patience, and good taste. She is also a wonderful mother and wife.
And she also does it with wonderful staff and lots of fiercely loyal customers who appreciate her and support the store. A book store is always a community project, something Amazon can never be..
She has worked very hard on that, Amazon prides itself on customer service, but for Connie, it’s not a marketing plan, Connie lives it.
She has weathered Amazon, e-books, savage storms, recessions, great recessions, a pandemic (maybe two), the limits of business in a small town, and the most brutal book-selling market several times in many years.
It seems book lovers are not yet ready to abandon the book or the bookstore. Connie ought to get a plaque or a medal. She is a warrior in that struggle.
I don’t know how she does it, but I am grateful to her for doing it.
When I was still writing books instead of blogging, some of my most cherished and memorable moments were the big signings I did in the store. Connie would put up a table and Maria and I would set up and I would sign hundreds of books.
When I wrote an e-book called Rose In A Storm, Connie graciously offered a reading even though there was nothing to sell. When I published my very last book, no one showed up for the reading – the first time in my writing career. I knew the world was changing, and it was time for me to change.
Connie changed too. It was a good decision for both of us.
Her bookstore marked the different passages of my life as a writer.
My cherished moments now include writing on this blog and browsing in Battenkill or picking up the books I order from Heather or Eve or Kate or Connie. It is always a pleasure to see them. They always seem happy to see me.
Dogs and kids are welcome there, but especially people who love to read, and those people feel welcome there.
What a treasure to have a first-rate indy bookstore in our tiny town halfway to Canada from New York City.
Whatever Connie has, she ought to package and market it.
It would have to be a bestseller.
For years, I ordered books from Amazon. It was so convenient and quick, and even as an author, I was wary of arrogant bookstore owners who ridiculed the idea of Customer Service and alienated millions of Americans with their snootiness.
Bookstores are changing and for the better. Caring about customers and treating them well is not immoral or a crime. Amazon sells an awful lot of books.
Everyone who steps into the store is made to feel welcome, not stupid, and anyone who needs help gets it in seconds. That kind of stuff still works, especially in the disconnected and impersonal world of online shopping.
I don’t click on Amazon anymore when I want a book; I click on Connie’s phone number and am happy to run down to the bookstore and see what’s new. Connie’s bookshelves are dependably current.
Very few people in America live in a small town like this and have a bookstore that would shine in Manhattan. I know, I used to live there. How lucky we are.
There is something about holding a book and turning the pages and sometimes going backward and rereading something that you just don’t get with a Kindle. I still purchase books. Then after I have read them, I pass them on to someone else that I think would like to read them.
I love curling up with a good book! Some I’ve read so often the covers are gone. My brother gave me the Tolkien trilogy for Christmas when I was 12. I’ve read those books every year since for the past 50 yrs. They are worn and since my big brother has passed away they hold an even greater magic for me. So glad you have an amazing bookstore in your town. They are a true treasure.
Love them, luv that bookstore.
Great article, TY.
The bookstore is a beautiful building and I hope that the door has a bell that rings as you enter! It is wonderful that it thrives in today’s world. Ms. Connie must be a good business person in addition to being a book lover. One of my favorite authors, Diana Gabaldon, still uses a local bookstore (The Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, Arizona) to serve as a personal contact for her works. She autographs her books there and is a frequent visitor. (Although when she has a new book, the little bookstore has to become a big operation for awhile.)
books are still much treasured and sought after and so nice that you have Connie and her book store so close. I still prefer holding a book in my hands and turning pages (though it falls flat on my face in bed sometimes LOL and my husband has to peel it off)……… over a kindle. I listen to books on CD in my car, but otherwise…….a real book for me. Fortunate to have a good library with great *searching* capability, and a good used book store here in town. As Betty said………I also have a good circle of reader friends…..and we pass them forward and on from there………. a treasure always, for everyone, many times over. Can’t get better than a real book!
Susan M
Jon, I’m enjoying your photos of the grand old buildings in your town, including the bookstore.
I live in a town just at the border of what was the Northwoods in Wisconsin. We have many grand old buildings, most build by the Lumber Barrons who clear cut the ancient trees that existed to rebuild Chicago after the Great Fire.
I know many stories of these robber barons as told to me by my grandfather – but those are ancient history now and ugly.
We also have the oldest continual family owned book store in Wisconsin. I get all my books there that I can(been hacked after Amazon so I don’t use it anymore). Nice to have that good history too.
Kudos to you for avoiding Amazon and supporting independent book stores. My wish is for more people to think like you. I have “The Penguin Book Shop” in my area of Sewickley, Pa. It’s been thriving since the early 20’s. Unlike Amazon, they bend over backwards to give every reader friendly, personal service. Libraries are still around also.
I do read on my Kindle except for poetry. I would love to continue to purchase from Independent Bookstores. Do you think the time will come when Independent Bookstores will be able to sell E Books? I do still stop by these bookstores whenever I’m near one and always purchase books for gifts but would love to purchase all my ebooks from one.
BTW, I look forward to your blog and Maria’s everyday. You both add much to my day.
Connie is a wonderful person. She has very kindly shipped me several of your books over to me in the UK and is always a pleasure to communicate with!