Spring Break
Brazos Bookstore: A Jewel of Literary Charm
Debbie Carpenter
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Opinion
Located near Rice University, not far from the center of the hustle and bustle of the fourth largest city in America, is a shining jewel of literary charm and opportunity. Brazos Bookstore is nestled in a small business center at 2421 Bissonnet, near downtown Houston. Small enough for the reader to be warmed by the intimacy of a literary and informed staff yet large enough to carry a "careful, intelligent book selection." Brazos Bookstore offers an extensive inventory of literary fiction, non-fiction, biography, history, poetry, literary criticism, philosophy, architecture, cooking and travel. Jane Moser manages Brazos Bookstore and brings a respected and extensive degree of experience and knowledge to her position.
Sunday afternoon, Feb. 17, Dr. Scott Kaukonen's English 383 Practicum in Publishing class took a field trip to the Brazos Bookstore for a lecture on the importance of independent bookstores in America and the current trend toward their closings. Independent bookstore failures are largely due to competition from large literary megastores who continually present an economic crisis by offering lower prices through sale volumes. Barnes and Noble, Borders Bookstore, and the 'monster' presence of the internet giant, Amazon.com have left many longstanding and significant community bookstores with little left to do than to place a 'Going Out of Business' signs on their doors. The legacy and charm that small neighborhood bookstores offer local communities is passing and the only way to stop this trend is to vigorously promote their presence, substance and ultimately their value to local areas of residence and commerce.
Moser shared with Dr. Kaukonen's class that Brazos Bookstore is a venue where authors may present to the public new and exciting literary works through their own personal readings. Brazos has a strong backing in the West University area near downtown which is close in proximity to Rice University, St. Thomas University, Houston Baptist University, The University of Houston and many other smaller schools of higher education. Brazos Bookstore is professionally associated with In-print, a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 committed to promoting the nationally renowned In-print Brown Reading Series. Dr. Kaukonen's class attended an In-print program at the Wortham Theatre to hear readings by two accomplished international authors.
Sunday afternoon, Feb. 17, Dr. Scott Kaukonen's English 383 Practicum in Publishing class took a field trip to the Brazos Bookstore for a lecture on the importance of independent bookstores in America and the current trend toward their closings. Independent bookstore failures are largely due to competition from large literary megastores who continually present an economic crisis by offering lower prices through sale volumes. Barnes and Noble, Borders Bookstore, and the 'monster' presence of the internet giant, Amazon.com have left many longstanding and significant community bookstores with little left to do than to place a 'Going Out of Business' signs on their doors. The legacy and charm that small neighborhood bookstores offer local communities is passing and the only way to stop this trend is to vigorously promote their presence, substance and ultimately their value to local areas of residence and commerce.
Moser shared with Dr. Kaukonen's class that Brazos Bookstore is a venue where authors may present to the public new and exciting literary works through their own personal readings. Brazos has a strong backing in the West University area near downtown which is close in proximity to Rice University, St. Thomas University, Houston Baptist University, The University of Houston and many other smaller schools of higher education. Brazos Bookstore is professionally associated with In-print, a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 committed to promoting the nationally renowned In-print Brown Reading Series. Dr. Kaukonen's class attended an In-print program at the Wortham Theatre to hear readings by two accomplished international authors.
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