Alex Paozols

THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH ATOMS IN THE UNIVERSE TO SUPPORT OUR READING HABITS

An anarchist known as Leon Leon would hold midnight readings here at the bookstore. They were well attended. Leon Leon was quite vigorous about promoting the revolution. His chapbook "The Dawn of Income Tax Annihilation" is known internationally and banned in seven countries. He had an edge to him like a stray bullet biting into a speed limit sign. When Leon Leon died the bookstore closed early. The employees walked silently in a procession to the capital steps where they formed a sit-down circle and read aloud from the infamous chapbook, passing it around like it was the last book on earth.

This is a first edition signed by the translators Khazanov and Schulman with an additional signature by Khazanov while she was dressed as the author. It was published posthumously in wake of Wasiolek's untimely death. Frequently this six volume, 3,600 page, unabridged box set of memoirs entitled "Schwindelhaft" will skip around the bookstore, re-shelving itself in Literary Criticism and sometimes True Crime or Woodworking. They say Wasiolek is happily roaming the ocean floor.

The old outdoor oak walkway and patio have been through many repairs. A budding children's book illustrator once fell through the steps and drowned in the Russian Thistle River. She'd been drinking. The bookstore worked with the watershed organization to erect a small monument in her honor on the bank of the river.

Bebe Howard has been the fiction and poetry buyer for nineteen years. From time to time she will converse with the bookstore ghosts in a trenchant voice that suggests she might one day like to join them if they would have her. Her book club meets on the first Wednesday of the month. It is occasionally followed by a séance.

The coffee bar consists of rusted metal scallop lawn chairs and wobbly tables. People often spill glasses and cups and burn themselves with piping hot espresso drinks. The first coffee refill is free.

Once, during banned books month, we received a bomb threat. It was a hoax and generated free publicity.

Salon is held at 7 p.m. every last Tuesday of the month on the second floor. Hosted by Hugh Krantz, salon is a rare and provocative forum where customers come together to discuss and debate a wide range of topics. It is free and everyone is invited to participate. Recent topics include: Russia: what the hell happened?; Libertarianism vs. perturbative mind expansion; Entangled Edens: obsessive behavior and the suburbs.