Book People

Across the street from Waterloo Records (Sixth Street & Lamar Boulevard) is Book People, the best independent book store in Austin. Sure it’s easier and cheaper to buy hardcovers, paperbacks, coffee table books, etc. at the monster chains (Borders, Barnes & Noble, Half-Price Books and Amazon.com) and the chains have the same comforts: couches, chairs and fancy coffee drinks, thus blurring the lines of distinction of atmopshere. Yet I think they lack Book People’s sincerity; with the chains it still feels packaged, sterile and overcommercialized. So why go there if price doesn’t matter? Simply their book signings. 
 
There are signings with the chains, namely on Austin’s northwest side. With Book People, it’s a constant activity not an occasional promotional matter. Most of the big names in politics, fiction, history and biography come to sign autographs, read excerpts from their work and take questions from the audience. Depending upon the guest, the event takes place in the main hall of the second floor (near the stairwell) or there’s a special room on the third floor. Sadly, the store used to take up all three of its floors but times have been tough on them with the competition I mentioned before. I went to one signing for Kinky Friedman in 1999 at the Barnes & Noble. It was enjoyable. The Kinkster was witty. Then I’ve been to signings with Book People. These were miniature parties or rock concerts packed with much more enthusiasm. 
 
My first signing was in 1995 for Ann Rice. I mainly went to get a really unique gift (autographed copies) for two friends back North who really dug her work so my opinon of her was neutral. It was an all-day event with a band outside. She was even escorted to the signing area by the police. Years later, I finally got into the habit of going more often thanks to my wife. There was Michael Moorcock (my favorite fantasy author) and I got to ask him about the evolution of the Lords of Chaos v. the Lords of Law over the years. James Ellroy (author of LA Confidential) was a laugh a minute. Bruce Campbell also had the crowd in stitches with his smart-ass answers. Lastly, I finally got to meet my favorite contemporary fiction author and somewhat a writer of my age group and mindset, Douglas Coupland (Generation X, Shampoo Planet and Microserfs). Last year, Somara and I went to meet the man who put her on her current career path, Alton Brown (star ofGood Eats on the Food Network). Pretty amazing that his wit is as sharp on the fly as it is on his show. 
 
Numerous other authors have appeared which I sadly missed due to time constraints: Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Robert Reich, Irvine Welsh (Trainspotting) and John McCain (only to tell him I think he’s a cowardly weasel). You get the picture though of what a magnet Book People is for these people. They have their choice: larger, better known and more conveniently located stores or the store which says, “Austin!” Obviously, this place is the best for such an event hands down. 
 
In closing, Somara is the one who can best vouch for their dedication. Book People helped her find a particular book while Borders said it didn’t exist. For me, they’ve been equal on special orders (Borders v. Book People) but I have to give the edge to Book People too whenever I’m looking for something. Many of my purchasing decisions are influenced by NPR. This place knows its audience. KUT (the NPR affiliate) is very popular so they have a binder listing past guests on KUT and NPR to assist customers like me who frequently forget the exact name of the title and/or author.