Celebrate independent bookstore day in Sonoma

Give Readers’ Books even more love on April 28.|

Readers in Sonoma are invited to join patrons at more than 500 independent bookstores in 48 states for Independent Bookstore Day, on April 28. The events will include parties, author readings, in-store events and exclusive merchandise.

Readers' Books will be celebrating with a 'Choose Your Own Discount Bag' option; a free book with purchase; snacks from the staff's favorite cookbooks; limited-edition items; a store-wide scavenger hunt; a poetry writing contest; and live music from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

'I think we can all agree that having more independent bookstores in our midst is a cultural plus,' said Andy Weinberger, co-owner of Readers' Books, on the topic last year.

'Money is not the reason we sell books,' said Weinberger. 'We sell books because we believe in the power of word and ideas. It's almost a religious impulse. We sell books because we value critical thinking and the innate human ability we have to imagine.'

Weinberge believes that without books, 'this world would be a dark and dangerous place.'

'I know many of you think that we're already in a such dark and dangerous place,' said the book seller. 'But believe me, without novels and poetry and essays and history to guide us, it would be infinitely worse.'

Readers' Books will offer exclusive merchandise created especially for Independent Bookstore Day by major publishers and authors. Since its inception four years ago, more than 200 authors have demonstrated their support for independent bookstores by donating work for Bookstore Day.

National Independent Bookstore Day is sponsored in part by Penguin Random House, Ingram, and the American Booksellers Association.

Last year participating bookstores saw an average increase in sales of 200 percent on Independent Bookstore Day, with some up as much as 1,000 percent over their average Saturday sales in April.

Independent Bookstore Day began in California in 2014.

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.