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Highlighting Indie Bookstores for Indie Bookstore Day: Broadway Books

photo courtesy: Broadway Books website

PORTLAND, Ore. — Kim Bissell will never forget when she learned of an opportunity that any bibliophile couldn’t resist.

In 2014, Roberta Dyer, co-founder of Broadway Books, located at 1714 N.E. Broadway, was looking for someone to fill in as co-owner with Sally McPherson.

“When the opportunity arose in my neighborhood bookstore, I live about five blocks away from the store, I jumped,” Bissell said.

Broadway Books, which was originally an old furniture store, first opened in 1992 by two best friends Dyer and Gloria Borg Olds.

After Olds retired, McPherson became co-owner with Dyer in 2007, and seven years later Dyer was looking to do the same.

An avid reader, active in author visits and book fairs and well-known in Portland’s book community, Bissell was the perfect person.

Home to Powell’s City of Books, the largest bookstore in the world, Bissell describes Portland as a “literary city.”

“It makes a nice stop for authors who are touring to go between Seattle and San Francisco, and so we’re very lucky to be where we are and to have what's already happening in the city,” she said. “We have a very vibrant author and publisher community here in Portland too.”

Portland is also home to Literary Arts, a nonprofit literary organization, whose mission is "to engage readers, support writers, and inspire the next generation with great literature.”

One event that they lead is the annual Portland Book Festival, which features readings, writing workshops, story time for the kids, a very large book fair, good food, author discussions and more.

The next festival is taking place on Nov. 4.

“When you think about some of the writers who are living here right now, Kimberly King Parsons or Chelsea Bieker, who are trying to see the world from a really fresh perspective, it's a benefit to everyone here,” Bissell said. “While it's a very intellectual city, it also is a city that has very healthy respect for reverence, so a lot of the writers that come out of Portland have been edgy or are trying to see things in new ways.”

One famous writer that lives in Portland who was Reese Witherspoon’s November 2022 book club pick for “Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice From Dear Sugar," is Cheryl Strayed.

“She is such a brilliant writer and such a perfect conveyor of humanity,” Bissell said.



Witherspoon also starred in the 2014 film, “Wild,” which was based on Strayed’s 2012 novel, “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail.”


“I was a huge Stephen King fan when I was a teen.”

MY RECENT READ:

“It’s about a librarian who is from Portland and how his life changes as he gets older."

BANNED AND CHALLENGED BOOKS IN OREGON

“I am horrified by the current situation. I want to live in a pluralistic society where all voices are heard and we’re made stronger by the celebration of all of our members of our communities," Bissell said. 

As for recent bookish news in Oregon, two parents called for the removal of 36 books in Canby School District, which led an impassioned board meeting.

The majority of the books on the list center on the LGBTQ+ community and people of color. 


“I am horrified by the current situation. I want to live in a pluralistic society where all voices are heard and we’re made stronger by the celebration of all of our members of our communities," Bissell said. "Broadway Books doesn’t censor. We choose what we display in the store and we will always continue to display books and encourage our customers to see all members of our community.”

As for her thoughts on edits made by publishers on classic books, including Roald Dahl and Agatha Christie's books, Bissell describes it as a "slippery slope."

"I think reading and then having conversations about why it's not appropriate or why it's not a good thing is a much better approach. Editing out makes you take away the conversation," she said. 

According to The Guardian's sum up of the Telegraph's report, HarperCollins removed terms such as "Oriental" and removed phrases such as "Indian temper."

As for Puffin, they made the decision to keep both amended and unamended versions of Dahl's classics. 

What are your thoughts on the book ban situation happening across the U.S.? How about editing classics?

Those interested in learning more about Broadway Books can follow their Instagram @broadwaybooks or check out their website.


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