The Stacks
It’s a grey day in Missoula and a bit gloomy…the kind of day best spent indoors perusing great literature, I think. Today, intuition brings me to what I need. I’ve been scrambling around town running errands, and I need an adventure “for me”....something simple. So, in a moment’s remembering, I make my way to The Book Exchange, one of my favorite places of discovery.
ADVENTURE ART CLUB | DAY 15 | 9.15
THE BOOK EXCHANGE
MISSOULA, MT
For a lover of books and great literature, there is something so delicious about the silent exploration that comes from wandering through towering stacks of treasured, tangible books in a library or bookstore. As I walk to the door of this unpretentious place of learning and place my hand on the handle to enter, I notice the tiniest thrill of anticipation. When I come to a bookstore like this without any intention, no “thing” that I’m looking for, I know I have an hour (or two, perhaps) of uninterrupted discovery in store. How delicious.
My mother instilled this great love of reading in me from a young age. As a child, she would read to me and my siblings every single night, and I can still remember the sound of her voice in those moments. We didn’t have much, and our home was quite isolated. I remember reading for hours on end as a kid. No endless streaming choices were mine to waste time with.
Back then, I loved books about far away places, horses, knights, and queens. One of my favorite series centered on the story of the “first woman knight” of a fantasy kingdom, and my young heart devoured the stories of her courage, wisdom, adventurous spirit, and secret soft center. I loved horse stories, I think, because they made me think of freedom…they conjured images of wild beings running wherever they wished at full speed over plains. I wanted that exuberant experience.
Stories in books let me imagine whole worlds other than my own. They let me travel without setting foot anywhere. I still remember the thrill of receiving my very first library card with my name on it. I felt so grown up…
In high school, English was the only AP course I took, and I loved it. I loved to write, also. In college, I fostered this love of lit. further by making it one of my majors. Eventually, I graduated with two full degrees: One in Fine Art (my calling), and one in English Literature (my next greatest love). I still miss the depths of discussion we reached in my classes senior year of college…I have never found it anywhere else ever since.
Like many, these days, I find myself reaching for the fast food of easy entertainment (tv, social media) rather than the nourishment of books in the evenings. I can feel the capacity of my brain and attention span slowly atrophying as a result. I’m caught in the web of distraction, just like everyone else is. But, I’m trying…(often unsuccessfully)... to escape.
On today’s excursion to this book store, which offers repurposed books at deep deep discounts, I immediately reach for a title I recognize which was recommended by a woman I respect to the utmost, Angel Collinson. This book is called “Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds, and Shape Our Futures” by Merlin Sheldrake. Angel mentioned the book in a podcast she spoke on, stating that this is one of the books she was most impacted by at the time. I respect her opinion. I hold the book close to my heart as I continue to wander through the titles.
Hours pass blissfully by.
Eventually I leave with a tiny collection I can’t wait to discover more fully: A collection of haikus from Ancient Japan with beautiful blue flower print additions. The “Entangled Life” that I mentioned. A book of poems by the great Andrea Gibson. A new discovery: “Tell The Turning” - A collection of poetry with black and white nature illustrations by Lucy Bellwood. This final choice is an art piece I know, instantly, that I’ll treasure.
I’m working on quite the collection of poetry actually… most centered on nature or the feminine experience. These two areas of exploration captivate me. I can’t wait to read these two new additions this Fall and Winter.
As I leave (right at closing), the clerk of The Book Exchange takes the time to carefully wrap the cover of my new book in clear plastic to protect it from future damage. His hands move meticulously to mark folds and create the casing with utmost care. I’m struck by the time he’s taking, despite the fact that the store closes in five minutes. He does not seem rushed. He’s not rushing me. He clearly loves books and wants to care for them. I appreciate his dedication.
Now back at my car, I remember to sketch this mini-collection - my way of marking the deep, slow adventure of discovery I find in bookstores and libraries. I turn towards home, treasures in tow, and rejuvenated.
Love & Gratitude,
- Christina
