When The Bookstore moved recently from rented space in a strip mall on Northland Avenue to its own building at 801 W. College Avenue (across the street from a Walgreens and a church called “The Core”), it was able to expand its collection beyond the romance novels that were its bread and butter since 1977. And expand it did.
The store now has some 85,000 mostly used books, and a significant part of the collection is nonfiction. Book lovers can find history, religion, self-improvement, and a wide range of other topics. The store is brightly lit, easy to navigate, and delightfully decorated.
During a visit to the store in April, I noticed a gap in the collection: Books by conservative and libertarian authors seemed to be missing.
I wasn’t looking for books by contemporary conservative pundits and celebrities such as Tucker Carlson, Ann Coulter, or Sean Hannity, or even the late Rush Limbaugh, although they were rare. I was looking for conservative classics by writers such as Milton Friedman, Whittaker Chambers, Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich Hayek, and George Gilder.
I discussed this with the proprietor and, to my surprise and delight, she invited me to supply her with books that she would happily try to sell. She even offered to set aside a bookcase for “conservative and libertarian public policy.”
Now, it so happens that I once owned several thousand such books and still have access to a few of those. In short order, a bookcase was acquired, installed, and filled with books for sale. You can ask about it at the front desk or, better yet, just wander through the store until you find it.
The Bookstore in Appleton may be just about the only bookstore in the Fox Valley with a section devoted to conservative and libertarian authors. What a treat!
Please visit The Bookstore, say hi to Kalan, its colorful and creative muse en chef, and buy a few books. Don’t let this good deed go unrewarded.
