LOCAL BOOKSTORES: Exactly what we need right now

Oktober Books

Many of us had books that defined us when we were young. They helped to shape our morality and who we would become, led us, and laid out a blueprint for what we’re supposed to do when faced with (seemingly) unlikely situations of fiction. For me, it may have been Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” that truly spoke to me unlike any book ever had before. I had read it around age 10, a few years before it was required reading in ninth grade. You’d think that for a 10-year-old, the memorable parts would be the robot dogs and the flamethrowers, but I guess that was where the magic of Bradbury’s still-poignant writing came from: it could resonate with anyone who would listen, regardless of age. 

Of course, I was too young to truly understand the messages of fascism and the warning signs Bradbury peppered throughout the text, but the book was intense, and I knew it had something to do with the way its society was controlled and the fear of consequences for those who weren’t aligned with that control. I remember, almost 30 years ago, wondering why something as enjoyable and simple as books could be such a cause for such profound fear; why those who attempted to break the system would face such punishment. Honestly, it made me come out being thankful that my parents’ discipline for my 10-year-old crimes weren’t more severe. It wasn’t until much later that I realized how books weren’t as simple as I thought, and that, to those who crave power and obedience, they can be the tyrannized’s greatest weapons.   

Granted, this isn’t a dystopian future (right?), and no one is getting their houses burned down for owning books (right?), but book banning is at an all-time high. The American Library Association reported in 2024 that books were being banned at unprecedented levels, with more than 10,000 books banned across the United States, on more than 4,000 unique titles. 

A large percentage of these books contain LGBTQ+ themes, while others contain messages of standing up against fascism and authoritarian government, sexism, racism, and other forms of oppression. Even “Fahrenheit 451,” while not outright banned, has been challenged many times in hopes of being banned, and while the novel was once required reading, it has now mostly been removed from the national curriculum. 

Often, the loud minority claims that books can’t be banned if they’re not made illegal. How can a book be banned if you can still get it on the internet and purchase it? The answer is simple. By banning books in public libraries and schools, for those who are in a low-income financial class, or those in small, rural America who don’t have access to the internet, regular deliveries, or corporate bookstores, owning books of choice may as well be illegal. So, how do we combat that, aside from speaking out against obvious political attempts to suppress information and thought? The best way we can: local bookstores. 

Wilmington has no shortage of bookstores. Outside the obvious mega-corporations like Barnes and Noble and Books-A-Million, we actually have several fantastic, locally-owned, intimate bookstores strewn across the city. Sure, being somewhat of a mix between a college town and a tourist destination sets the stage for vacationers and students to stock up throughout the year, but each store offers something different: a way to connect with their regular clientele. Whether it be with the looming, impressive shelves of downtown’s Old Books on Front, or the spicy selection of the Cargo District’s Burning Pages Bookstore, Wilmington’s readers are able to pick their poison with intricacy, even down to visiting shops that specialize in preferred genres.

Papercut Books

So, why should we take the time to search out and shop at local bookstores when it’s so easy to pop by a Barnes and Noble or click Place Order on Amazon? Holly Howell, the owner of downtown’s quaint and cozy Papercut Books, has a great answer: 

“Local bookstores inevitably carry the distinct personality of their locations, their owners, and are often a reflection of their communities. If you go to any local bookstore in Wilmington, we all have our own distinct looks, feels, and books. They always tell you a little about the owners and what they find important and beautiful. A big corporate store can never impart that same personal feeling because they are innately impersonal and so many levels removed from the communities that they place themselves in. In my mind, if local bookstores are a beautiful native wildflower species, big-box stores are an invasive crop.”

There are few things as connective as a reader who resonates with a book they love. Having a space to discuss that connection and someone to talk to who may feel the exact same way is important in both building relationships within the community and feeling less alone; two things we could all benefit from. It isn’t just beneficial for the customer, either. Small bookstore owners feel the connection too, and in many cases, it keeps them going. About the rewards of opening a small bookstore in Wilmington, Howell said, “I am so proud that Papercut has become a place that isn't just about the buying and selling of literature. It's a place where people can come to relax and feel safe while letting their minds wander. It's really just a serotonin hotspot. I love to see people leave happier than when they came in.”

Oktober Books, one of Wilmington’s newest local bookstore additions, opened up down the road from the Cargo District. The little store offers a warm, comfortable place to sit among paintings of ghosts and candlelit shelves to enjoy a haunting horror story or thrilling mystery, the genres they primarily carry. About her goal for the Cape Fear community, owner Ashley Alderson said, “To provide a space for thrillers, relaxing, reading, discussion, dancing, friendship, & more! More importantly, I hope to reach non-readers, and get them hooked!”    

These connections, friendships, and recommendations between local bookstore owners and their patrons directly combat those who wish to silence literary artists and the messages they provide to the public. Most of these stores are adamant about providing access to important texts, especially those banned by political leaders and powerful community boards. Their passion for getting these important books in front of interested eyes goes much further than just putting them on their shelves and hoping for a purchase. These local owners truly care about accessibility and generally have their own individual battle plans. 

As for how Holly Howell has taken on the banned book accessibility issue in our country, she said, “When ‘Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You’ by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi was banned from New Hanover Schools, we donated over 100 copies of the book for free with the support we received from the community to local high school students. It made an incredible impact, and throughout that process, we realized that for every one person who wants a book banned, there are hundreds of people who want to support literary freedom and will donate their own money to do so. In terms of stocking the store, we always prioritize diversity in authors and keep a permanent cart of free books outside, stocked with kids' and adult books for people who have financial barriers that restrict their easy access to books.”

Ashley Alderson of Oktober Books has her own contributions, being less-established in the community: “I hope to offer a safe space for readers to speak freely regarding their opinions on any books, banned books especially. I have a small section of banned books that I find important, with plans to grow in that area. Also, I offer a wide selection of gently used books, which often includes new(er) releases at discounted rates. We are still very new, but book clubs, open mics, events, and more are coming soon!”

Book banning doesn’t start and stop with controversial topics like racism, sexism, or LGBTQ+ rights, either. Sure, the bulk of the focus goes to books that teach important morality lessons and offer societal warnings, like To Kill a Mockingbird or The Handmaid’s Tale, but they’ve gone far beyond that. Now, books like Wicked, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Milk and Honey have been banned from many schools around the nation. At what point do bans move from political agendas to personal ones? At what point are we banning books because one person in power doesn’t like them? 

I asked Ashley Alderson for her opinion on a banned book that she believes everyone should read, and she had a conventional (and correct) answer: “1984 by George Orwell. I hope it brings perspective to current events & inspires thoughtful discussion...” When I asked Holly Howell the same thing, she shocked me with her response, “James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. I wish I were joking, but I'm not. I think there are so many beautiful books that have been banned in so many places, and this is such a good example of, “Where does it stop?” It doesn't. It becomes a monster rotten peach rolling over every book worth reading.”

We’re living at a time in our world when we all need to unplug, read more, learn more, and absorb things more carefully. As Reading Rainbow’s LeVar Burton once said, “Literacy means freedom. For the individual and for society.” Local bookstores can help us feel that freedom. Take advantage of Wilmington’s vast selection, as having so many options is rare for a city this size. Get a coffee and read The Hate U Give at The Roasted Bookery, nerd out and pick up Maus from Memory Lane Comics, or have a quiet night and a glass of wine with A Court of Thorns and Roses from Burning Pages. Remember that your knowledge is a weapon that can’t be taken away.