Seattle is for book lovers

July 30, 4:28 PMSeattle Newcomer ExaminerShiwani Srivastava

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Elliott Bay Book Co. // Photo courtesy Elliott Bay Book Co.

Okay, I admit it... I'm one of those (former) New Yorkers who thought that New York was the capital of, well, everything - especially books.

New York is still the heart of the publishing industry, and when it comes to books, they mean business (I'll save my war stories for another time).  Sure, Seattle's no Oprah, but I was surprised to learn about Seattle's impact on what America reads.

Nancy Pearl, Seattle-based founder of Book Lust, has put the city's literary scene on the map.  And as she noted in the New York Times, thanks to the impact of local companies like Amazon, Costco and Starbucks, "New York may publish the books, but Seattle significantly defines America’s reading list.”

Seattle also has some amazing literary events (just check out the Seattle Arts & Lecture Series or the events at Elliott Bay Book Co.) and a great local publisher by the name of Sasquatch Books.

And that's not to mention all the independent bookstores.  It's impossible to name them all (and it's like choosing between children), but I love the ones with public spaces that encourage readers to get cozy with a drink and a book.  Elliott Bay Book Co. is a Seattle favorite with a cavernous cafe that feels like a treasure trove of books.  And I find myself at the Third Place Books pub in Ravenna (either reading or playing board games) more than I'd like to admit.

So Seattle, read your heart out!