Feel the Need to Read? SCBA to Hold Third Bookstore Tour

On Saturday, February 25, in Los Angeles, the Southern California Booksellers Association (SCBA) will hold its third Independent Bookstore Tour. This year, the "I Feel the Need to Read" tour will celebrate the role of independent booksellers in Southern California and in communities nationwide. SCBA is inviting readers to visit "some of the country's most knowledgeable and inspiring bookstores to meet authors and fellow book lovers."

"After previous successes in San Diego and Los Angeles, we're again offering booklovers the opportunity to sample the diversity of community and [of] thought that can only be offered in an independent bookstore," said Jennifer Bigelow, executive director for SCBA. "The 'I Feel the Need to Read' tour is both an educational tool for the industry and a fun way for bibliophiles to spend the day."

SCBA has planned two concurrent bus tours -- one for "Westsiders" and one for "Eastsiders." The Westside tour will kick off at 9:00 a.m. at Dutton's Brentwood, while the Eastside tour will begin at 9:00 a.m. at Vroman's in Pasadena. The festivities will start with coffee and pastries and author appearances: Greg Hurwitz (Troubleshooter, Morrow) at Dutton's and Liza Palmer (Conversations With a Fat Girl, 5 Spot) at Vroman's.

Each bus will then embark on a daylong tour, with plans to meet up for lunch, featuring a special guest hosted by Book Soup at a Sunset Strip restaurant. Both buses will end the day at 5:00 p.m. where they began. Riders will have had the opportunity to meet all of the guest speakers and to sample the unique environments that each store offers.

Both buses are scheduled to stop at the following bookstores: Bodhi Tree and Book Soup, both in West Hollywood; Cook's Library, Eso Won Books, and Traveler's Bookcase, all in Los Angeles; Dutton's in Brentwood; and Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena.

Reservations for the "I Feel the Need to Read" tour are required. To register, contact SCBA at (626) 793-8435 or via e-mail at [email protected]. The cost of $50 covers the tour, a goodie bag, lunch, refreshments, and the reception.