In Memory: Glenn Goldman and Karen Spengler

Glenn Goldman

Glenn Goldman, founder and owner of Book Soup, a landmark on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, died at age 58 on Saturday, January 3, of pancreatic cancer. For more than 30 years, Goldman built the store, offering more than 60,000 titles and known for high profile author events and celebrity clients, into both a neighborhood favorite and a must-see destination for out-of-towners.

Goldman was a past president of the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association and had served on the Board of Directors of the American Booksellers Association.

"Glenn was not only a friend and mentor to his fellow booksellers," said ABA President Gayle Shanks of Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, Arizona, "he was also beloved by his sales reps, many of whom worked for him at one time and were there with him during the last hours of his life."

ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz said, "Glenn was a stalwart and a cornerstone of independent bookselling on the West Coast. Book Soup has been a landmark for the community, the movie industry, and for visitors to the Los Angeles area. Glenn was a strong leader, and set an example for others on how to develop the personality and persona of a bookshop. He will be sorely missed by his family, friends, community, and the independent bookselling world."

"Glenn was a bookseller's bookseller," noted ABA COO Oren Teicher. "He was a reliable participant at hundreds of bookseller gatherings over the years -- determined to seek new and innovative ways to make stores more successful. He was always understated as he showed visitors around Book Soup, but his pride in having established one of the nation's best bookstores was evident. Book Soup reflected Glenn's good taste and interests, and it's very difficult to imagine that crowded space without seeing his smiling presence. All of us in the book business will miss him greatly."

SCIBA Executive Director Jennifer Bigelow told BTW, "Glenn loved the book industry and everything that came with it. He always appreciated a good trade show and valued education. Glenn could always be found at SCIBA's and NCIBA's trade shows and ABA's Winter Institute."

And, Bigelow added, "The Glenn Goldman Booksellers Scholarship Fund will help other booksellers to participate in what Glenn valued."

Among other tributes to Goldman was one from Los Angeles Times Book Editor David L. Ulin, a regular visitor to the store, who wrote: "Book Soup is Glenn's reflection -- a place of decency and intelligence, iconoclasm, and aesthetic vision. In a cookie-cutter world, there are far too few such establishments, the bookstore as neighborhood salon. This was Glenn's great talent and his legacy, his lasting gift to us all."

A few days before his death, Goldman announced he was putting Book Soup up for sale to provide for his two young sons, Joseph and Samuel, reported the Los Angeles Times.

A public memorial service will be held for Goldman on Sunday, January 11, at 1:00 p.m. at the Hillside Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Glenn Goldman Scholarship Fund. Details are available on the Book Soup website.

Karen Spengler

Karen Ann Spengler, owner of I Love A Mystery in Mission, Kansas, died on January 1, 2009, at age 56 of breast cancer.

"Despite her long battle with breast cancer," said the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association, "[Karen] was an unflagging advocate for independent booksellers, an active participant in the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association, and a spirited and gracious friend to all who had the pleasure of knowing her."

Spengler already had a successful career as a certified public accountant, when she opened I Love A Mystery in 2000, according to the Kansas City Star.

In 2006, Spengler moved the then six-year-old specialty store to a new, 2,700-square-foot location, which tripled its size. In June of that year, she spoke to BTW about her plans for the bookstore and about her efforts to inform local residents and the city council about the effects a planned Borders Books & Music would have on her small business. At the time, she was unable to work in the bookstore due to her illness and had entrusted daily store operations to her longtime friend Becci West.

In 2007, I Love A Mystery was named the winner of a 25 Under 25 Award, sponsored by Kansas City Small Business Monthly. Spengler attended the awards ceremony, where 25 outstanding local businesses with fewer than 25 employees were honored. The bookstore was chosen for the honor from among 750 nominated companies.

The Star noted that Spengler had contributed her time and talents to a number of local nonprofits and had served on the board of the Mattie Rhodes Foundation and the American Red Cross.

She is survived by her mother, Jean Spengler.

Memorial contributions may be made to Turning Point Cancer Support Center, P.O. Box 10486, Kansas City, MO 64171 or to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.