Anthology Bookstore’s owner, Andrea Talarico, pages a used Gabriel Garcia Marquez book inhaling the air slowly as if enjoying a bouquet of roses. She holds her coffee mug with both hands, curls her fingers around the handle, and admits, “I love the smell of books. As a teenager, I always drove down to Tudor Bookstore in Kingston. It was my favorite place to be. When I skipped school, it wasn’t to do bad things; it was to go drink chai and read at Tudor. I fell in love with that atmosphere.”
The written word has lead Talarico to various levels of management at chain bookstores while writing her chapbook, Spinning with the Tornado. After publishing her chapbook locally through Paper Kite Press, and hosting the Test Pattern poetry series, which has become the largest poetry reading in the Valley, Talarico now prepares for the Grand Opening of Anthology, her own house of words, in the Casey Laundry Building this Friday.
From its East Village, New York City décor, exposed pipes and painted brick, turquoise and mauve walls, and orange curtains, Anthology is a part of Scranton’s new image, presenting the feeling of modern city expanse meets classic hometown neighborhood.
As you follow the organization of her alphabetized shelves, you’ll notice handpressed section signs above the shelves made by Sheri Alexander Rempe and Stacy Giovanucci (from Outrageous) and Jen Bell’s handmade tiles on Anthology’s walls leading you from section to section. “Fiction is my favorite because that’s what I fell in love with at a young age. That’s what I think most people fall in love with before they really explore other areas. I’m trying to incubate young readers into literary fiction, then expand from that point.” The 1500 feet of Talarico’s store includes various works from local authors and extends from mystery to business to mythology, and spans children’s and young adult literature to anthologies and poetry.
While guiding us through her poetry section, Talarico brightens as she mentions that she embraced the name of her store after reading the definition and etymology of the word anthology in a poetry dictionary. “Anthology is Greek for ‘collection of flowers.’ The Greeks started using the term in reference to poetry collections as flowers of verse. I liked that the Greek’s first used flowers (pretty things) in regards to poetry and overall I feel that a bookstore is a collection of pretty things.”
In the glass case at the register, you can view her bouquet of autographed, first edition, and rare books from authors: Kurt Vonnegut, Carl Sandburg, Ru Paul, Virginia Wolfe, John Irving, and James Jones. It also holds a signed Dana Gioia, The Illustrated Museum of the Animal World (an old animal encyclopedia with illustrations), and a great picture edition of The Red Pony by John Steinbeck.
When you have finally chosen a book and are ready to settle down and sip your coffee, Talarico’s reading area keeps you gathered for hours around her fireplace. But instead of snuggling next to a glowing fire, you can curl into a good book amongst the comforting ambiance that radiates from a ball of orange lights cradled by a brown argyle scarf. Blossoming above the fireplace is a vase of peacock feathers, while a green couch with matching blue chairs and oriental rug, frame the area.
But don’t let the great look of Anthology detract you from the importance of what’s under the book covers. Talarico says, “I think it’s really important to keep people reading, to educate the masses and that’s why I have a lot of strong titles high on the literary end.”
Talarico offers 4,000 new and used titles that are sold side by side (the used are marked with a green dot stating the price— new are priced as is). Talarico received most of the books from The Strand Bookstore in New York City but she says, “people can bring in books for trade credit in the store or they can get it for cash. I’ve had a lot of people donate books and that is such a blessing. I just think that people are starting to realize where their money goes and they see that if they buy into the community, it stays in the community. Buying local is better off for you, your children, and your community and I really wanted to make that happen with a bookstore.”
At the end of the tour, Talarico takes a sip of her coffee smiling at a misplaced book in the history section. As she reaches out to slide into in an open space between two covers, she says, “its officially a bookstore, things are out of place.”
Anthology Bookstore’s Grand Opening will have free food and wine from Vida Tapas Bar as well as music from Roy Williams, Ian O’Hara, and Coleman Smith. It is a free event on Friday, October 12 from 6 – 9 p.m. at the Casey Laundry Building, 515 Center Street Scranton. Talarico has already planned book signings in November, with local authors, Jim Warner and Barbara DeCesare. There will be two children’s story hours starting in December, which includes acting and puppet theater from local actor Conor McGuigan, and Patrick Holmes, the character designer from sesame street, as well as a local musical female trio who will have Spanish/English storytime. A local poetry circle will meet at her store on Saturday mornings, and Sam Blynn’s handmade bookbags and totes will also be featured.
Anthology’s business hours are Monday through Wednesday 10-6, Thursday through Friday 10-9, and Saturday 10-5. To find out more information about the events please call: 570-941-9630 or email scranthology@gmail.com. Anthology will also be online soon at www.anthologybooksonline.com and www.myspace.com/scranthology.
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