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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 10, 2016)
Jody Swanson believes in the printed page Cloud & Leaf Bookstore in Manzanita is the last independent bookstore in Tillamook County O Over the past few years, there has been a lot of speculation about the state of the American bookstore. With the surging popularity of online retailers and e-books, how can small indepen- dent bookstores survive? It’s a sobering thought, especially when combined with a 2010 article in TIME Maga- zine, which listed “Real Books” as one of the things that kids of future generations won’t ever experience. But walking into Cloud & Leaf Bookstore at 148 Laneda Ave. in Manzanita lays those fears tidily to rest. The shop’s logo proclaims proudly “We Be- lieve In The Printed Page,” a motto that is a re- ÀHFWLRQRIRZQHU-RG\6ZDQVRQ 6ZDQVRQ ZKR FHOHEUDWHG \HDUV LQ EXVL ness in late February, believes in “little touches” to make customers feel comfortable in her shop: neat book shelves, hand-written recommen- dation signs, literary gifts, and wide variety of JHQUHVLQFOXGLQJDKHDOWK\VHOHFWLRQRI3DFL¿F Northwest authors. There’s even a reverent hush about the store, an ambiance that feels like being inside a favor- ite book. It’s the kind of goodwill and interaction that can’t be downloaded. :KHQ6ZDQVRQRSHQHGKHUVKRS0DQ]DQL ta didn’t have a bookstore, and it seemed like a QDWXUDO¿W6KHORYHVUHDGLQJDQGORYHVWDONLQJ to people about reading. “It’s just evolved from there,” she says. Cloud & Leaf has become a staple of lo- cals, vacationers and second home-owner,s and 6ZDQVRQVD\VVKHHQMR\VKHOSLQJ SHRSOH¿QGWKHSHUIHFWUHDG 6WLOOVKHLVZHOODZDUHRIWKH precarious nature of the book selling business: Cloud & Leaf is the last independent bookstore in Tillamook County. When asked how a brick-and- mortar bookstore is still relevant in today’s downloadable world, her answer is simple: “People like talking to other people about books,” she says. 6ZDQVRQ DOVR NQRZV VKH KDV WR HDUQ HYHU\ FXVWRPHU DQG VKH VSHQGV D VLJQL¿FDQW DPRXQW of time researching titles, whether it’s for the shops’ inventory, a recommendation for a regu- lar customer, or a special order. “It’s hard work keeping up with all of the changes and trends in the book market,” she says. 6ZDQVRQDGGVWKDWVKHIHHOVKHUSDWURQVKDYH real awareness of independent book sellers and DVWURQJGHVLUHWRVXSSRUWWKHP6KHUHSD\VWKDW OR\DOW\E\KRVWLQJQXPHURXV3DFL¿F1RUWKZHVW Submitted photo Cloud & Leaf Bookstore owner Jody Swanson has been at her Manzanita location for 12 years. author readings, which have recently included :LOO\9ODXWLQ/DXUHQ.HVVOHUDQG)OR\G6NORRW “We get a lot of walk-ins for those,” she says, QRWLQJWKDWIRRWWUDI¿FLVDKHDOWK\PL[RIERWK locals and visitors. When not immersed in the day-to-day opera- WLRQVRIWKHVKRS6ZDQVRQHQMR\VVSHQGLQJWLPH with her family. It’s quite a literary family, too: her husband works for the Tillamook County Library system and her daughter is a vora- cious reader. ³6KH¶V UHDOO\ LQWR VFLHQFH ¿FWLRQ ULJKW QRZ´ 6ZDQVRQ says. When it comes to the state of independent book sellers, 6ZDQVRQ LV FDXWLRXVO\ RSWL mistic, especially in a spot ZLWK D JURZLQJ LQÀX[ RI UHDGHUV ZLWK OHLVXUH time. “We’ve seen more people coming in over the last year or so,” she says. “The weather has been nice, and Manzanita has become more popular.” 6ZDQVRQ DFNQRZOHGJHV WKDW KHU ORFDWLRQ near the beach and a loyal customer base have made it possible to weather the rapid changes to the book selling industry. “I am so grateful to be in this spot and have a community that is so supportive,” she says. ‘People like talking to other people about books.’ Submitted photo Young readers outside Cloud & Leaf Bookstore prove there is still plenty of life left in the printed page. the arts VISUAL ARTS • LITERATURE • THEATER • MUSIC & MORE Story by DAN HAAG Cloud & Leaf Bookstore can be reached at 503-368-2665 or by visiting www.cloudanleaf. wordpress.com March 10, 2016 | coastweekend.com | 9
