One of the most overlooked foundations of a successful democracy - along with rule of law, a good constitution and a free press - is a vibrant publishing industry and, especially, independent bookstores where the full spectrum of a cultures' thought can be browsed. Sadly, and ironically on the 4th of July, one of the country's best and most liberal bookstores was closed by fire.
For more than 30 years Bunch of Grapes has been at the center of the intellectual life of Martha's Vineyard. Regular customers include David McCullough, Judy Bloom, Alan Dershowitz, Skip Gates, Evan Thomas, Carly Simon and the late, great Art Buchwald, not to mention William Styron. Bill and Hillary were annual visitors during the White House years, and both have done book signings there. Barrack never did a signing, but his presence at an "off site" event co-sponsored with Harvard's DuBois center was a minor moment on his path to where he is today.
Winner of Publishers Weekly's Bookseller of the Year award, Bunch of Grapes has always had a liberal bent - which is simply good business on an Island where, in 2000, Nader got roughly as many votes as Bush. (Indeed, if America had had the same 80% turn out that year, along with the same percentages for each candidate, Gore would have received more votes than were cast nationally in the entire election.)
One thing I have always been particularly proud of is that on Sept 11 not only did Bunch of Grapes have a biography of Bin Laden on hand, we also had a face out pocket of Rashid's book on the Taliban. At that time I was the manager of the store, a priviledge I gave up a couple of years ago to help my wife with her rapidly growing internet retailing business.
I could go on and on with my memories, but mostly I just wanted to let those Kossacks who've visited know of this tragic event.
For more info you can go to The Vineyard Gazette . I have pictures if there is interest, but they are on a different computer I can't access at the moment.