Literary Tourism: Indy Reads in Indianapolis, Indiana

[image description: The side of a building with a mural painting of an open book. On the book’s pages is the name of the bookshop, Indy Reads, and the phrase “Do good. Read more.”]

I got back from my skate research road trip for my book a few days ago and I’m both happy and exhausted! I didn’t think I’d have time to go to a ton of bookstores along the way, but I’m thrilled to report I was wrong and I got to go to several bookstores.

My first stop on the trip was Indianapolis, which was actually also the last place I went before the pandemic lockdowns began. In March 2020, my friend Sherri, who lives in my hometown in Birmingham, Alabama, was driving from Birmingham to Wisconsin to visit family. She was passing through Indianapolis, which is less than a three-hour drive for me, so we met up. About an hour before I arrived at the hotel, the lockdowns were announced. I was already there and there were only like 50 covid cases nationwide at that point, so I decided to stay through the weekend as planned, especially knowing I wouldn’t be getting out much at all for the foreseeable future.

We found the indie bookstore, Indy Reads, which was thankfully still open but pretty empty. The whole city was eerily quiet after the heightened social distancing measures were announced. It’s fitting that going to an indie bookstore was my last hurrah before I went into the cave of social distancing for nearly a year and a half.

I actually took these pictures in March 2020, but I didn’t want to encourage folks to travel with the coronavirus running rampant. Now that more and more people are getting vaccinated, it’s time to share!

[image description: The bookstore’s storefront. A large window with the shop’s name Indy Reads on the glass. There’s also a poster highlighting their literary nonprofit work that reads: “72% of children whose parents are illiterate will also be illiterate. Your purchase helps empower families. Do good. Read more.”]

I’ve been fortunate to see a number of fantastic indie bookstores, but what warms my heart the most are the bookstores that give back to their communities. Indy Reads does this by offering adult literacy programs, English as a second language (ESL) classes, and more for their community.

There’s also a pay-what-you-can shelf so there are affordable books for folks on a low or fixed income.

It’s clear from the bookstore’s word and deed that they believe reading is for everybody. I love that!

[image description: The door to the bookstore with a poster that says “These books change lives.”]

The fact that the bookstore has a nonprofit component sends the “all are welcome” message. But the rainbow flag in the window really rings it loud and clear.

[image description: Inside Indy Reads. There are a several bookshelves full of various books, a chair, and a rainbow flag in the window.]

Indy Reads has a mix of new and used books. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted, but I found two books I ended up LOVING off the staff picks table: Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden and Sounds Like Titanic by Jessica Chiccehitto Hindman. Both of them made it on my Best Books of 2020 list because they were that good!

[image description: Inside the bookstore. Hardwood floors and long rows of bookshelves.]

The space was large enough for events and their programming, though they didn’t feel the need to fill it to the brim with books, which I appreciated. That may sound strange, but I’m easily overwhelmed with options, so I’ll take a bookstore with a highly curated selection over piles of books everywhere and no organizational pattern any day.

[image description: 3 vintage typewriters on the top of one of the bookshelves.]

And as a typewriter collector, I loved all the old typewriters they used as decor! These are just a couple of the gorgeous old metal beauties that graced the shelves.

[image description: A bookshelf decorated with the pages of books, garland, and filament lightbulbs, as well as a chalk wall stating what genres are on the shelf.]

See what I mean about the cute decor? It’s so beautifully and thoughtfully done at every turn.

I did notice when I checked their website before publishing this post that the bookstore is under construction at the moment. I’m not sure what’s changing, but they clearly have great taste so I trust that the new changes will be even better than what I saw.

[image description: A vintage typewriter and a bouquet of paper flowers made from book pages.]

There’s a small stage area where they have author talks and book signings. On the stage is a table with more vintage typewriters and book page paper flowers. The flowers reminded me of the ones I made for my wedding.

[image description: A column in the bookstore where old books were used as decor for the column.]

If I were a handy and/or craftsy person, I would totally cover surfaces in my house with book spines like this. As it is, I’m not at all handy or craftsy, so I’ll just enjoy it when other folks do it well.

[image description: The checkout area at the bookstore. A sign with the bookstore’s name is suspended above the desk and is surrounded by book page paper cutouts.]

I don’t believe in cutting up books that people would actually want to read, but let me tell you. There are a LOT of books in the world that no one wants either because they’re old, in bad shape, don’t stand up well to the standards of today in terms of content, or it’s info that people would do better googling. I’m totally fine with folks cutting up those books and making crafts out of them. Better that than the landfill or pulped!

[image description: Bookshelves with a poster that says: “Your purchase helps end illiteracy” and a testimonial from a student that says: “Every day I learn something new. Every day I improve. Indy Reads gave me that gift.”]

Okay, how can you not want to open your wallet and dump the entire thing out buying books after you read a testimonial like that??

[image description: My friend Sherri, a blonde white woman sitting in a chair near the women’s history month book display. She’s smiling and has her hands folded in her lap.]

And of course, the thing that makes an already delightful bookstore even better: friends! Shoutout to Sherri, without whom I wouldn’t have been in Indianapolis and therefore wouldn’t have been able to visit Indy Reads.

I was blown away by the important, necessary work Indy Reads is doing. If you are too, check out their website to learn more and donate. They also ship books all over the country, so you can fight illiteracy from afar.