June 9 — Hello, June! 

With longer days and brighter skies, we hope this month brings you warmth, peace, and time to pick up captivating reads that whisk you away to other worlds. Also, be sure to hug your dad this month, and maybe even give him a book or two as a gift!

With this month’s edition of Stacks, we dove into exploring our bookstore of the month, exciting upcoming literary events, community-building indie bookstores, and a super cool Instagram account!

Thanks for reading, and please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or feedback! Also, if you enjoy Stacks, please forward it to a friend and encourage them to subscribe, using this link. 

See you in July!

-Alex and Eloisa

Pop into Posman Books on your next trip to Ponce City Market! 

🧸 Adjacent to Ponce City Market’s open-air courtyard, Posman Books offers a wide range of books, stationary, and gifts. The store’s colorful space, with Jellycat stuffed animals lining the walls, almost like books themselves, creates a sense of blissful chaos and a joyful atmosphere for book shoppers. 

As a family-owned mini-chain of bookstores based in New York City, Posman Books provides a unique browsing experience to each of its shops. Although each location is different, they all guarantee the vibrant green walls, cheeky greeting cards, and wide selection of children’s books that Posman is known for. In the case of this store, which is situated in Ponce City Market’s repurposed industrial structure, Posman Books does not fail to bring its iconic charm to the space and make the location its own. 

If you live closer to the Alpharetta area and do not feel like braving the midtown Atlanta traffic to visit this shop, look no further, because Posman Books has a second Atlanta location at the Avalon shopping center. Be sure to pop into 4105 Avalon Boulevard for some new reads!

Additionally, if you are looking to explore some other shops while you’re at Ponce, we recommend grabbing a coffee from Pancake Social or Spiller Park Coffee. Or, if you are looking for fuel for your browsing adventures, check out PCM’s wide variety of food selections. We love Botiwalla, an Indian street food restaurant, H&F Burger, and Pizza Jeans. 

Overall, a trip to Posman Books at Ponce City Market guarantees a fun and cozy time surrounded by books and gifts of all varieties. With its colorful atmosphere and unique selection, this family-owned store is a must-visit for book lovers of all ages. Next time you find yourself at Ponce City Market, don’t forget to swing by Posman Books to pick out some new reads!

🗓️ Save the date for a new chapter of the Decatur Book Festival on Oct. 4-5. Stacey Abrams will appear on Oct. 5 as the “Kidnote Speaker” and share the third installment of her picture book series, “Stacey Speaks Up.”

SPONSOR MESSAGE

Literary Events  

Feel free to email us if you have literary events that you would like to be featured in our newsletter. In the meantime, add them to our free public calendar on howdoyouatlanta.com.

🥂  On Mon., June 10 at 4 p.m., USA Today bestselling author Kimberly Belle celebrates the release of “The Paris Widow” at F&B Atlanta. Bring your bestest, most bookish friends and raise a glass of champagne! This event is free and open to the public. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the venue. 

⌛ On Thurs., June 13 at 7 p.m., beloved “CBS Sunday Morning” correspondent Mo Rocca, author of New York Times bestseller “Mobituaries,” is welcomed to the First Baptist Church of Decatur in honor of his latest book, “Roctogenarians: Late in Life Debuts, Comebacks, and Triumphs.” General admission tickets are free and tickets including a signed copy of “Roctogenarians” are $32. 

🍀 On Fri., June 14 at 12 p.m., A Cappella Books is partnering with the Consulate General of Ireland Atlanta for a special lunchtime Bloomsday celebration. Festivities include food on the back patio of A Cappella Books and readings by the Consul General and members of the Arís Theatre with an open slot for any and all who wish to participate. This event is free and open to the public!

🇫🇷 On Tues., June 18 at 6:30 p.m., Chef Deborah VanTrece and Guest Chef Hugues Mbenda honor Vérane Frédiani’s new cookbook, “Taste the World in Marseille: Marseille Cuisine by the Marseillais” at Twisted Soul Cookhouse and Pours. This Michelin Guide recognized collaboration will highlight Marseille’s diverse cuisine through an 8 course dinner paired with French wines, with Frédiani signing books at the end of the meal. Secure your tickets on RESY. 

📔 On Wed., June 19 at 7 p.m., Edda Fields-Black discusses her latest book, “Combee: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War” at the Atlanta History Center. In her book, Fields-Black tells the story of the Combahee River Raid, one of Harriet Tubman’s most extraordinary accomplishments, based on original documents and written by a descendant of one of the participants. Tickets are $10. 

📚 Also on Wed., June 19 at 1 p.m. or 7 p.m., the VaHi Reads Book Club will read and discuss “The Other Valley” by Scotte Alexander Howard at Virginia Highland Books. Make sure to RSVP, as spots fill up fast! 

🏠 On Wed., June 26 at 7 p.m., Wanda M. Morris, native-Atlantan and award-winning author of “All Her Little Secrets”, talks about her latest novel, “What You Leave Behind,” at the Atlanta History Center. Tickets range from $10 to $31 (includes general admission ticket + book at 30% discount). 

🥘 On Sat., June 29 at 3 p.m., Emmy Award-winning documentarian, food historian, and author Von Diaz is welcomed to A Cappella Books for a special afternoon talk and book signing in honor of her highly-anticipated book, “Islas: A Celebration of Tropical Cooking– 125 Recipes from the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans.” This event is free and open to the public; copies of the book will be available for purchase. 

🌊 On Thursday, July 11 at 7 p.m., internationally bestselling author Gabrielle Zevin discusses her novel “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow,” winner of the Goodreads Choice Fiction Award and named Amazon’s Best Book of 2022, at the Atlanta History Center. Tickets range from $10-31 (includes general admission ticket + book at 30% discount). 

🌋 Also on Thurs., July 11 at 7 p.m., award-winning and bestselling author of “Black Bun” discusses his highly-anticipated new novel, “This Great Hemisphere,” at the Auburn Avenue Research Library and Museum. The author will appear in conversation with award winning writer Dante Stewart. This event is free and open to the public. Copies of “This Great Hemisphere” will be available at the venue. 

⭐ On Friday, July 12 at 6 p.m., Emily Giffin, native-Atlantan writer and #1 New York Times bestselling author of “Meant to Be” discusses her highly anticipated novel, “The Summer Pact” at the Atlanta History Center. Tickets for non-members of the Atlanta History Center are $31, and include a signed hardcover copy of the book.

Atlanta readers are getting more from their local independent bookstores than just a good read. Customers are finding that a bookstore can be an inclusive “third space” – a distinct social space apart from home and work. 

About a week ago, Ahava Ronn explored three indie bookshops across Atlanta that foster book communities in their respective areas: 

Little Shop of Stories – Decatur

✨ Justin Colussy-Estes, store manager since 2016 at Decatur children’s bookstore Little Shop of Stories, believes that independent bookstores are most successful when they “identify what the community wants and meets those needs.”

This store creates an inclusive space for all ages with themed book clubs for kids, teens, and grownups.

“I left the store the way I always leave it, a little bit happier, with a little bit more faith in the community” says Emily, in her blog post about Little Shop of Stories. Emily says that she always recommends it to friends and that all the books “seem personally curated.”

Charis Books & More – South Decatur 

🗳️ Charis identifies as “southern, queer, anti-racist” and as one of the 25 feminist bookstores still active in the United States. Charis hosts more than 270 events per year. They “believe in the power of specific identity-based movement spaces at specific times for specific causes” as stated in a note from 2020. 

Charis has been “celebrating radical and independent voices” for 50 years. providing an accessible space for radical and independent groups to organize. “It’s about having a space where you can come together,” said Dartricia Rollins, an activist, bookseller, and assistant director at Charis Circle, the non-profit programming unit of Charis.

Atlanta Vintage Books – Brookhaven 

🐈 Owned by Jan Bolgla and Bob Roarty, the sprawling shop is home to more than 80,000 used, new, collectible, and vintage books. The duo have been accumulating literature and ephemera as well as building connections since they bought the store in 2007. 

“This was something I wasn’t expecting when I bought the store, but it’s almost like a community,” Bolgla said. Since the inventory is mostly used books, the store fosters a diversified community with its open-door policy and wide selection of specialty literature. 

“The most important thing is our customer having a good, friendly place to come,” Bolgla said. Both floors have seats open to any guest who comes in. AVB is also home to Bolgla and Roarty’s cats, which roam free and mingle with guests.

Books that aren’t suitable or not in demand at the store are donated to local Friends of the Library groups, as well as prisons and community centers. “We make sure they get somewhere where they’re needed,” Bolgla said. 

➡️ Read the full Rough Draft article here.

IG Follow of the Month

📸 Love baking AND reading? Look no further than @thekneadtoread! Mariah, a teacher from New York, creates and shares book-inspired desserts on her page, ranging from sweet treats to savory delights. On her account, she shares photos of her recent reads and the baked goods they inspire!