the 941

I cruised 41 up into the mysterious waters of Bradenton last Friday, hoping to check out — for the first time: sorry, B-towners! — the city’s Village of the Arts. The neighborhood is the Suncoast’s largest artists’ colony, with 40-plus galleries, artsy shops and more. While I came away a bit disillusioned by the quality of the visual art to be found there — don’t get me wrong, I like mountain streams and flowy female figures as much as the next guy, i.e. not at all — I was shocked to find the best bookstore I’ve ever entered anywhere near here. The Village Bookshop is the real deal: The stacks are thick with new and used volumes ranging from the pop to the obscure; the poetry section is just short of exhaustive; even the creaking floorboards underneath add to the effect. And did I mention shop owner and sharp-witted conversation provider Doug Knowlton, himself a poet (and pictured above, to the right)? Now, I can already imagine the impassioned defenses of Sarasota News & Books addicts and those who enjoy the clusterchuck that is The Main Bookshop.

But let’s face it. The selection at N&B doesn’t always stack up favorably, skating by sometimes on the charms of its café comforts. And Main, while dynamite if you aren’t searching for a particular book, frequently confounds with its lacksadaisical attempts at organization. And plus, us snobby Sarasotans always need a reminder that there is a city to our north that deserves some attention now and then.

For conneisseurs, book browsing doesn’t get much better than at The Village Bookshop. Respect is due.

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