NWBL had the opportunity to visit Rediscovered Books in its new location in downtown Boise last fall. It was a Wednesday morning, and co-owners Laura and Bruce DeLaney and staffer Whitney Gill were busy coordinating their schedules for the day, placing an order for holiday books from Partners/West and waiting on customers while the new Mavis Staples album played in the background.
The DeLaneys opened Rediscovered Books in 2006, after leaving careers in high energy physics (Bruce) and elementary education (Laura). Since then, they’ve kept a busy schedule that’s helped put Rediscovered at the center Boise’s literary scene and has helped the store find success and growth during a time when many indies are struggling. Both owners participate in multiple civic and bookselling groups (among them, Laura is active in a buy local/sustainability group and Bruce sat on the Awards Committee for the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association for three years). When we were there they were working on an event called Rock-to-Read to help raise money for Boise’s public school libraries. The store also hosts an author or musician each month for the First Thursday Downtown Gallery Walk, and they regularly welcome book clubs and writers’ groups into the store.
Last summer, Rediscovered moved from a suburb into to downtown Boise. Describe Rediscovered’s new neighborhood. Rediscovered’s new neighborhood is a vibrant downtown community. The merchants host and participate in regular programs to enrich consumers’ lives, including the First Thursday Downtown Gallery Walk every month, the Capitol City Market every Saturday April through December, Fall for Boise in September and October, as well as other events.
What’s the best lunch within walking distance? We are located within a five minute walk of at least ten fantastic restaurants, including Red Feather Lounge, Fork, and Pie Hole. We also love the Basque Market, which is a little bit further out at 6th & Grove.
What have been your most memorable events so far? I have to say, so far the three most memorable events were an English Majors Association non-fiction reading we did with Boise State, Rock-to-Read last November with Go Listen Boise!, and Al Heathcock’s release party this past Friday. Each event consisted of a dynamic group of people getting together to celebrate literature in the community, which is what we’re all about at Rediscovered.
What’s a CD that would make a great soundtrack for your store—or one that you play over and over? We love music in this store! We’ve recently started a sharing program with our local music store, The Record Exchange, in which we display their top picks for music. Right now, we’re loving the local group Hillfolk Noir, a bluegrass band that brings a new level of energy to this classic Americana music.
What have you read recently that you want to press into the hands of your customers? Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss, Volt by Alan Heathcock, The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht, and The Sign of Four: A Sherlock Holmes Graphic Novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, illustrated by I.N.J. Culbard and adapted by Ian Edginton.
Can you recommend a book that might be off our radar? The Heart of the Monster by Rick Bass and David James Duncan is an amazing account and a protest against oil companies’ plans to build a corridor for heavy load trucks through rural roads in the Northern Rockies and the Northwest, allowing them access to the Alberta Tar Sands. The book includes a short story as well. We also love Lisa Shannon’s A Thousand Sisters, which explores how difficult it is to be a woman in the Congo.
What are some of your favorite sidelines in your store? We just brought in some adorable Japanese erasers that come in shapes of animals and food. We also love our Daisy Chocolates, bite-sized pieces of chocolate made by local chocolatier, Dream Chocolates.
Name three Northwest authors you’d like to invite to dinner. We’re a very relaxed crowd around here, and we’d love to go out for pizza and beer with Alan Heathcock, Chuck Palahniuk and Ivan Doig.
Boise is lucky to have The Rediscovered Bookshop. The knowledgeable staff and great selection of authors makes it a pleasure to shop local. Recently the Children’s Chorus of Opera Idaho was invited in to do some Christmas caroling – a good time was had by all. We picked up the 2011 Holiday Books guide at a recent stop at Rediscovered, and did some Christmas shopping for the kids while we were there. (I got something for the husband, too, when he wasn’t looking). We love Rediscovered Books, and plan on shopping there for years to come.