This week, we're excited for the second annual Philadelphia Bookstore Crawl, founded by literary agent, author, and BSR community member Eric Smith. It's happening this Saturday, and in the meantime, you can catch our podcast episode with Darnelle Radford, Eric, and two exciting new bookstore owners who are participating in this year's crawl. They share how they became avid readers, whether they think bookstores are haunted, their opinions on book clubs, and lots more.
In other news, we're reviewing the latest exhibition at Winterthur, which critic Gail Obenreder loved, and don't miss our latest book reviews, including my take on A Well-Trained Wife, a bestseller that's getting a lot of buzz. And Cameron Kelsall remembers his friend Margaret Darby, a BSR colleague who died earlier this year.
In the national news, we see that Philly will be battening the hatches for a Trump/Harris debate at our own Constitution Center on September 10. A Philly cultural institution is a worthy backdrop for this event, and the location is a great reminder for folks in our area: check your voter registration now. It's never too early to make a plan to vote. This election may come down to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And voter turnout in Philadelphia, perhaps more than any other US city, may determine which way it goes.
Local politics are important too! City Councilmember Rue Landau is launching a survey for all Philly artists, including visual, performing, and literary artists. She wants to know more about us, so that the city can better meet our needs. The survey will be live through September 6, 2024. If you're an artist, make your voice heard!
Alaina Johns
BSR editor-in-chief
