Spring is the Time of Plans and Projects

Leo Tolstoy with his grandchildren, 1900

 “Spring is the time of plans and projects.” - Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

Spring is indeed the time of plans and projects. Spring is the season of new beginnings. The time is now to review, restart, refresh, reset, and reengage with nature. May your choices of engagement this spring be guided by Tolstoy's philosophical views of pacifism and social justice, just as his ideas about non-violent resistance influenced Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is also the time of year for Spring Cleaning. If you are clearing your book shelves of pre-loved friends, keep in mind that you may trade your books for credit to spend as a discount on purchases at Bluestocking Books. If you are trading more than one or two bags of books, we ask that you call the store to book an appointment. +1 (619) 296-1424

Independent Bookstore Day and San Diego Book Crawl 2025!

Saturday, April 26th, 2025 is the 12th annual Independent Bookstore Day and that means it will soon be San Diego Book Crawl weekend! Indie Bookstore Day is a celebration of independent bookstores across the United States and this year the author ambassador for IBD is Dave Eggers.

From April 26 through April 28, 2025, the annual San Diego Book Crawl will be featuring 14 amazing bookstores.

 

How the San Diego Book Crawl Works

 ‘Passports’ are issued at your first stop. A minimum $20 purchase is rewarded with a stamp from each place on your literary trek. Participating bookstores will be giving out stickers, totes, pins, and more as you traverse San Diego. Every year our limited edition swag is designed by a local artist! Start participating early as giveaways are available while supplies last. Follow @sdbookcrawl on Instagram and get to know the different book shops and the amazing people that make SDBC so special.

San Diego Book Crawl 2025 artwork by Kaley McCabe

SD Book Crawl 2025 Art

Each year, the San Diego Book Crawl partners with a local artist in creating the merchandise and participation rewards. This year the SDBC is delighted to feature artwork by children's book illustrator and designer Kaley McCabe. Check out her darling exploring Desert Cottontail above and purchase related merch on Bonfire!

Bluestocking Books in the Media

Recently, SDVoyager conducted an updated interview with Kris Nelson, owner of Bluestocking Books. Read Exploring Life and Business with Books and the original 2018 interview, Meet Kris Nelson of Bluestocking Books in Hillcrest.

Kris also contributed commentary for the NBC San Diego article, Multiple Businesses Close in Hillcrest Over Past Few Months.

Book Picks for April Reading

Spring open a book cover and hop into a new read this season.

SUNRISE ON THE REAPING by Suzanne Collins

The fifth book in The Hunger Games series is out! "As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes. Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves. When Haymitch's name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He's torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who's nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he's been set up to fail. But there's something in him that wants to fight and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena." 

Order your copy in store or from Bookshop.org.

PREQUEL: AN AMERICAN FIGHT AGAINST FASCISM by Rachel Maddow

Inspired by her research for the hit podcast Ultra, Rachel Maddow charts the rise of a wild American strain of authoritarianism that has been alive on the far-right edge of our politics for the better part of a century. Before and even after our troops had begun fighting abroad in World War II, a clandestine network flooded the country with disinformation aimed at sapping the strength of the U.S. war effort and persuading Americans that our natural alliance was with the Axis, not against it. It was a sophisticated and shockingly well-funded campaign to undermine democratic institutions, promote antisemitism, and destroy citizens' confidence in their elected leaders, with the ultimate goal of overthrowing the U.S. government and installing authoritarian rule.

That effort worked--tongue and groove--alongside an ultra-right paramilitary movement that stockpiled bombs and weapons and trained for mass murder and violent insurrection.

At the same time, a handful of extraordinary activists and journalists were tracking the scheme, exposing it even as it was unfolding. In 1941 the U.S. Department of Justice finally made a frontal attack, identifying the key plotters, finding their backers, and prosecuting dozens in federal court.

None of it went as planned.

While the scheme has been remembered in history--if at all--as the work of fringe players, in reality it involved a large number of some of the country's most influential elected officials. Their interference in law enforcement efforts against the plot is a dark story of the rule of law bending and then breaking under the weight of political intimidation.

That failure of the legal system had consequences. The tentacles of that unslain beast have reached forward into our history for decades. But the heroic efforts of the activists, journalists, prosecutors, and regular citizens who sought to expose the insurrectionists also make for a deeply resonant, deeply relevant tale in our own disquieting times.

Order the hardcover, E-book, and pre-order the paperback at Bookshop.org.

William Shakespeare at work in his study, circa 1610. Artist: A H Payne

“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.”

― William Shakespeare, Shakespeare’s Sonnets

SHAKESPEARE'S SONNETS are perfect for springtime reading as the themes focus on spring, summer, and the seasons. 

Order the beautifully bound Complete Illustrated Edition originally released in April 2016 for the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare.

Looking Back While Looking Forward

Women's History Month 

March is Women's History Month. The theme for 2025 is "Moving Forward Together! Women Educating and Inspiring Generations", which inspires us to once more look back at our Suffragette Sisters who fought for the women's right to vote, and looking forward to the positive effects our current activism will achieve. 

Questions folks are asking in the current political climate are, "How can I protest?" and "What actions can I take?". The Commons Social Change Library is a good place to start browsing helpful publications. The staff at Bluestocking Books is prepared to assist in finding just the right books for you, wherever you are in your activism. 

One book we recommend for the younger set is pictured below - "A is for Activist" is an ABC board book for ages 3-7. This is the perfect book for families who want their kids to grow up in a space that is unapologetic about activism, environmental justice, civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and everything else that activists fight for. Click on the image to purchase online or contact Bluestocking Books to place an order - +1 (619) 296-1424.

Writerfest Nashville

WriterFest Nashville is a women-owned creative gathering for aspiring writers, published authors, screenwriters, poets, and songwriters, established by Ami McConnell in 2018. WriterFest hosts events, salons, soirées, and fundraisers throughout the year. The organization's Dolly Good Time event last November in support of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library raised enough funds to cover 161 children for one year.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is celebrating 30 years of building reading skills by gifting books free of charge to children from birth through age five in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland. Dolly was inspired to create the library in 1995 due to her father's inability to read and write. Dolly's efforts began in her home county in East Tennessee and have expanded to five countries; which just goes to show that local efforts can benefit the world. Despite recent defunding threats, the Imagination Library abides. Your donation to the Imagination Library helps maintain and expand the program. Dolly and over 3,197,250 children appreciate your support!

Mark Your Calendars!

Along with being Women's History Month, March is filled with holidays and observances - Mardi Gras, St. Urho's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Cesar Chavez Day, the vernal equinox, and more celebratory days that open our hearts to welcome the freshness of spring. Scroll down to view our March holiday reading picks.

Cowbellion: Mother of Mystics: The Origin of America's Mardi Gras explores the origins of America's Mardi Gras traditions, beginning with the "Cowbellion" Society, the first mystic parading organization. Following the Krafft family from Pennsylvania to New Orleans and Mobile, Cowbellion explores the origins of America's Mardi Gras tradition and the world of slave traders and cotton merchants in Antebellum America.

The full history of St. Patrick's day is captured here for the first time in The Wearing of the Green. Illustrated with photos, the book spans the medieval origins, steeped in folklore and myth, through its turbulent and troubled times when it acted as fuel for fierce political argument, and tells the fascinating story of how the celebration of 17th March was transformed from a stuffy dinner for Ireland's elite to one of the world's most public festivals.

The Fight in the Fields: Cesar Chavez and the Farmworkers Movement is a well-documented account of the farmworker's movement and it's prime mover, Cesar Chavez, featuring essays by Carey McWilliams, Victor Villaseñor, Alfredo Véa, Jr., Peter Matthiessen, Rudolfo Anaya, and others. Illustrated throughout with black-and-white photographs.

Ostara - also known as the Spring Equinox - is a time of renewal, a time to plant seeds as the earth once again comes to life. Ostara: Rituals, Recipes, and Lore or the Spring Equinox is your guide to the history and modern celebrations of Ostara and shows you how to perform rituals and work magic to renew your power and passion for living and growing. 

One Book, One San Diego

Since 2007, One Book, One San Diego has been uniting communities by encouraging San Diego and Northern Baja residents to read and discuss the same book each year. Book nominations for the 2025 season are open until March 15, 2025.

The San Diego Book Crawl 2025

Independent Bookstore Day is on the last Saturday in April and the accompanying annual San Diego Book Crawl has become one of Bluestocking Books favorite events. Stay updated by following @sdbookcrawl

Celebrating Love at Bluestocking Books

The Year of the Wood Snake has begun. The element of wood can be fuel to burn it all down; however, fire cannot burn without oxygen, so remember to breathe. While you are shedding the old and welcoming the new, remember to stay as flexible as the wood of the trees in a storm - for in flexibility we find balance.

Celebrating Love

Whether you are celebrating love, looking for love, or loving yourself, February 14 ushers in the theme every year with Valentine's Day. A wonderful gift for yourself or your loved one is the first literary reference linking the Saint's day to romance, Geoffrey Chaucer's 1375 poem "Parliament of Fowls" - the title being a reference to the belief in Middle Ages France and England that February 14 was the beginning of mating season for birds.

Maybe you prefer a spookier read to celebrate Valloween? Check out author Kara Fleek's "Valoween: an erotic horror anthology" to spice up your evenings with your Valentine.

When gifting, remember the Valentine cards! Valentine's Day poetry and letters have been well-established since the Middle Ages. Continue the tradition with Bluestocking Books' selection of loving holiday greetings. We have both hot-off-the-presses cards and antique Valentine postcards to choose from.

Are you in the mood to read some Lunar New Year Romance? Two titles in this sub-genre made NPR's "Books We Love" annual year-end reading guide: "Lunar Love" by Lauren Kung Jessen and "Lunar New Year Love Story" authored by Gene Luen Yang and illustrated by Leuyen Pham.

In "Lunar Love", Olivia Huang Christenson is excited to take over her grandmother's matchmaking business, but when she learns that a new dating app has taken her Pâo Po's traditional Chinese zodiac approach and made it about "animal attraction," her emotions skew more toward outrage. Especially when L.A.'s most-eligible bachelor Bennett O'Brien is behind the app that could destroy her family's legacy. Liv knows better than to fall for any guy, let alone an infuriatingly handsome one who believes that traditions are meant to be broken. As the two businesses go head to head, Bennett and Liv make a deal - they'll find a match for each other, and whoever falls in love loses. But Liv is dealing with someone who's already adept at stealing business ideas, so what's stopping him from stealing her heart, too?

In "Lunar New Year Love Story", Val is ready to give up on love. It's led to nothing but secrets and heartbreak, and she's pretty sure she's cursed as no one in her family, for generations, has ever had any luck with love. But then a chance encounter with a pair of cute lion dancers sparks something in Val. Is it real love? Could this be her chance to break the family curse? Or is she destined to live with a broken heart forever? This young adult graphic novel has been chosen as best book of the year in 2024 by multiple reviewers.

Loving Community

Black History Month 

Black Lives and History Matter. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH®), founders of Black History Month, have dedicated February 2025 to the theme African Americans and Labor. Black History Month has come a long way since Black History Week was launched in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Purchase Woodson's books and biographies at Bookshop.org to support independent bookstores.

Southern California Wildfires

The devastating Los Angeles area fires have affected members of our book and comic community. Businesses were shuttered and more than seven booksellers have lost their homes. Thankfully, we have a caring community and the Binc Foundation (Book Industry Charitable Foundation) has amassed a $55,000 grant to match donations to assist bookstores, comic shops, and their employees facing the aftermath of the SoCal blazes. If you have the ability to help, here is the donation link.

New LGBTQ+ Travel Guide

Safety while traveling is paramount. Lonely Planet is releasing a new LGBTQ+ travel book guided by locals and highlighting queer-owned business and queer-friendly experiences around the world. Lonely Planet: The LGBTQ+ Travel Guide: Interviews, Itineraries, & Inspiration from Insiders in 50 Proud Places Around the Globe will be released on March 18, 2025. You can pre-order with Bluestocking Books on Bookshop.org by clicking on the book title above, or by visiting the bookshop at 3817 Fifth Avenue in Fabulous Hillcrest.

Book Business Love

Ebooks Now Available on Bookshop.org

Bookshop.org has made it possible for you to support independent bookstores with your Ebook purchases! Ebook purchases work just like your physical book purchases - just choose your bookstore affiliation and shop. Ebooks may be read in your browser or on the downloaded apps from the Apple Store or Google Play Store. For further information, and to browse the initial Ebook selection, starting at under $3.00, visit the Bookshop.org Ebook page.

Bookseller Love from Libro.fm

Libro.fm is the audiobook listening platform that shares profits with independent bookstores. Right now, you can show your support for local bookshops by purchasing merch. Use the discount code "booksellerlove" for 25% off your order at the Libro.fm online store!