The Indie Bookstore That Changed My Life as a Teenager in the '90s

image courtesy of Antigone Books

I was honored this week to have a piece that I wrote published by Narratively. I share the story of Antigone Books and the role that it played in my life as a teenager. Then I interview the three current owners of this bookstore, which is one of America’s oldest feminist bookstores and also the first 100% solar powered bookstore in the country.

Here’s an excerpt:

Antigone Books stands out in my memory as a respite from the struggles of being a teenager, a place that offered a safe space for self-exploration. I remember my friend Rita picking up a button once that read “Sorry I Missed Church. I Was Busy Practicing Witchcraft and Becoming a Lesbian.” We laughed, but the truth was more serious — Rita was exploring bisexuality and paganism in a household dominated by strict religious parents during a time before social media. Antigone provided information that we were hungry for, and that we couldn’t get anywhere else. More than that, it held space for our growing selves, between the walls and between the pages of the inspirational books sold there. Last time I visited, I saw people reminiscent of me and my friends as teens, curious and yearning, but also content, and I could tell it was a safe haven for them, too.  

Read the entire piece:

One of America’s Oldest Feminist Bookshops Remains a Beacon for Marginalized People