For all those book lovers out there, Lincoln has multiple local bookshops around town with their own unique style, varieties of genres, and even some furry friends. Bluestem Books, A Novel Idea, and Francie & Finch are just three of these bookshops that inspire the community of Lincoln everyday.
Bluestem
Bluestem Books has been around since 1977 when Scott Wendt opened the bookstore with his late wife, Pat Wendt. Walking into the store, the vibes immediately felt like an old-timey, classic bookstore. All you could see were books and the wondrous smell of old books was instantly present.
“Essentially, it’s the same bookstore that we started 39 years ago,” the owner, Scott Wendt said. “I’m trying to run a 19th century bookstore in a 21st century world, and so far it’s been working for me.”
There are so many options for books with a plethora of genres such as art, nature, transportation, science, math, politics, and plenty of classics, just to name a few. The store was easy to navigate, with well labeled and organized shelves. The staff was very friendly and helpful, and there was even a little doggy to greet you when you walked in. One thing to note is that Bluestem Books specializes in un-bestseller books, so you can truly find something unique.
A Novel Idea
A Novel Idea first opened in 1991 by college seniors, Cinnamon Dokken and Bryan Peterson in an unheated basement of an old warehouse. After a long year of no heat, they moved to their current location of 118 N 14th St in 1992. A Novel Idea is a very homey, comfortable place that makes you want to sit down and read a book right there. The style of the shop demonstrates what being a bookworm is all about, with so many books to choose from. The staff is friendly, especially the two cats Charlie and Cricket who are always ready to keep you company while you read.
The most memorable thing about A Novel Idea is the things that they do for the community. This includes Thank You Thursdays in which they contribute 3% of gross sales to an organization doing work in the Lincoln community. They support Malone Maternal Wellness and Echo Collective, have done events on First Fridays, and even provide menstrual products, contraceptives, Plan B, and pregnancy tests in their bathrooms. They also are doing a banned books initiative, where they partner with Lincoln’s free libraries to provide free access to banned books.
“The goal is to bring the community together in a way that feels empowering, we can define ourselves, not just the loud voices of the minority, and we can get these books into little free libraries, providing access, and then providing a community connection,” the owner, Cinnamon Dokken said.
Francie & Finch
You might be wondering where the name Francie & Finch came from, and the answer to that question comes from the creative mind of the owner, Leslie Huerta. Huerta’s two favorite book characters are Francie Nolan in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Scout Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird, which resulted in the name Francie & Finch.
This bookstore was like walking into a bookstore dream. The artistic style and well-displayed shelves is what grabbed my attention the most. The store itself was also very comfortable and welcoming, with friendly staff and comfy places to sit down and grab a book.
This store is more of what you would expect for a modern bookstore, with more popular, bestseller books. It also had a Nebraska authors section, which is a unique incorporation. The overall experience was very pleasant and this is definitely a bookstore I would go back to.
