Prospero's Books

Any of our FB friends associated with any of the metro crossFits?

Just took in copies of the new art journal Dead Peasant. A regional journal of writing and the arts. Quite the quality production. It derives its name from the controversial, though legal, practice of corporations registering life insurance for employees in order to collect lucrative payouts. Drop by and snag your copy

THANKS to Hadley Uribe and the PARK HILL Carpe Diem for the spread on Prospero’s! (See below for full article) * * * * PPOSPERO'S BOOKS BEHIND THE SHELVES... A look inside of the downtown used bookstore By Hadley Uribe You’re walking down West 39th street when you hear a fast, heart-pumping, Celtic sound. As you follow the music, you’re met with racks of paperbacks and a sign that reads Prospero’s Books. It has three stories and when you walk around, the wood creaks under your feet, said Brooke Thompson, sophomore. Built in 1890 and a bookstore since 1997, the Prospero’s building pulls you through the rabbit hole. You feel like you’re in a different era, said Thompson. Prospero’s uniqueness includes a large stack of books that reaches the ceiling, library ladders, and an open chessboard. Prospero’s is also home to many artistic events. We’re the book repository for a lot of the arts community in Kansas City and regionally, said Will Leathem, Prospero’s owner. The events range from book signings to political events to rock and roll concerts. We used to have one band, one of the best progressive rock and roll bands in the city. They were all juniors or sophomores in high school. They couldn’t play in the bars, so they’d play here after we closed. Their whole school would come here and hang out, said Leathem. Prospero’s has held over 2,000 live music shows at the upper level of the building. One of those shows you might hear while walking down the street is their Celtic Irish sessions. Leathem found the inspiration for these shows from his time living in London. I loved the Irish pub session, but we couldn’t get any here. So, we started doing them the way I remembered them, said Leathem. These live shows bring in a free-spirited atmosphere that can be enjoyed by all ages. That’s how you serve the community, be a part of the community in a bigger way, said Leathem. They have definitely accomplished serving the community. Just outside the door, wooden book racks sit for those in need of a book at any hour. For the stressed family member at KU Medical Center, just a street over, who needs a distraction. For the waiting bus rider who needs a way to pass time. It isn’t uncommon for those book readers to shove a dollar under the door in payment, at all hours of the night. It’s one of the great exercises from the good side of human nature, said Leathem, on the interaction between people and the wooden racks. Prospero’s owners, with their crazy personalities, provide an environment open for people to share their thoughts, opinions, and stories. The environment is very comforting, said Esther Reyes, sophomore. This environment has been a perfect recipe for stories that will stick with Prospero’s owners for a lifetime. One night I’m sitting here and this trucker guy comes in and he sits down. I go, ‘Can I help you?’ and he goes, ‘Nah, my rig’s getting worked on, and I asked the people at the truck stop where one could get a good conversation,’ and then he Ubered over here, said Leathem. That kind of interaction is what Prospero’s owners find to be the great part of owning the used bookstore. Well, that, and the arguments that take place. Imagine seeing two published authors, who are good friends to this day, arguing over poetry, and then having a fistfight outside. We used to have a poetry reading, called the Pit, that would just get insane. NPR called it ‘the poetry reading that’s had the police called on it more times than any other poetry reading in America’, said Leathem. I think it’s safe to say Prospero’s isn’t your average bookstore. With passionate, warm-hearted owners behind the counter, live music upstairs, and a large variety of people, Prospero’s is every bookworm’s dream. Next time you’re on West 39th street, stop by Prospero’s for a book, a show or, maybe, just a good conversation.

Driving in to the store this brilliantly sunny November morn, I passed by a black man in a Lexus, his arm extended from the open driver’s window; he was pumping... the air as he excitedly shouted to the sky. I turned to Riley: I wonder if the election has been called? On 39th, we are passed by cars honking, their occupants waving and smiling... then my cell phone rings: it’s Leslie telling me PA had just been called for Biden. it’s SATURDAY and HERE’s some books to help you celebrate/commiserate. Long may ol glory wave! * 3 cool books on boat figureheads, and the traditions of sea-going naval carvings * a line art collection of pensees by EDWARD GOREY * A boxed set of three BURL IVES 45s * an autographed Spanish language copy of ISABEL ALLENDE’s el amante japones (the Japanese Lover) * Honey from a Weed: fasting and feasting in Tuscany, Catalonia, the Cyclades and Apulia a delightfully illustrated collection of recipes and illustrations * W.Y. Evans-Wentz’s the Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries * J.G. Ballard’s post apocalyptic High-Rise (my friend Jason has set about reading Ballard’s entire oeuvre and has roped me in as well) * Lawrence Weschler’s True to Life: 25 years of conversations with the painter, illustrator and artist: DAVID HOCKNEY. * PAM GOODE’s raw look at look at interpersonal relationships and the depth and complexity of the human journey - Touch of Fire

7am in parkville - 120 or so in line all social distanced and hell-bent on adding their voice to the tally! Gotta say, I love seeing people take this seriously enough to do it. Got our crew outta bed to do this together

ALL HANDS ON DECK It's finally here. I know we're all exhausted, battered by 4-years of never-ending, soul-numbing blather and BS. Yet, we all know, in our he...art of hearts, what the right thing to do is. it is time to set aside narrow party concerns and support a restoration of the values of our nation - simple decency, and intelligent, well-thought out policy, professionally executed, and a respect for our fellow Americans. America needs us. 1. So, if you haven't already - vote tomorrow! 2. Call/text/ping a friend or two and make sure they are voting. 3. Check in with anyone who may need assistance and get them to their poll. this is important and we need everyone to have a voice. so check with people. final thought for those who may not have given it thought yet: in MISSOURI, issue #3 is a solid "NO". the legerdemain is standard-issue bait and switch, a Trojan horse trying to trick Missouri voters into rescinding the most far-reaching anti gerrymandering reform in state history, enacted by Missouri voters. so VOTE NO on Missouri #3

it’s Halloween Saturday! Anyone in costume get’s 10% off your purchase! A frightful trio - Alvin Schwartz’s SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK vols. 1-3. (I stil...l like the old line art covers best). PATRICIA LAWSON, a lifer with KCs Riverfront Readings crew, has a new collection of short stories Odd Ducks from BKMK press. I and Spartan released her earlier collection why we love our cats and dogs with the late Phil Miller. ALAIN DE BOTTON’s the News: a user’s manual - so many of us have a rocky relationship with the so-called ‘news’. With the election, just hours away, perhaps we can do with a little perspective: ...the news is everywhere and we check it constantly - BUT what is it doing to our minds?’ Of course, we could up our mindfulness game with Tenzin-Dolma’s Natural Mandalas: 30 new meditations to help you find peace Orson Scott Cards’ ENDER series offers surprisingly thought provoking escape. CHIGOZIE OBIOMA’s novel: An Orchestra of Minorities Opens in Nigeria yet spans continents, traversing cosmic spaces, narrated by a spirit who’s lived for hundreds of years... a wry twist on Homer’s the Odyssey. A coupla histories: Walton’s close-to-home Sentinal of the Plains: Fort Leavenworth and the American West or Philip Drotning’s close-to-the-nub: an American traveler’s guide to Black History while we’re on the subject of traveling, fellow Missourian, Wm Least Heat Moon’s backroads journal Blue Highways is a true classic. this time of year I often catch myself returning to Tolkien’s Middle Earth. David Day has assembled a splendid little overview in his A-Z of Tolkien The whimsy of uncle SHEL’s A Light in the Attic Fulbright scholar and Philosopher, SERGIO TONCOSO has penned a selection of stories from the latin experience: A Peculiar Kind of Immigrant’s Son The Signal and the Noise, fiveThirtyEight founder NATE SILVER draws upon his own groundbreaking work to explore why most predictions fail, but some don’t.

First dusting of the season - and pre Halloween, ta boot! A wrap on my audio revisit to Amor Towels’: A Gentleman in Moscow (If possible, better on this sec...ond pass - though Nicholas Guy Smith’s reading was superlative...). THEN brunch in the bookstore with Tyler: French press coffee and mimosas; fluffy-crispy buttermilk waffles, bosc-l’orange’ compote with a squeeze of fresh orange and a sprinkle of powdered sugar, a perfect runny-yolk boiled egg and three (count em-3!) slices of double smoked bacon! ... then to top it all off: it has commenced snowing again!

TIS THE SEASON for scary stuff (both real and imagined) From Gobbels (Real) to Philip K. Dick and a host of frightful yarns both in book and DVD formats! whole ...selection of D&D and roll-playing game guides! Some classics & a good influx of in demand recent releases! A harrowing accounting of facing down nature And an in depth telling of one’s own tale It’s SATURDAY @ Prosperos - come and get it!

A couple COLLECTIONS in through Prospero’s front door for the aficionado and discerning craftsman: Sci-fi - 60 like new titles by the likes of: Philip K Dick, H...einlein, Haldeman, Zelazny, Brin AND one of my FAVE’s: Neal Stevenson’s The SevenEves Jewelers & Gemstone workers- 50 issues of Lapidary Journal

RIGHT NOW, Kara from Volker Neighborhood Watch is notarizing ballots at Prospero's til 3:30!

don’t NORMALLY do a second post, BUT! A large collection of ALEUSTER CROWELEY, occult, Freemasonry, psychedelia and other esoterica JUST IN...

SATURDAY double-header: 1). Get your Mail-in Ballots notarized at Prospero’s 2-3:30 on TODAY 2) New Arrival Books!

TOMORROW (Saturday 10/10) - from 2-3:30 Kara from Volker Watch will again be NOTARIZING your mail ballots at Prospero’s. if you are going to mail your ballot, d...on’t dawdle and risk tRump/boogaloo/proud boy/ tRump’s US Postmaster getting to pull shenanigans. Get it done now and back to election authorities. See more