Can you imagine a Toronto without Pages on Queen Street? That's where I bought my first copy of Junkie by William S. Burroughs while in high school. That's when it was cool to head down to Queen Street on a Saturday and walk endlessly up and down, weaving in and out of the head/hippie shops, ending up for hours weaving in and out of the aisles pondering philosophy you still don't understand to this day.

Or taking a walk around the Annex without stopping into Book City to see what's on their always-exciting tables? In the summer, I would spend hours browsing for books to take up to the cottage with a smoothie from Juice for Life (now Fresh), trying desperately not to spend the little extra money I had leftover each month on the next great Canadian author who had just published an under-appreciated masterpiece (Kevin Patterson, I'm looking your direction).

And now the wonderfully personable Type Books [883 Queen Street West, (416) 366-TYPE] is has opened up on Queen Street West across from Trinity Bellwoods Park and, I think, completed that neighbourhood. With its delightful children's book section in the back to the feeling like you're browsing for books in someone's cozy living room, it adds a certain something that the area didn't even know it was missing.

So, I wanted to take a good look at how the independent bookstore flavours different pockets of Toronto. What better way to do that then to sit "virtually" down with one of Toronto's most beloved book citizens, Ben McNally. Formally of Nicholas Hoare on Front Street, he will open up Ben McNally Books later this spring and has spent the past 20 years (and more!) in the book business slinging words to into the hands of the people of Toronto. And if you're looking for some of Ben's more inspired book picks, he also writes a column called Notes from the Book Addict on Random House of Canada's Book Lounge.

Deanna McFadden: How do you think the independent bookstore has shaped the arts scene in Toronto?

Ben McNally: First of all, you must recognize that Canadian bookstores have to be both all that British and American bookstores are at the same time. When you layer on top of that the rich indigenous layer of Canadian books, you'll see what a task confronts any Canadian bookstore.

If you can imagine, when Canadian publishing as we know it was coming into existence, there were three national chains as well as two national department stores selling books, and as you might imagine they were reluctant to do business with small companies, and were much more concerned with making a profit than they were with supporting budding local talents.

Even comparatively mainstream companies like McClelland & Stewart spent 80% of their existence on bankruptcy's doorstep, so the small publishers, like House of Anansi, New Press, and Coach House would never have sold a book without the support of the very slowly emerging independent sector. As the voices published by those small presses gained credibility (with a great deal of government support), the independent bookstore found its place, and in many cases became the focal point of the entire local arts scene.

DM: Which store and/or stores do you think has and/or have had the most impact upon the Toronto literary scene? Why?

BM: In the beginning The Book Cellar was where it was at. They carried the alternate papers and magazines and the publishers and writers of the local small presses were their customers. It was a natural progression for them to become the hub of what was happening.

More recently, Book City in the Annex and Pages on Queen Street West have been pre-eminent in their support of emerging talent, so they reap the benefits when those voices become more popular. And, I think The Beguiling now too has a certain cachet in very influential circles.

DM: Why are independent bookstores still important in this day of online shopping and big box stores especially for a city like Toronto?

BM: Independent stores have even more importance in the era of the Internet and big box retail. I think most people (in Toronto at least) prefer to shop local, and a neighbourhood bookshop is a resource to be treasured. In the city centre independents offer an amount of flexibility and a level of customer service that the chains cannot match.

DM: In all your years as a bookseller, do you have a favourite literary event you've attended?

BM: I had the pleasure of listening to Simon Armitage read his poetry in a bookstore, and I've listened to Colm Tóibín twice talk about his work, but I think my most memorable event was listening to August Kleinzahler deliver the address at the Griffin Prize in 2005. The address was later reprinted in Brick magazine, and is worth the price of a back issue. In person it was awe-inspiring.

DM: What do you think shapes the character of an independent bookstore?

BM: The character of any successful independent bookstore is shaped by its customers. I can think of no other business where the consumer has such influence without being aggressive.

Now all that's left for you to do this month of March is to grab a coffee from your local hot spot, and wander into your local bookstore and find your next gem.

However, if you're willing to venture out into the wilds of the weather, a couple of literary highlights: Barbara Gowdy will be at the Harbourfront on Wednesday March 7th starting at 7:30 PM. She's supporting her latest novel, Helpless with Nuruddin Farah, who will be reading from his novel Knots.

If you're feeling kinky, book Wednesday March 14th off in your calendars for Mr. Porn Star, Ron Jeremy, as he drops by TINARS to celebrate the launch of his new book, Ron Jeremy: The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz.

Lastly, poet extraordinaire Ken Babstock drops by Isabel Bader Theatre for the lecture series Literature for Our Time on March 23 at 3 PM.

And, happy St. Patrick's Day, pick up a copy of Joyce, read The Dead, or even Colm Toibin's latest Mothers and Sons, drink some green beer and get ready for spring!

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