The books on your bookshelf say a lot about you. That was artist Gene Epstein's inspiration when she created the design for a new mural that covers an exterior wall at Loganberry Books in Larchmere. Esptein and the Larchmere Mural Committee whittled the 50 selections from suggestions by neighborhood residents, merchants and schoolchildren."They wanted [it] to include the community, not just be an artist's concept," Epstein says. We asked Loganberry Books owner Harriett Logan to share the stories behind some of the choices.
1. The Bookbinder and The Used Book Lover's Guide to the Midwest: There used to be a sign here for Loganberry Books and Strong Bindery, an adjoining book conservation studio. The committee chose these books to represent the businesses inside.
2. La Casa de Los Espiritus: Seamstress Alina Torres, a Dominican Republic native who has a Larchmere shop, nominated The House of the Spirits with its original title. "We thought it would be great to include some bilingual representation," Logan says.
3. Seedfolks: "It's about turning dilapidated, urban lots into community gardens," Logan says of Paul Fleischman's children's novel, which is set in Cleveland. "We've done that just behind the bookstore. It's absolutely gorgeous."
4. History of Cleveland: "[It's] the old one — from 1899," Logan says. "It was written at a time when Cleveland was on the upswing but hadn't finished the swing. [It] has great early history. But particularly, what it has is a viewpoint during the rise of the city."
5. The Dream Keeper: A teacher at Our Lady of Peace School nominated this Langston Hughes selection. "They teach this poem and others by Hughes every year, and the students have such a connection to Hughes knowing [he] grew up in Cleveland," Logan says.
6. The Death and Life of Great American Cities: "It speaks very well to Rust Belt cities," Logan says of Scranton, Pa., native Jane Jacobs' book. "It talks about the rise, fall and rebirth and how you have to have the fall for the rebirth to happen."
7. In Cold Blood: "It was nominated by Richard Gildenmeister," Logan says. "He's worked at a lot of bookstores, and he's seen the death of most of them. Of all the books that he wanted to see on this wall, he wanted to see Truman Capote."
8. Iacocca, An Autobiography: "Ron Messier owns Shaker Quality Auto Body, and he says [former Chrysler CEO Lee] Iacocca is a personal hero of his," explains Logan. "He wanted to see his hero up on the wall."
