The Lynx, a new independent bookstore in Gainesville, held its grand opening on Sunday.
The bookstore is located at 601 S. Main St. and was founded by three-time National Book Award finalist Lauren Groff and her husband, Clay Kallman.
The couple was inspired to open the store after the Florida Legislation “curtailed the freedom of Floridians to read the books they want to read and preventing educators from teaching vital subjects to the state’s students,” according to the press release.
“Independent bookstores are beloved spaces of both refuge and self-expansion in the communities they serve,” Groff said in a press release. “As schools and libraries take books off the shelves, we want The Lynx to be a gathering space, a space for everyone to find the people who share their passions, a space for people to discover the books and ideas that will help them live more beautifully.”
The Lynx will be an all-interest bookstore of between 8,000 and 10,000 books, with a special focus on Florida and LGBTQI+ writers and books currently banned by schools and libraries across the state.
The grand opening celebration featured readings and appearances by Groff and the authors Kristen Arnett, Cynthia Barnett, Jack E. Davis, Sandra Gail Lambert, David Leavitt, Ange Mlinko and Rebecca Renner.
The event also included store discounts and prizes, story time for children with Gainesville firefighters from the neighboring firehouse and an event with PEN America, a nonprofit organization that defends writers, artists and journalists and protects free expression.
Learn more about The Lynx at www.thelynxbooks.com.
This is how you do it. YESSSSS!!!
Good for Lauren Groff and Clay Kallman! Thank you.
(With reference to state restrictions on books and teaching, I recently saw a sticker on a car that summed it up beautifully. It was worded something like this: “Welcome to the Free State of Florida, where you are free to do anything Governor DeSantis lets you do.”)
Children do not need to read books on or be taught in school the graphic details of sexual activities of either hetero or homo sexual people. I agree that those types of books should not be in schools. So if people want to teach their kids about all aspects of sexual relationships then they already have the freedom to do so at home. They can buy whatever books they want on Amazon or any other online or brick and mortar book store. It should be a parents’ right to teach their children according to their own values.