RIP Shaman Drum Bookstore

It's always a sad day for booksellers and those who love books when any bookstore announces it is closing its doors.  But this week was a particularly sad one for the world of books.  Shaman Drum Bookstore in Ann Arbor, arguably one of the best bookstores in the world, announced it will close at the end of June.  And, it was a particularly sad day for those of us at Village Books because Karl Pohrt, owner of the store, has been a colleague and friend for years.  He is one of gentle people who are the soul of bookselling.  There's not a person who Karl has interacted with over the year who is not better off for that interaction.  We have learned so much from Karl and his store.  The world is diminished by the passing of Shaman Drum.  Fortunately, Karl's passion for the printed word lives on.  I expect we'll be hearing of good things from Ann Arbor with Karl's fingerprints all over them.