Reading Frenzy ~ An Independent Press Emporium

• Applicant by Jesse Reklaw
• The Art of Lapdancing by Peekaboo
• The Big, Bad Wolf and Me by Delphine Perret
• Bidoun #14
• Duplex Planet #182
• Feeding The Whole Family: Recipes for Babies, Young Children and Their Parents by Cynthia Lair
• Giant Robot #53
• Girls Like Us (GLU) #7: Spring 2008
• Grass Stained Twilight by Todd McHatton
• Headpress #27
• Heeb Magazine #16
• Injury #2 by Ted May
• Jamestown by Matthew Sharpe
• Mama + Baby: Set of Four Archival Prints by Nikki McClure
• Mass Appeal #50
• On Subbing by Dave Roche
• Papercutter #7
• Pokin' Round the Gorge: Sexy-Romantic Guide for Gorge Lovers by Scott Cook
• Quakeland by Francesca Lia Block
• Red Bat Press Restock including Bridge and Bird Sets
• Slow Food Nation: Why Our Food Should Be Good, Clean and Fair by Carlo Petrini
• Street Art Chile by Rod Palmer
• Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System by Raj Patel
• This is Britain by Miroslav Sasek
• This is New York by Miroslav Sasek
• This is San Francisco by Miroslav Sasek
• This is Texas by Miroslav Sasek
• Uruwaza: Secret Everyday Tips from Japan by Lisa Katayama, Joel Holland
• Zinesters Guide to Portland

COMING SOON...

• Anthem Magazine #34: Music Special
• Apocolypse Nerd by Peter Bagge
• The Backyard Birdsong Guide: Eastern and Central North America (hardcover with audio) by Donald Kroodsma
• The Backyard Birdsong Guide: Western North America (hardcover with audio) by Donald Kroodsma
• Believer #53
• Big Foot: I Not Dead by Graham Roumieu
• Cabinet #29
• Comic Arf: The Unholy Marriage of Art & Comics
• Dear Diary by Leslie Arfin
• Delayed Replays by Liz Prince
• Face Food: The Visual Creativity of Japanese Bento Boxes by Christopher D. Salyers
• Frank and Frank by Chris Appelhans
• Graffiti Paris by Fabienne Grevy
• The Heartbreak Diet: A Story of Family, Fidelity and Starting Over by Thorina Rose
• Illustrations from the Inside: The Beat Within, Louise E.V. Nevaer, editor
• Internal Digging by Joe Coleman
• Invincible Summer Anthology Volume 2
• Juxtapoz Magazine #38: The Photography Issue
• The Learners by Chip Kidd
• Live Through This: Creativity and Self-Destruction, Sabrina Chapadjiev, editor
• Maps and Legends by Michael Chabon
• Maximum Rocknroll #301
• McSweeney's #26: New Stories from Overseas, From Our Shores, Where to Invade Next
• Mome #11
• No one Belongs Here More Than You: Stories by Miranda July (softcover)
• Peel: The Art of the Sticker (hardcover) by Dave Combs and Holly Combs
• People's History of American Empire: A Graphic Adaptation by Howard Zinn, Mike Konopacki, and Paul Buhle
• Transgender History by Susan Stryker
• Wax Poetics #28
• Wholphin #5
• Wordless Books: The Original Graphic Novels by David A. Berona
• The World of Tattoo: An Illustrated History by Maarten Hesselt Van Dinter

May 12, 2008: Well, this is an historic event! Since 1994 we've only had one or two part-time paid staff positions and those positions have always been filled by myself and the senior volunteer (we've only had 7 employees in nearly 14 years!). Our current paid staff member is off to Alaska for the summer and all our volunteers are all gainfully employed and/or in school, so the spot is up for grabs!

This low-paying, yet highly coveted position is obviously not a longterm career solution, but could be a great steppingstone into the world of bookselling, independent publishing, journalism and general small business operations. Previous paid and volunteer staff have gone on to start their own business ventures, as well as work for Powell's, Stumptown Coffee, Portland Mercury and other illustrious local companies due at least in small part to their Reading Frenzy experience and recommendation.

• Job title: Entry-level book and zine seller.


• Job description: Reading Frenzy, an internationally celebrated specialty bookshop devoted to independent media and alternative press, is looking for a part-time entry level book and zine seller. Schedule will include closing shifts and Saturdays. Starting wage is $8.50 per hour. Perks include a staff discount, lots of freebies, and a membership to the IPRC. 


• Requirements: Applicants must be 18 years of age or older, have at least four years retail or customer service experience, enjoy working with people, have a flexible schedule, and an unbridled enthusiasm for independent media, small press, self-publishing and DIY culture. Must be able to make a one year commitment to position. Must also have legible handwriting and be comfortable with computers, cash registers, and credit card machines. Will be responsible for opening and/or closing shop, basic daily operations and sales, managing consignment accounts, running errands, light bookkeeping, processing mail orders and updating online catalog.

• Bonus Points: bookstore experience, creative writing skills, graphic design and/or computer skills, and a compulsive need to dust and straighten.

  Applicants can drop off resume and cover letter to Reading Frenzy or email me at chloe@readingfrenzy.com

May 11, 2008: Check out the blurb Kevin Sampsell wrote in The Portland Mercury about Jamestown by Matthew Sharpe, then come see Matthew read this Wednesday, May 14th 7PM at Reading Frenzy! 

May 10, 2008: We're not quite sure when it happened, but sometime between 3-7PM on Wednesday, April 30th or 11-9PM on Thursday, May 1st someone stole a rare, out-of-print 1st edition of Berlin Years by Marcel Dzama valued at $850 from behind the counter. We're spreading the word among customers and other booksellers with the hope that something might turn up.

I'd like to take this moment to articulate my feelings about people who rip off small businesses -- especially purpose driven business that provide community services and resources -- but I'm too pissed. That book belonged to me -- an hard-working individual who deserves and depends on the occasional perk that comes along. That book could have paid nearly a month's rent or covered a myriad of other things that I get by without in order to keep our doors open.

If this pisses you off as much as it does me, I encourage you to a) have thoughtful conversations with your sticky fingered friends about supporting small businesses and b) come make a splurge or buy a gift certificate at the shop to help us make up for the loss. 

May 09, 2008: On Tuesday, May 20th at 6PM zine readers, zine writers, and the zine-curious are invited to the 2nd floor of the Central Library to celebrate the expansion of Multnomah County Library's zine holdings with exciting new titles and browsing collections in three more neighborhood libraries at a Zine Social! Rub elbows with fellow zinesters, partake of light refreshments, and pick up a copy of the latest edition of "PDX Zines: Where to Find Zines in Portland". 

Making Friends the Old Fashioned Way: Through Self Publishing! In this two hour long workshop at Central Library, on May 31st, 2-4PM, participants will be introduced to the what, how and whys of self publishing with local comic artist and zine maven Nicole J. Georges. Focusing in particular on personal zines and diary comics, participants will review examples and get to work on their own personal comic, the beginnings of which will be photocopied and handed out at the end of the day! More info here.