Writer Lauren Groff: "Bookstores can be radical spaces." | Louisiana Channel

Acclaimed American writer Lauren Groff discusses the role of independent bookstores as vital cultural and political spaces. Speaking about her own bookstore, The Lynx, in Gainesville, Florida, Groff describes how it was born out of a sense of urgency amid growing book bans in the state.
"Independent bookstores are the beating heart of any community. They're sort of where literary life comes from," Groff explains, emphasizing their importance in fostering dialogue and resistance. Groff recounts how her time in Germany during a residency at the American Academy in Berlin influenced her decision to open the store. She recalls German citizens warning her about the dangers of censorship: "Book bans are the point of the spear of authoritarianism, and everything gets worse from there."
For Groff, bookstores have the power to be radical spaces, especially in places where free speech is under attack. "Bookstores are a political space for sure, especially in places where the government is really cracking down on free speech and free expression," she asserts, comparing the role of modern bookstores to historical examples such as Sylvia Beach’s Shakespeare and Company, in Paris, France.
Her bookstore, The Lynx, not only serves as a literary hub but also as a haven for marginalized communities. "We want to be a space that is loving and open to everyone. We want the people who are fleeing Florida, especially transgender LGBTQI+ people, to feel as though there is someone there fighting for them."
Despite her complicated relationship with Florida, Groff has come to appreciate its unique literary potential. "I eventually learned to love Florida despite the things that I hate about it. I now feel the urge to rehabilitate the state, to celebrate the actually quite deep literary history that's there."
Lauren Groff (born 1978, Cooperstown, New York) is a bestselling author known for her novels and short stories exploring themes of history, feminism, and power. She is the author of Fates and Furies, Matrix, Florida, and The Vaster Wilds, among others. Her work has been a finalist for the National Book Award and has received widespread critical acclaim.
Elisabeth Skou Pedersen interviewed Lauren Groff in connection with the Louisiana Literature festival in August 2024 at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.
Camera: Simon Weyhe
Edit: Signe Boe Pedersen
Produced by Christian Lund
Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2025.
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