Area Booksellers Hosting Signings By Mob Wives, Jersey Shore Stars

Yesterday, on the heels of a February press conference where local pols and women business leaders slammed exploitative reality shows, Bay Ridge Odyssey broke the news that two local book dealers – including one who participated in the press conference – will be hosting book signings by cast members from the shows Mob Wives and Jersey Shore.

In the article, Brian Hedden points out that during the press conference/protest against reality show Brooklyn 11223, figures including State Senator Diane Savino and Mart Markowitz adviser and Borough Presidential hopeful Carlo Scissura went so far as to call for boycotts of businesses used as filming locations for the show.

Hedden also highlighted the fact that the pols “drew several comparisons between the upcoming show and established reality shows Mob Wives and Jersey Shore for their negative portrayal of women and Italian-Americans.”

From the Odyssey (which readers should check out for more details):

It seems, however, that two of the area’s booksellers either did not get the message, do not support such a boycott, or are taking the narrow interpretation that the boycott applies only to Brooklyn 11223, and not its spiritual predecessors, as stars from both Mob Wives and Jersey Shore will be making book signing appearances here over the next few weeks.

Of course, the owners of Boulevard Books & Café (7518 13th Avenue) and The BookMark Shoppe (8415 3rd Avenue) – the two book stores in question – might say that events like these help keep their businesses profitable.

At a time when many independent book sellers are struggling just to hold on, book lovers may prefer a local book store that throws book signings by authors they may not like, versus not having a local book store at all.