If there's one thing we hear a lot around here it's, "So many books, so little time." We've had many requests for extra time, which, if we were able to sell that, we'd probably be multi-billionaires. During the holidays, time seems especially precious and rare, so one thing I look forward to every year is the day after Christmas, when there's nothing to do and nowhere to go; I can spend all day, if I like, curled up with a book. Over the past month or so, I've been stockpiling books that I want to read, saving them up as a Christmas present to myself. So far, I've got three young adult books, two kid's books, and three adult novels sitting in a tantalizing pile on the shelf. (Actually, I did cheat a little--I opened one early and started reading it last night!)
What will you be giving yourself for Christmas this year? And what do you look forward to, after the holiday rush is over?
Happy Holidays to all!
12.18.2009
What are YOU getting for Christmas/Galaxy Bestsellers
This time of year, one of our games is to try to guess which books we've sold the most of. It's more of a challenge than you might think, because none of us are at the register for every sale, and sometimes sales numbers creep up a little at a time without you realizing that--hey, we've already sold 15 copies of Nontoxic Housecleaning! It's fun to see what people are getting excited about--sometimes it's about a book they've read and want to pass on, and sometimes it's a book that just got a great review on NPR.
So, here's a sneak peek at the books that are being tucked under Christmas trees all over the greater Hardwick area (and beyond). Maybe you'll find a few under your tree this year!
1. The Pleasures of Cooking for One - It's a gorgeous, unique, and inspiring
cookbook; sales were certainly helped by our event with Judith Jones, but I'm pretty sure this would have been a bestseller no matter what. A wonderful gift for singles, but also good for couples and anyone who might want to cook small meals from time to time.
2. Bananagrams -- The totally addictive word game is being purchased by the bunch by many of our customers! (Haha - "bunch" - get it??)
3. Not Too Awful Bad -- Another book that got a boost from a visit by the author. Leon Thompson has written a fine addition to the genre of Vermont humor.
4. Nontoxic Housecleaning -- I was not kidding, we've sold a lot of this little book. It's a great gift for anyone who has to clean...which is almost everyone over the age of 20. This little collection of simple and inexpensive recipes for nontoxic cleaning products is perfect for slipping into a stocking, or perhaps a basket along with some baking soda and vinegar!
5. Stones Into Schools -- It's no surprise that Greg Mortenson's follow up to
Three Cups of Tea is a success. The man's story is inspirational, fascinating, and also timely.
6. Thirty Below Zero: In Praise of Native Vermonters -- We may not have had books for Ethan Hubbard's visit, but they were finally released by Customs, and we've got 'em. It's a small book, but packed full of wonderful photographs. It's almost guaranteed that you'll recognize some of the faces here.
7. Favor Johnson -- Another unsurprising bestseller. Willem Lange's Christmas story has been beloved by radio listeners for years, and the picture book version is something the whole family will treasure. Unfortunately, the book is now hard to come by because the publisher did not anticipate quite such a huge response. Huh.
8. Reading Lights -- What could be better for a book lover's stocking than a book light?
9. Head Massagers -- I have to say, I can't quite get the appeal of these whisk-shaped gadgets featured on our Planet Shari table (to my scalp, it just tickles) but a lot of people find the Head Massagers very enjoyable. At $4, you can't go wrong. We're out of these at the moment, but expect another shipment in any day.
10. Taking the Leap -- Pema Chodron's latest book was helped along by a
discussion group in Greensboro. A slim volume, full of Chodron's simple and profound wisdom.
11. Lamoille Stories -- Bill Schubart's collection of stories about growing up in Morrisville continues to be a hit.
12. The Tenth Muse -- Again, Judith Jones' visit helped out with these sales, but it's also been on our Staff Favorites table since it was first published in 2007.
13. Someone Knows My Name -- Another Staff Favorite, this novel is just an incredible story about one woman's struggles against the bonds of slavery.
14. Mudbound -- Yet another Staff Favorite! Hillary Jordan's debut novel won the Bellwether Prize with good reason. Her book is an utterly riveting story of families and friendships twisted by racism and betrayals.
15. The Hidden Life of Deer -- Haven't read it, but it sounds fascinating, and
I've heard rave reviews. A gem of a book for animal lovers and outdoorsmen and women.
16. The Catch -- Archer Mayor's books are popular throughout the year, but this new paperback will make a great stocking stuffer for anyone looking for a good Vermont mystery to enjoy on these cold nights.
17. The Mysterious Benedict Society -- A favorite of ours, and of many other readers of all ages. This series is great for voracious young readers, and also a lot of fun as a family read-aloud.
18. Mastering the Art of French Cooking -- The movie Julie & Julia has inspired a whole new set of cooks to tackle Julia Child's classic cookbook.
19. The Big Burn -- National Book Award Winner Timothy Egan brings another fascinating moment in history to life with his book about the largest forest fire in American history.
20. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days -- Nearly every kid in middle school wants to have the whole colorful collection of Jeff Kinney's bestselling series about underdog Greg. Dog Days is the fourth--the one with the yellow cover.
21. The Prairie Home Companion Pretty Good Joke Book -- Here's a good
one:
An Irishman walks into a bar in Cork City and asks the barman, "What's the quickest way to get to Dublin?"
"Are you walking or driving?" asks the barman.
"Driving," says the man.
"That's the quickest way," says the barman.
How can you pass up a book full of jokes like that? You can't! I dare you to pick it up and not spend a few minutes flipping through and chuckling over the Prairie Home Companion's 5th edition of some of the funniest--and most groan-inducing--jokes ever told.
So, here's a sneak peek at the books that are being tucked under Christmas trees all over the greater Hardwick area (and beyond). Maybe you'll find a few under your tree this year!
1. The Pleasures of Cooking for One - It's a gorgeous, unique, and inspiring
cookbook; sales were certainly helped by our event with Judith Jones, but I'm pretty sure this would have been a bestseller no matter what. A wonderful gift for singles, but also good for couples and anyone who might want to cook small meals from time to time.2. Bananagrams -- The totally addictive word game is being purchased by the bunch by many of our customers! (Haha - "bunch" - get it??)
3. Not Too Awful Bad -- Another book that got a boost from a visit by the author. Leon Thompson has written a fine addition to the genre of Vermont humor.
4. Nontoxic Housecleaning -- I was not kidding, we've sold a lot of this little book. It's a great gift for anyone who has to clean...which is almost everyone over the age of 20. This little collection of simple and inexpensive recipes for nontoxic cleaning products is perfect for slipping into a stocking, or perhaps a basket along with some baking soda and vinegar!
5. Stones Into Schools -- It's no surprise that Greg Mortenson's follow up to
Three Cups of Tea is a success. The man's story is inspirational, fascinating, and also timely.6. Thirty Below Zero: In Praise of Native Vermonters -- We may not have had books for Ethan Hubbard's visit, but they were finally released by Customs, and we've got 'em. It's a small book, but packed full of wonderful photographs. It's almost guaranteed that you'll recognize some of the faces here.
7. Favor Johnson -- Another unsurprising bestseller. Willem Lange's Christmas story has been beloved by radio listeners for years, and the picture book version is something the whole family will treasure. Unfortunately, the book is now hard to come by because the publisher did not anticipate quite such a huge response. Huh.
8. Reading Lights -- What could be better for a book lover's stocking than a book light?
9. Head Massagers -- I have to say, I can't quite get the appeal of these whisk-shaped gadgets featured on our Planet Shari table (to my scalp, it just tickles) but a lot of people find the Head Massagers very enjoyable. At $4, you can't go wrong. We're out of these at the moment, but expect another shipment in any day.
10. Taking the Leap -- Pema Chodron's latest book was helped along by a
discussion group in Greensboro. A slim volume, full of Chodron's simple and profound wisdom.11. Lamoille Stories -- Bill Schubart's collection of stories about growing up in Morrisville continues to be a hit.
12. The Tenth Muse -- Again, Judith Jones' visit helped out with these sales, but it's also been on our Staff Favorites table since it was first published in 2007.
13. Someone Knows My Name -- Another Staff Favorite, this novel is just an incredible story about one woman's struggles against the bonds of slavery.
14. Mudbound -- Yet another Staff Favorite! Hillary Jordan's debut novel won the Bellwether Prize with good reason. Her book is an utterly riveting story of families and friendships twisted by racism and betrayals.
15. The Hidden Life of Deer -- Haven't read it, but it sounds fascinating, and
I've heard rave reviews. A gem of a book for animal lovers and outdoorsmen and women.16. The Catch -- Archer Mayor's books are popular throughout the year, but this new paperback will make a great stocking stuffer for anyone looking for a good Vermont mystery to enjoy on these cold nights.
17. The Mysterious Benedict Society -- A favorite of ours, and of many other readers of all ages. This series is great for voracious young readers, and also a lot of fun as a family read-aloud.
18. Mastering the Art of French Cooking -- The movie Julie & Julia has inspired a whole new set of cooks to tackle Julia Child's classic cookbook.
19. The Big Burn -- National Book Award Winner Timothy Egan brings another fascinating moment in history to life with his book about the largest forest fire in American history.
20. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days -- Nearly every kid in middle school wants to have the whole colorful collection of Jeff Kinney's bestselling series about underdog Greg. Dog Days is the fourth--the one with the yellow cover.
21. The Prairie Home Companion Pretty Good Joke Book -- Here's a good
one:An Irishman walks into a bar in Cork City and asks the barman, "What's the quickest way to get to Dublin?"
"Are you walking or driving?" asks the barman.
"Driving," says the man.
"That's the quickest way," says the barman.
How can you pass up a book full of jokes like that? You can't! I dare you to pick it up and not spend a few minutes flipping through and chuckling over the Prairie Home Companion's 5th edition of some of the funniest--and most groan-inducing--jokes ever told.
12.11.2009
The Holiday Rush
It's the middle of December and there are some number of days until Christmas, which I refuse to count. Business is steady and picking up daily, and we're busy filling orders for special holiday gifts. From time to time, there's a lull in which to collect thoughts and take time to enjoy our customers and the wealth of books around us. [BOOK PLUG: This afternoon, I had a chance to pick up an advance copy of Lori Lansen's new novel (out in February), The Wife's Tale. I enjoyed her first novel, The Girls, and after reading the first couple of pages, I'm pretty sure this is the book that's going to save me from a reading dry spell.]
When we've remembered to do so, we've tried to capture some of the fun moments happening around the store. Here's a peek at what's been going on at The Galaxy Bookshop:
[caption id="attachment_667" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Perusing books with the help of a Bookseller Cat"]
[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_670" align="aligncenter" width="199" caption="The lovely and delightful Judith Jones"]
[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_669" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="We had a fantastic crowd turn out for Judith's reading and book signing"]
[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_672" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Stardust bookseller Sam Z. got a chance to chat with Judith after having his book signed"]
[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_668" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Enjoying some of the year's best picture books."]
[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_680" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Kitten-approved reading"]
[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_678" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="For those curious about our Name the Kitties vote: Meet Cassiopeia Juniper Scout and Comet Jem! (And if you're choice didn't win, feel free to nickname them.)"]
[/caption]
When we've remembered to do so, we've tried to capture some of the fun moments happening around the store. Here's a peek at what's been going on at The Galaxy Bookshop:
[caption id="attachment_667" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Perusing books with the help of a Bookseller Cat"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_670" align="aligncenter" width="199" caption="The lovely and delightful Judith Jones"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_669" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="We had a fantastic crowd turn out for Judith's reading and book signing"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_672" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Stardust bookseller Sam Z. got a chance to chat with Judith after having his book signed"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_668" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Enjoying some of the year's best picture books."]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_680" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Kitten-approved reading"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_678" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="For those curious about our Name the Kitties vote: Meet Cassiopeia Juniper Scout and Comet Jem! (And if you're choice didn't win, feel free to nickname them.)"]
[/caption]
12.04.2009
It's here! The pace quickens...
Wow, just like that, we've been dropped into the holiday season. Sorry I missed last week--what with Thanksgiving falling on my usual blog-writing day, it kinda slipped my mind. However, I hope you all had as lovely a day with family, friends, and food as I did!
It's hard to believe that it's really December, but that's what the calendar seems to say. I won't remind you how many shopping days! are Left! till Christmas! because that drives me nuts, but I will mention that The Galaxy Bookshop has put together a list of the books that we're excited to recommend as great gifts (whether for someone else or for yourself.)
Here are the links to our various lists (which you will also find along the right had side of our website):
Babies & Toddlers , Growing Readers , Fiction , Non-fiction , for the Do-It-Yourself-ers , Seasonal titles , Vermont-centric , Marvelous Miscellany
You can also take a look at the New England Independent Booksellers' Holiday Catalog for more suggestions from our cohorts in bookselling around the region.
After you've made your gift/wish list, come to our Annual Sirius Reader Sale & Party tomorrow--December 5! There will be sales on many of the titles from our Holiday Picks list; coffee, juice, and baked goodies; a good selection of advance reading copies to pick through (a suggested $1 donation per book will benefit the Hardwick Area Food Pantry); and you can help us officially name the two kittens (yes, they're still here!) by voting for your favorite names.
On top of that, we have two authors coming for book signings during the day.
At 11 a.m., meet Leon Thompson, author of Not Too Awful Bad: A Storyteller's Guide to Vermont. He's got a unique and funny take on the state, and we are looking forward to getting to know more about this new Vermont author.
At noon, Ethan Hubbard will be here to sign copies of his new book of collected photos, Thirty Below Zero: In Praise of Native Vermonters. Well, we HOPE he'll be signing copies--as I type this, the books are being held up by Homeland Security in Boston (routine procedure)--but Ethan does have some copies to flip through. In the worst case scenario, we'll take orders for the book and expect to get them to you, autographed, in time for Christmas.
In other holiday news, cats love to help decorate:
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="207" caption="Hmm...let's see what's in here."]
[/caption]
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="186" caption="Shh--don't tell Linda I used this pic!"]
[/caption]
It's hard to believe that it's really December, but that's what the calendar seems to say. I won't remind you how many shopping days! are Left! till Christmas! because that drives me nuts, but I will mention that The Galaxy Bookshop has put together a list of the books that we're excited to recommend as great gifts (whether for someone else or for yourself.)
Here are the links to our various lists (which you will also find along the right had side of our website):
Babies & Toddlers , Growing Readers , Fiction , Non-fiction , for the Do-It-Yourself-ers , Seasonal titles , Vermont-centric , Marvelous Miscellany
You can also take a look at the New England Independent Booksellers' Holiday Catalog for more suggestions from our cohorts in bookselling around the region.
After you've made your gift/wish list, come to our Annual Sirius Reader Sale & Party tomorrow--December 5! There will be sales on many of the titles from our Holiday Picks list; coffee, juice, and baked goodies; a good selection of advance reading copies to pick through (a suggested $1 donation per book will benefit the Hardwick Area Food Pantry); and you can help us officially name the two kittens (yes, they're still here!) by voting for your favorite names.
On top of that, we have two authors coming for book signings during the day.
At 11 a.m., meet Leon Thompson, author of Not Too Awful Bad: A Storyteller's Guide to Vermont. He's got a unique and funny take on the state, and we are looking forward to getting to know more about this new Vermont author.
At noon, Ethan Hubbard will be here to sign copies of his new book of collected photos, Thirty Below Zero: In Praise of Native Vermonters. Well, we HOPE he'll be signing copies--as I type this, the books are being held up by Homeland Security in Boston (routine procedure)--but Ethan does have some copies to flip through. In the worst case scenario, we'll take orders for the book and expect to get them to you, autographed, in time for Christmas.
In other holiday news, cats love to help decorate:
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="207" caption="Hmm...let's see what's in here."]
[/caption][caption id="" align="alignright" width="186" caption="Shh--don't tell Linda I used this pic!"]
[/caption]
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