Great moments in bookselling

There are a lot of reasons to love working in a bookstore--a bookseller is liable to wax poetic, and might even get misty-eyed, enumerating the reasons she loves her job.  "Making a lot of money" is never one of them, but a love of books and writing is usually at the top of the list. Some of the other reasons can be harder to quantify. For me, it's often small moments with customers that make it worth coming to work each day.

Sometimes, it's a turn of phrase that strikes me in a particular way. One customer, while perusing our shelves, told me that she waits for a book to call to here, that she was "dowsing for words." I love that image, and the idea of books calling out in special ways to certain people.

A young teen made my day once when she came in with her sister and began gushing about how she loved books and loved how they smelled. "When I'm old and crippled, I'm going to come in here and just sit and breathe," she said. It might sound like an odd thing to say, but this girl, with all her joy and bright energy, said it as if it were the most wonderful thing in the world to imagine. I hope this store is still here when she is old and crippled and that there is a chair waiting to welcome her.

I love observing the ways that books bring people together. Complete strangers, overhearing a mention of a title, might walk over to share their excitement about that book. A few weeks ago a customer asked about a book her book group was reading, and another woman held up that very book in her hand, saying, "I'm looking at it right now!" The two struck up a conversation and exchanged contact information, should the second woman be interested in joining the book group. It was one of those reminders as to why it's important for people to get off of the computer and shop locally--making connections with people, sometimes connections that you weren't expecting but that will enrich your life.

Seeing the excitement of young readers over books is always a treat. Just yesterday, a young boy came in with a gift card in his hand, searching for a book about horses. He'd just seen the movie The Black Stallion and decided that he wants to be a jockey when he grows up. After handing him a book of horse photos to look at, I did a little more searching and discovered that we had several of the Black Stallion series of novels in the store. When I brought those out to show him, his eyes lit up like birthday candles. He even had enough money on his gift card to get TWO books! That was one happy kid walking out the door, planning to start reading as soon as he got home. My smile, watching him leave, was almost as big as the one stretching from ear to ear on his face.

Working in customer service can be tough some days, but when moments like these make you say, "I love this job," then the other stuff doesn't even matter. Well, except as far as you can get a good story out of it...but that might be a post for another day.

Indie Booksellers With Clout

Some tidbits from around the interwebs for your enjoyment and edification:

Major kudos to Michele Filgate (a friend and an awe-inspiring person) of River Run Bookstore, whose praise of Paul Harding's Tinkers helped push the novel toward his Pulitzer Prize win!

Fellow Neil Gaiman fans, feast your eyes (and ears) upon this video featuring Charles Vess's artwork and Neil himself reading from the upcoming picture book Instructions. Like Blueberry Girl, Instructions is a previously published poem by Gaiman; I can't wait to see the final book!

Book reviews, by the kids the books are written for. I think this is a fantastic idea, and if any local teachers are reading this and would like to do a similar program with us, please get in touch!

Any crafty readers out there might want to try their hands at making one of these gorgeous bird houses. I know it's hard for some people to cut up books (a sacrilege!) but if you can find an extra used copy or two at a yard sale or library sale, you might consider it a way of saving the books from the dump and giving them a whole new life.

Do you want to know how long I can save a story? This one, about the longest outdoor bookcase ever built (so far) is from February 1. But if you haven't seen it yet, it's pretty cool.

At the AV Club, Zack Handlen's answer to the question, "has there been a book, film, album, etc., that actually effected a real change in some aspect of your life?" is a wonderful affirmation of the power of books:

"I don’t know how far I was into the story before I got the idea that I’d like to try my own kind of writing, but I do remember that it felt like the most natural thing in the world, like waking up. I was a smart kid, not a super-genius or anything, but I never had a sense of purpose before. Reading The Stand, and all the King books I read after, gave me a reason to be alive, because they gave me a language to speak in."

NPR's Monkey See blogger did a series of posts about reading and discussing Twilight, for the first time, with a colleague. I liked their discussion in this post about whether or not there should be a different standard for critiquing literature for teens. (I also have to note that, as someone who has never read Twilight, I found this installment really frightening as regards the romanticizing of an abusive relationship.)

Shareable profiles Chicago's Gabriel Levinson and The Book Bike, which he rides to various public areas, distributing free books to anyone who wants them. We've often joked about taking the bookstore outside on especially nice days--maybe this is our answer!

And, finally, I want to mention a brand new literary blog, authored by a friend of mine from way back in high school. The Picaresque Blog promises book reviews, original writing, and more. Good luck, D!

Things to do

Despite the snow falling outside, spring is really here--you can tell just by looking at the community bulletin boards, full to bursting with flyers advertising events over the next few weeks.

The Galaxy Bookshop has already had some great readings this season--Howard Frank Mosher, Ben Hewitt, and Peggy Sapphire--and we're looking forward to many more in the upcoming months. Mark your calendars now, before they fill up!

NEXT TUESDAY: April 20, 7 p.m. Open Mic Night! Tonight, the audience falls under the spotlight; writers of all styles and ages are welcome.

Thursday, April 29, 7 p.m. Myra Lewin. Learn how to deal with food in a healthy way, with the author of  Freedom in Your Relationship with Food.

Tuesday, May 18, 7 p.m. William Alexander. A man with a mission to bake the perfect loaf of bread documented his quest in 52 Loaves: One Man's Relentless Pursuit of Truth, Meaning, and a Perfect Crust.

Tuesday, June 3, 7 p.m. Bill McKibben. Having marked 20 years from the publication of his now classic The End of Nature, McKibben moves on from warnings of global climate change to a plan for dealing with the aftermath of change that has already come. His new book is called Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet and is available on shelves now.

Look for more scheduled events at our website, with more to be added through the summer.

This post canceled, due to sunshine

On a day like today, I hope you've all had a chance (or are on your way) to get out of doors! Go ahead--give your skin some fresh air, maybe even run around barefoot for a little while.

Have a great weekend!

Three reviews

March, and often into April, seem to me especially good months for reading. It's a transitional time when winter's fading but the really lovely, warm spring weather hasn't arrived (except in a teasing "soon, but not yet" sort of way). I like to hunker down with a stack of books until green things start poking through last year's dead grass and the last of the snowbanks have finally disappeared from the yard--total escapism.

This week, we're each going to share one book that has kept us occupied (and sane) this season.

Linda:

I Thought You Were Dead by Pete Nelson (Find it on our Staff Picks table now!)


Talking dog? I had my doubts. But in the same way that I want a reader to take a risk--say when I am trying to sell them a book about sheep farmers in Iceland--I figured I owed it to this book to give it a try. In short, the relationship between Paul and his dog Stella is the best relationship between any characters--human, canine, feline, bovine--anything or anyone in fiction, and probably in life. I'd welcome Paul and Stella on my doorstep any day, and in the meantime I'll be so happy I met them while I was reading.

Sandy:

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan (available April 6)


I love this collaboration between David Levithan and John Green.  It's the story of two boys named Will Grayson who live in different suburbs of Chicago. One Will Grayson lives by rules that will keep him out of the spotlight, number one of which is "Shut up." Unfortunately for him, it's hard to avoid the spotlight when your best friend is Tiny Cooper, "world's largest person who is really, really gay."  The other Will Grayson faces a daily battle with depression and finds his only solace in online meetings with a guy named Isaac. One night, the Will Graysons' paths cross, and each boy finds his life changed in ways he wouldn't have imagined. Engaging from the first page, the story is funny, heartbreaking, redemptive, and completely captures the frustration of those teenage years when you're trying so hard to understand who you are and how to deal with life's highs and lows. (Not to say that ends as soon as the teen years are over.)


Stella:

My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira (available May 13)

Robin Oliveira's debut novel is a Civil War story full of wonderful historical detail and strong writing. Mary Sutter is a woman who wants to become a surgeon, succeeds, and discovers her strengths and limitations along the way.  The book is loosely based on the life of Mary Edwards Walker, the first American female surgeon and the first woman to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. [edited 3/29: Though some aspects of the character's life might be similar to that of Mary Edwards Walker and other female surgeons of the Civil War, the author would like to note that Mary Sutter is a completely fictional character.]

(I really enjoyed this book, but if you have a weak stomach there are some graphic descriptions of battlefield wounds and amputations that you might want to skip past.)

Guest Blogger: Ben Hewitt

This week, thanks to Cabot author Ben Hewitt for contributing. Ben will be launching his new book, The Town That Food Saved: How One Community Found Vitality in Local Food, at The Galaxy Bookshop on Tuesday, March 16, at 7 p.m.

When Linda and Sandy asked me to write a post on the upcoming launch
of my book, The Town That Food Saved, I almost said no. After all, I’d just written 70-something thousand words on the Hardwick area; I figured I’d stuck foot (pen?) firmly in mouth plenty of times, already. And then, ever the glutton, I decided what the hell: A time or two more can’t hurt.

I spent about a year writing this book. The process was by turns
exciting, dispiriting, confusing, and affirming. I’d naively sold the
book on a simple premise: That Hardwick needed saving, and that a
localized food system was just the thing to make it so. It didn’t take
long to determine that it would be vastly more complicated than that,
and the book began to turn on my struggle to understand these
unanticipated complexities. I’d say more, but of course then you
wouldn’t need to buy the book.

In the weeks following this launch, I’ll be spending a lot of time
talking about the book (and by extension, Hardwick) in communities
throughout the northeast. The degree of interest has far exceeded my
wildest expectations, and it feels incredibly important that I carry
with me the news of Hardwick, particularly as it relates to the
region’s evolving food system. I want to know how you feel about the
goings-on about town, the boom in food-based enterprises, and the
ensuing media coverage. Are you inspired? Disheartened? Or merely
indifferent? Is Hardwick really the town that food saved, or does it
need another agricultural enterprise like it needs a snowstorm in
September? (To be sure, both will probably happen)

So I invite you to come to the Galaxy Bookshop on the evening of March
16. I’ll read a little; I’ll probably talk a little too. But mostly, I’ll be there to listen.

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The Town That Food Saved is already receiving praise from reviewers around the country:

Times Argus

Publisher's Weekly (seventh title down)

School Library Journal (about two-thirds of the way down the page)

Los Angeles Times

Walking to Gatlinburg: A Recap

What a great way to start off our 2010 Reading Series! Howard Frank Mosher launched his nationwide book tour (which will include stops in somewhere between 60 and 100 cities across the country) at The Galaxy Bookshop last night. While we had some of the typical pre-event jitters (Will the books show up? They did--at 2:00 yesterday afternoon. Will anyone come? Most certainly--a standing-room-only crowd!) any fears we had were laid to rest as we welcomed Howard and his audience to the store.

Our friend Will--who, among other things is a Civil War reenactor--loaned Linda and I the fabulous period coats we're wearing in the photo above. We received a huge round of applause and laughter when we made our entrance. I think Howard got a huge kick out of this, too, since we decided to surprise him and not put on our costumes till the last minute.

Howard used to be known as a fairly quiet author, and one who never read from his books, but last night he spent an hour entertaining us with stories about his writing career and the work that went into writing Walking to Gatlinburg and read not one but two sections from the novel. One of our customers, hugging her new book to her chest, told me that she thought that no one would get much sleep that night, because they'd all be up, racing through their books!

After he'd signed several dozen books (including extra stock, which is available now), Howard, his lovely wife, the booksellers, and a few guests including contest winner Charlie, went to Claire's Restaurant to celebrate a very successful and enjoyable evening.

Thank you so much to everyone who joined us for this memorable event!

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Local and national praise for Walking to Gatlinburg.