Read More

A friend of mine (and co-worker at the bookstore where I work) recently asked how Therapist and I met.

"Through Bookcrossing," I told her. I explained how Bookcrossing worked (go to bookcrossing.com to find out more, or http://www.bookcrossing.com/mybookshelf/2of3Rs/     to see my own bookcrossing "bookshelf")

"Some of the Portland area Bookcrossers got together once a month to talk about books and releases and Bookcrossing. I'd been going to these get-togethers for a couple of years, and Therapist came to one of the meetings shortly after she moved to the area. She and I agreed to organize the following month's get-together after Wordstock that year."

I went on to talk about Bookcrossing, how one of the features is to join a Bookcrossing "ring". Someone can start a "ring" by offering to send a book to people who are interested in reading it. Different than a "wild release" where a book is left in a public place for some unknown person to pick up and take home, people sign up to be part of the ring. The first person sends a book to the second person who reads it and then sends it to the third person and so on. The book still travels, and lots of people get to read it.

"Therapist has made the point to me that 'rings' may not be the best for the book industry. She and I, if we hear about a book we're interested in, try to obtain it somehow, quite often by purchasing it. If people just participate in 'rings', then there is less purchasing going on," I told my friend.

"I get that, about how Bookcrossing rings might result in less sales sometimes," she said, "but I think it's always a good thing to have books in the hands of people. To have people reading different things, just reading, that can only be good."

"Well, that's a point," I said. "When I taught third grade, one of my goals every year was to get the kids to read more. We had 20 minutes of reading time in class every day, and I required them to read for an hour every week-end. Some of the kids hated it at first, there was eye rolling and fidgeting, but by the end of the year, even the eye rollers were reading. And liking it."

"I get parents in the store who complain that their child will only read one kind of book, whether it be THE DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, or POKEMON or whatever," she said. "They want to get their kids to branch out, to read other things. I tell them that at least the kids are reading. They are holding books in their hands, and just by doing having books in their hands, they are knowing what it feels like to read. If they keep reading, even if their book selection isn't very broad, if they enjoy it, they'll learn that reading is fun and they'll choose reading as an activity. And they will branch out in their reading choices."

"I agree," I said. "I tell that to parents too. I love it when I hear that kids are reading, and that parents are encouraging them."

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Getting My Festive On

I have to confess that I don't do The Holidays well. At least not lately. Not since I started working The Holidays at the bookstore.

Some see The Holidays as a time to gather with loved ones, prepare special meals, and prepare gifts to give to family and friends.

I work in retail. And yes, it's books, which I adore and are the reason I put up with a retail environment. This time of year, however, it's a lot more about volume and getting people through the line quickly, rather than the thoughtful kind of book browsing and discussion that I love. Dozens and dozens of people are asking questions and needing the exact right book, cashiers and registers are working at full speed, phones are ringing off the hook. If there is a (rare) lull in the busy-ness of customer interactions, we are all frantically racing around trying to straighten and restock shelves so we can be ready for the next onslaug...uh, wave.

Customers are what keep our doors open, and we all try to be upbeat, even as we try to answer constant questions, gather books for customers and ring efficiently at the register. I don't think I can convey how exhausting a day like that is. For me, anyway.

The Holidays are tiring.

The Christmas music we have playing is slightly stale, sometimes strange, and does not inspire a merry disposition in this bookseller. There is a version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer that is arranged and sung with the song Tom Dooley. Yep, that's Tom Dooley, that peppy song about a murderer who got hanged. So festive. Some of the songs sound as though they were sung by the Lennon Sisters. Nothing wrong with the Lennon Sisters...50 years ago. There's a song that has lyrics that start..."Mamacita, donde esta Santa Claus?" Um...I guess they provide a little comic relief.

A friend of mine is going through cancer treatment. She's young, has school-age children, and this should not be happening to her (not that it should be happening to anyone). She is blogging about it. I hate to use the word inspirational, because that sounds sappy and lame, and she is anything but those things. She is a stand-up comedian, fiercely sarcastic, and brings her humor and attitude to her blog...and to cancer (Weird Cancer Guy, be gone!). (Keep an eye out for more about her blog in a future post of mine!) One thing she does in her blog posts is list Three Positives...and I so appreciate that she is doing this.

During The Holidays I can easily lose sight of The Positives in my life. She, through her blog, has been reminding me how important it is to be aware of the positives.

So. Three Positives for me about working The Holidays in retail:

1. Customers have been, almost all of them, really patient and polite, with us and to other shoppers. I know that shopping during The Holidays is hard too.

2. People are buying books! I love seeing people who buy some of my favorites, either for themselves or for others. I get to talk with people about books, like the woman who was buying GONE GIRL and when I commented on how much I liked it, asked me what I've been reading that I really like. (THE DOG STARS by Peter Heller is what I told her. Really great. There will be a blog post about it.)

3. Most of my co-workers are fun to work with and can joke around and they really make the intensity of The Holidays bearable. They've also readily pitched in when I've asked for help, even though I know they've had tons of things that have needed to be done themselves. I am grateful for their humor and work ethic.

4. (Do I get extra credit for doing four?) It's almost over. Yes, after Christmas Day there are clearance sales and many many returns (we really believe in gift receipts! please get gift receipts!), so the busy-ness doesn't dramatically drop off after Christmas. But the end is in sight. Hallelujah.


Thanks for stopping by! Clicking on the underlined book title may take you to Barnes and Noble's web page for each book. Purchasing through these links helps support the blog. You can subscribe directly to the blog here on this page. You can also send us email: 2of3Rs(AT)gmail(DOT)com. You can also "like" us on our facebook page, NOT The New York Times Book Review. Happy Holidays!

Shootings

Tuesday I was in the breakroom at work. One of the managers came in and asked, "Do you know anyone at our Clackamas store?"

"Yeah, lots of people, why?", I answered, thinking of my former co-workers who are now working at that store.

"There's been a shooting at the mall. One of the managers from over there called to let us know that they are all all right, just so we know."

"Oh my god," I said. I immediately texted a few of my friends who work at that store. Employees there was okay, though they were all on lockdown in the breakroom with some customers.

All afternoon and into the evening, staff and customers at my store were checking in with each other and with people we knew from other stores. The gunman had killed two people and then himself.

Last night I went to play trivia with some of my former co-workers, some of whom work at Clackamas and were there the day of the shooting. I wouldn't say that we were all sober and serious. There was joking and laughing and, of course, trivia (we came in second). There was also checking in, asking how everyone was doing, no really. And there were honest answers about being shaken up and scared. There was also a deeper note of being glad to be there, of being glad to see people face to face and know that friends were okay.

This morning's news about the shooting in Connecticut is beyond shocking. An elementary school, for God's sake. At least 26 dead, 18 of them children. I can't even begin to wrap my mind around the terror that this school and community has experienced and will live with forever.

My hope is that Newtown and Clackamas receive support and love they will surely need to live through these horrific events and beyond.

My thoughts and prayers are with them.

An Interesting Suggestion!

"Do you charge people to use the bathroom?", he asked.

"Um, what was that?", I said, not sure I was hearing right.

"Do you charge people to use the bathroom here? You really should," he said. "If people haven't bought an actual book here, then they shouldn't be able to use the bathrooms."

The man, tall with greying hair, unshaven face, wearing a blue rain jacket and jeans, stood by the register to talk to me at the bookstore where I work.

He continued, "People use the bookstore to browse, and they they go home and buy a digital copy of the book. They are using your bookstore to find out what they want, but they aren't supporting you guys. If people think there's no reason for brick and mortar, see how they do if they can't use the bathroom." He was emphatic.

"You've got a point," I said.

"It would be worth it to have someone by the restrooms checking to see if customers have a receipt," he went on, "and then charge them to use the bathroom if they haven't bought anything. Really, you guys should do that."

"Interesting idea," I said.

I smiled, thinking of how a fee to use the bathroom would go over.

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"I like this character"

Therapist and I were talking recently about characters in a book and how we like them.

"I like Amy in Gillian Flynn's GONE GIRL," she said.

"You like Amy?", I said. "I didn't really like her," I replied.

"I liked her as a character," she said.

"Ah." I paused. "Interesting distinction," I said. "It seems that when people talk about 'liking a character', they are talking about whether they like the character as a person. They are talking about whether they would want to be friends with that character, not necessarily that the character was written well."

"No," she said. "I'm talking about liking the character as it is written in the book. Amy is a brilliant character. Gillian Flynn did such a good job of portraying her motivations and actions, her struggle against being 'Amazing Amy', and how that all played out so diabolically in her relationship with Nick."

"She absolutely did," I agreed.

I've read Gillian Flynn's SHARP OBJECTS and DARK PLACES. As with GONE GIRL, these other books have believable characters that are not necessarily likable people.

             

Who are your favorite literary characters? And do you like the characters as people? Or are they your favorites because they were created at the hands of a skilled writer?

You can comment here on the blog, or on our facebook page, NOT The New York Times Book Review. You can also send us email: 2of3Rs(AT)gmail(DOT)com. Clicking on the underlined book title may take you to Barnes and Noble's web page for each book. Clicking on the book cover will take you to Amazon's web page for each book. Purchasing through these links helps support the blog. Thanks for reading!

Choosing a Book to Donate

For our holiday book drive, we're asking customers to donate books that we will give to a school in the area that has been flooded several times.

One of my co-workers was talking to a man about the book drive, "The school was flooded, and we're trying to help them build up their library. I have some books here, and there are some back here..." she pointed to the shelves behind her, full of dozens of children's books.

"I'd like to donate, I'm just not sure which one," the man with greying hair, wearing a long brown raincoat and brown hat, said.

She pointed to the book closest to her register, "There's this one. They could learn about lightning."

      

"Sure," the man said, "that's a good idea. They already know about flooding."

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Mountain, Cloud, Water...Dance

Every year during the holidays, our stores choose a school, organization or agency that needs books for children. We ask customers if they'd like to donate a book to the agency that our store has selected.

Booksellers have set up displays, featuring books that people might choose to purchase and donate. The other day I saw MOUNTAIN DANCE, WATER DANCE, and CLOUD DANCE for the first time.

            

These are gorgeous books. The artwork is incredible, and each book gives a little science, though it's science told through poetry and art.

Any child would be lucky to have one of these books.


Clicking on the book cover will take you to Amazon's page for each book. Clicking on the underlined book title may take you to Barnes and Noble's page for each book. Purchasing through these links helps support the blog. You can send us email: 2of3Rs(AT)gmail(DOT)com. Happy reading!

Some Good Parenting on Black Friday

A man came into the bookstore with his little boy. The man, maybe in his early 30's, about 6'3" tall, with short brown hair, and wearing a red t-shirt with a blue pullover sweater and jeans, came to the register. His little boy, about five years old, wearing a dark blue raincoat, was blond and quiet.

"Do you have a piece of paper I can use?", he asked.

"Sure," I said, getting a piece of paper from the printer and giving it to him.

About ten minutes later, the man and the boy came back to the register. The man put a small Legos building set on the counter.

The man said, "He has something to tell you, but he couldn't say it, so he wrote it down for you." A co-worker and I moved from behind the register so we could see the boy. The boy handed me the piece of paper. On it, in large crooked printed letters, we read:

          "I'm sory. I stole the legos.
            I'm here to pay you back."

The boy looked at the floor.

We both started talking to the boy, "Thank you for coming back and being honest. The most important thing is that you were honest and you came back to take care of what you did wrong," we both said.

The dad picked the boy up and said, gently and firmly, "Did you hear what they said? They said that the most important thing was to be honest."

The boy tucked his head in his dad's arms, face crumpling. He couldn't look at us.

The dad pointed to the Lego set on the counter. "This is the same one he took, but he completely dismantled it at home before we knew what was going on, so we'll pay for this one and leave it here." I rang up the Lego set and he paid for it.

I tried to catch the boy's eye, "It's really important that you were honest and came back," I said again. "Thank you for coming back, I know it's hard," I said, my own voice breaking.

"Thank you," the dad said to us. "See?", he said to his son, "They weren't mad, they said it was good to be honest. We have to come back and fix things when we do something wrong," he said, making sure his son understood.

I still have the note the son wrote.

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The Language of Flowers - A Gift

I read THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS when it first came out. I really enjoyed Vanessa Diffenbaugh's story of Victoria, a florist with a rough background who learns about life as well as the symbolic meanings of flowers.

       

At the bookstore last night, a woman with dark shoulder-length hair, wearing a black jacket, brought THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS to the register.

I looked at the book and said, "Oh, I really liked this."

"I thought it would be appropriate," she said. "There's a woman where I workout who is just wonderful. She brings flowers every Monday to cheer up the place. She was just diagnosed with cancer. So I thought we could all sign the book and give it to her."

"Oh, wow," I said. "I'm so sorry. This sounds like the perfect book to give to her, though."

"Well, she always brightens everyone else's day." She shrugged. "It doesn't seem like much to do for her."

"I think it's a really nice idea."

"Well, thanks," she said.

"You're welcome," I said. "Have a good night."

That conversation brightened my day.

Clicking on the book cover will take you to Amazon's web page for the book. Clicking on the underlined book cover may take you to the Barnes and Noble page for the book. Purchasing through these links helps support the blog. Thanks for stopping by!

Vacation Reading and Releasing (part two!)

Our vacation was very relaxing, and very satisfying. Both of us got a lot of reading in, which was lovely.

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER by Stephen Chbosky was quite good. Recently made into a movie (which we haven't seen yet), a young man tells his story through letters to a mysterious "friend".

THE LIKENESS by Tana French, like IN THE WOODS by the same author, is a mystery. In this one, Cassie Maddox tells the story. A murder victim is found, but the victim looks exactly like Cassie, and was using an identity Cassie used as an undercover agent. How is this possible? Filled with twists and turns, this was a good read.

IF I STAY by Gayle Forman was lovely. Classified as a teen book, Mia, the main character, is in a car accident and is in a coma. She has to decide whether to stay and wake up, living with the horrific aftermath of the accident, or to die.

DEATH OF SWEET MISTER by Daniel Woodrell was intense and not so cheery. If you, like a few people we know (very few. okay, one), found WINTER'S BONE (which Woodrell also wrote) uplifting, then you might like this.

THE TWELVE by Justin Cronin is second in the trilogy he started with THE PASSAGE. There are vampire/zombie-like creatures (called "virals"). People die. Many people die. This has the extreme good vs evil feeling as Stephen King's THE STAND. Great vacation read.

Another way the vacation was satisfying was that we released quite a few Bookcrossing books (see this recent post: http://www.notthenewyorktimesbookreview.blogspot.com/2012/11/vacation-readingand-releasing.html for details about Bookcrossing and how one "releases" books).

We released three in the hotel where we were staying, one in the main lobby (Tana French's THE LIKENESS), one by the pool (I AM THE CHEESE by Robert Cormier). We went to a local spa where there were books in the waiting area and we released one of the books there (NEVERWHERE by Nail Gaiman). Two books were released outside in shopping areas (PAPER TOWNS by John Green and
We also released several books in airports, mostly in waiting areas by departure and arrival gates, two in the Dallas Fort Worth airport (THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER by Stephen Chbosky and AGE OF MIRACLES by Karen Thompson Walker), and one in Miami (IF I STAY by Gayle Forman).

                              

Releasing the books did give us more room for souvenirs!

Clicking on the book covers will take you to Amazon's web page for each book. Clicking on the underlined book covers may take you to Barnes and Noble's page for each book. Purchasing through these links helps support the blog. You can send us email: 2of3Rs(AT)gmail(DOT)com. Thanks for stopping by!