Time to go off theme. Usually I'm a little better about pre-ordering books I'm interested in, but with everything that's going on, I never got around to it for Will Grayson, Will Grayson. Which meant tonight I needed to get myself a copy after work. Now I knew going down to my local independent bookstore River Lights Books-2nd Edition I ran the risk of it not being on the shelf or in stock yet. But everything else about the indie bookstore makes it worth it. The individual personal attention. While I was browsing, the woman "behind" the counter was showing a couple her iPad and talking about it and e-books. When I finally purchased my stuff, she commented how excited she was to read it. And that got us started about John's books, and our issues with new paperback covers. (She's not a fan of Paper Towns paperback cover. I like that better than the new Katherines cover.) And then we moved on to our mutual admiration of If I Stay. I just love that individual attention. And can your local box store do this? I got the 30% NYT bestseller discount even though it's not technically on it yet. She gave it to me anyway because she's sure it will be there on Thursday when the list comes out. :)
In addition to the individual attention, you've got the cool atmosphere, the good feeling you get from knowing you bought local, a chance to see beyond the bestsellers, and someone who probably knows about the books they put on the shelf. So, if you don't know where your closest indie bookstore is you can always find out right here. Maybe while you're there, you get your own copy of Will Grayson, Will Grayson.
In addition to the individual attention, you've got the cool atmosphere, the good feeling you get from knowing you bought local, a chance to see beyond the bestsellers, and someone who probably knows about the books they put on the shelf. So, if you don't know where your closest indie bookstore is you can always find out right here. Maybe while you're there, you get your own copy of Will Grayson, Will Grayson.
I love the new cover of "Paper Towns." I agree with you on Katherines, though.
ReplyDeleteThe paperback cover of "If I Stay," too, is awful.
Read "Dirty Little Secrets" when you're done with WGwg. I thought it was pretty powerful...in the way if i stay was.
That's lovely! I was going to preorder WGWG but I'm away home on Monday and I didn't know if it would arrive on time. I might buy it at the airport on the way home, though!
ReplyDeleteLibraries and independent bookshops should have mixers :)
Have you ever been to Portland? Powell's is amazing.
@Nicola I haven't been to Portland, but I absolutely loved City Lights Bookstore in San Fran when I visited there.
ReplyDeleteAnd you're right. We totally need mixers :)
When I visited Sarasota a few weeks ago, there was this nice independent bookstore that had closed and become some bizarro Mac store/French cafe. Made me want to puke. It was very Sarasota though.
ReplyDeleteP.S. My word verification for this post is "shbang." Awesome.
There's an indie mystery book store near my apt. called Murder by the Book and it is fantastic, full of people who are passionate about their jobs (not that people who work in chains necessarily aren't, they just don't always have the time to chat/gush).
ReplyDeleteI want to hear more about what kind of mixers Nicola thinks libraries and indie bookstores should have!
Omaha is sadly, suprisingly, lacking in any great indie bookstores. But I used that site to find one I was unaware of to go check out. So "If I Stay" is definitely worth reading?
ReplyDeleteI was unaware of Will Grayson until you all were talking about it. But now I am in line at the library!