Turning a Page

I remember lying in my bed reading Little Women the night before I went to college . Little Women is a "comfort" book for me, as much as mashed potatoes are a comfort food. I called out to my mother that maybe I had made a mistake and I should stay home. She reminded me to set my alarm clock because we were leaving early in the morning.

Tonight I am wandering around looking for a copy of Little Women. Today I dropped my older daughter off at college. As we drove away and I saw her standing on the sidewalk holding a bag of hangers, I thought, "Wait....I'm not done." But while I hope to have many years of parenting ahead of me, there is a part of my job with Rachel that is done. Today she turned a page in her life.

Since she and many of her friends practically grew up at The Open Book, I have been thinking alot about the books that have defined their childhood years and the lessons they might have learned from the pages they have turned.

One of the first children's events that we celebrated at The Open Book was the birthday of Ludwig Bemelman's Madeline. We had cake and took pictures with a giant Madeline doll and read the book over and over again. By the end of the day I could chant by heart, "In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines, lived twelve little girls in two straight lines....." I have always loved Madeline because although she is the smallest, she is brave and plucky and joyful.

Picture books gave way to chapter books and for the kids that are going off to college this year, that meant The Magic Tree House series. I still love to recommend this series to early readers. Jack and Annie, brother and sister, take care of each other as they travel back in time and in and out of reality. The sense of adventure celebrated by these books, as well as the safety and comfort of returning home, speaks to many young readers venturing into the world outside their homes.

Then came Harry Potter! This generation was the lucky one to grow up with Harry. I remember the anticipation of the release of the latest book. The excitement about what would happen at Hogwarts. Unwittingly, the kids absorbed epic storylines and difficult vocabulary as they matured with Harry, Hermoine and Ron. We celebrated by dressing up as the characters, eating gallons of jelly beans, and staying up really late to finish the latest book. Harry teaches kids about courage and standing up for your convictions when others believe you are wrong. Ron showed us that the one who may seem to be the silliest can be your best friend when times are tough. My favorite, though I should not admit it, is Hermoine. She is brainy and a little neurotic, but she will pull you through the the hardest times with intelligence and heart.

Before I knew it, those litte kids that loved the Magic Tree House were reading Catcher in the Rye, Slaughterhouse-Five, Les Miserables and Jane Eyre. When I saw those books going out the door of The Open Book, I knew that soon their readers would be going out into the world.

That day has come for many of the young readers who I have watched grow up over the years. It it right down the road for many others. To all of you I wish the joy of Madeline, the adventures of Jack and Annie and the courage of Harry Potter. I wish you years of wonderful books and good friends to share them with.

Keep turning those pages.......

Don't Forget The Books....

A New York Times article that came out today speaks of the struggle of The Open Book against the newer, bigger bookstore down the street. While it has been a challenge and we have worked hard to come up with many ways to draw people just around the corner, what is really important is what happens when you walk in the door of our cozy little shop.

For me and for the employees of The Open Book, what has always been important is matching readers with books. We are readers and we take great joy in that activity. To be able to share that joy with others is what made me want to be a bookseller over 11 years ago. Jessica, the manager of The Open Book, takes the publisher's catalogs with her on vacation. She is always looking for that book that people will fall in love with. Rachel, Sara, Danielle, Vincent, Bret, L.J. and Richard all work hard to make sure that the adults and children who walk in our door find a book that will make their day a little more entertaining or interesting.

We are proud of the work we do. We know that The Open Book is a bit of an anachronism in a world of big box stores that have a million titles. We are a little store and we do not always have every book. But if you tell us what kind of books you like, we will do our best to find you something new that you will enjoy. Or if you have your heart set on that book that is not in stock, we will get it for you as quickly as possible and drop it off at your door if you live nearby.

I do not think any of us would fight so hard to protect the store if we sold screwdrivers or hats. Books are not just a product to us. We know that a book can bring comfort or make someone laugh or sometimes even change a life. Putting the right book in the right hand is what we strive to do and what we love to do. After all the talk of author appearances, story times, balloons, and sandwich boards, what really matters is connecting people with books.

Life in Verse

For the last two weeks, I have been in book-lover's heaven. The Open Book was lucky enough to be asked to be the bookseller for the Southampton Writers Conference. Jessica and I carted a ton of books to the Stony Brook - Southampton campus and set up a little satellite bookstore stocked with books by the faculty of the conference.

As we took turns taking care of the mini-bookstore we saw some talented and amazing authors wander through: Elizabeth Strout, Colson Whitehead, Meg Wolitzer, Melissa Bank, Julie Sheehan, Roger Rosenblatt, Peter Hedges, Elena Gorokhova, Helen Simonson, Justin Kramon, Ursula Hegi and Jules Feiffer just to name a few. Oh, I know I

am name dropping but I was totally star struck by these people who have given me many happy hours with their books. I tried not to stammer as I sold books to people who put their hearts into the books that I sell. The conference participants, aspiring writers and poets, were full of creative energy - interesting and friendly. I cannot wait to sell their work.

One of the highlights of the conference for me was the chance to hear Billy Collins speak and read from his work. I love poetry and I love Billy Collin's poetry especially. Some of his poems make you laugh out loud and others bring a fuzzy nostalgia for love long past. It was a special treat during a busy summer.

Of Graduations and Butterflies

I have been to several graduation ceremonies in the last few days. The speeches were heartfelt and touched on the themes so common to this rite of passage: following your dreams, reaching for the stars, remembering your roots. But my favorite quote of all came from the valedictorian of the high school who cited Joseph Campbell's "follow your bliss".

It seems like a simple concept at first and so similar to the other statements about goals for your life. But, I think that Campbell;s direction may be a bit more complicated. It may mean different things at different times in your life. As a young person it might inspire you to take a backpack and tour Europe or learn to make pottery. Now that I am older, it strikes me that "bliss" can sometimes encompass pain or difficulty. In pursuing your bliss you may have to give up some things of value. Bliss does not always come with regular hours or high pay. Pursuing your bliss may cause people to sometimes question your sanity.

Which brings me around again to The Open Book. The one thing I know for sure (as Oprah would say) is that the most important thing in my life is my family. But my "Bliss" is my love of books and the joy of sharing that love with others. I have done that through many years at the bookstore and more recently, as a librarian. It is the nerdiest bliss that you can imagine, really, but I feel a shot of pure joy when I connect someone with a book that I think will touch them.

This year we have moved and we are now faced with a fancy new store down the block. There are moments when my concern about location and sales and competition seem to take over. Then one of my customers who I have watched grow from a young kid to a man bound for college asks me to find a book that will touch his emotions. Another asks for a book that will change his life. A tired woman says to find her something that will make her laugh.....she justs wants to laugh a little. And my bliss calls to me. I lose myself in the hunt for that book that just might make one cry, another think and another chuckle out loud. Despite that fact that sometime it is not easy....I count myself lucky to do what I do.

A few years ago there was a new musical called "The Story of My Life". It was about a writer and a bookstore owner. One of the songs from that show is one that I think fits the theme of graduation and of following your bliss. If you have a few minutes, listen to this song sung by Will Chase and think of your bliss and the journey of the butterfly.

Is It Too Graphic?

I have always been a bit of a snob about graphic novels. I mean really, aren't they just fancy comic books masquerading as literature? Well, I guess it is time to admit that I can be wrong. ( I hear the sound of my children gasping in the background.....)

Stitches by David Small is a powerful memoir told partially with words and partially with images. Mr. Small has told the story of his very dysfunctional family and his painful childhood by using the simple and elegant drawings that illustrate the children's books that may be more familiar to his readers. He illuminates the starkness and lack of emotion of his mother and the distance of his father. He tells the story of a child who is not told of the cancer that has ravaged his body because it is not something that he needs to know. He tells of finding that person who will hear him and see him, for the first time in his life.

This is a powerful and affecting story told with pictures and words. I cannot imagine it being told in any other way.

Because Oprah Told Me To.....

Like many booksellers, I owe a debt of gratitude to Oprah Winfrey. When I started selling books in 1999, Oprah's Book Club was in its heyday and I anxiously awaited the announcement of her next book. Even in the bleakest February, I was sure to sell some books if Oprah said that book was what should be read. Oprah has made authors famous and taught non-readers to love to read. Oprah is the patron saint of booksellers.

I have a confession to make. I have not always loved the books that Oprah has chosen for her Book Club. Many of them, while very well written, are dark and depressing. The recurring themes of dysfunctional families, violence against women and children and struggles against poverty are sometimes overwhelming. Call me shallow, but I often choose to turn to mystery, fantasy and lighter fare when choosing pleasure reading.

Recently, Oprah has been talking about a book called Women, Food and God by Geneen Roth. Immediately, I decided there were two strikes against this book.....1) Oprah says I must read it and 2) it is a self-help book. But somehow, its tidy little blue/gray cover with its beckoning landscape called to me and I took this book home. And I have to admit it, Oprah was kind of right.

Roth talks about how for many people food is a numbing agent, much like drugs or alcohol. People will use food to distract themselves from dealing with their feelings or facing the world. Roth puts forth her theories with strength and gentle humor. Despite the title, there is no religious agenda. For Roth, "God" refers to whatever spiritual other a person may recognize.
I found this book to be enlightening and interesting. I learned some things and did not feel condescended to or belittled.

Lesson for the day: You should not judge a book by the person that promotes it!

Keep turning those pages.......

Women of Mystery

For some reason, I am on a total mystery bender. All I want is to read about is murder and intrigue and things that go bump in the night. So I decided that I would just give in and wallow in as many mysteries as I wanted. Several of the books in my line up feature female sleuths in exotic places and times. If you want to follow some great women of mystery, I suggest:

River in the Sky by Elizabeth Peters. Once again, Amelia Peabody finds herself in dangerous circumstances. Emerson, Ramses and Nefret are determined to keep an inept adventurer from destroying precious archeological finds. This time, the group is not in their beloved Egypt, but instead has travelled to Jerusalem. The cast of characters is familiar, as is Amelia's brisk wit and deadly parasol. Although I would not quite characterize this as a "cozy", it is a fun and relaxing read.


The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear. Maisie Dobbs returns to help an American couple track down the girlfriend of their son, a cartographer, who was killed in the war. Ms. Winspear captures the spirit of postwar England and the changes in society as she tells the tale of an investigation that combines both traditional and unusual techniques.

The God of the Hive by Laurie King. This story picks up from the end of the previous Laurie King book, The Language of Bees. Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes must somehow save Holmes' son and granddaughter while trying to locate a missing Mycroft Holmes. There are plenty of twists and turns and enough of Sherlock Holmes' famous deductions to satisfy the Arthur Conan Doyle fan. The aging of both Mycroft and Sherlock add an interesting twist to the story, as does the addition of an intriguing, shellshocked soldier from the Great War.

If you are in a mystery mood, I would recommend any of these good books. Keep turning those pages!