The love of books

Today on Keri Miller's Midmorning show on MPR she hosted Allison Hoover Bartlett--author of "The Man Who Loved Books Too Much"

My impression, after reading the book, was that she intended to write a book on book thieves in general. However, she became so fascinated by one man, John Gilkey that it turns into his story. Like all career criminals there is no simple explanation for his obsession with books. Very rarely does the subject of a book agree to discuss his crimes and give details of the how's and why's. Find today's interview at mpr.org and then read the book, or vice versa. Fascinating stuff.

In less illegal terms, I have fallen head over heels for a new book and think it is the title I will champion from now through the holidays. I generally try to find a book from a small press or a book that will receive little to no press attention to push. I'm breaking my rules a little bit.

In 2005, Graeme Gibson had a book entitled, "The Bedside Book of Birds" and I remember we sold a lot of copies despite a price($37.50) that I found quite odd and a little high. So today when I saw his new book I immediately glanced at the price($35) and found myself pleasantly surprised. Then I got lost in it for about fifteen minutes--which is something I very rarely do. "The Bedside Book of Beasts" is a compendium of, yes, beasts. There are lots of collections out now that seem mish-mashed(is that a word?) together and lack cohesion or any sustained theme. This book makes sense and has quotes and art from around the globe. The color and quality of the images is really what makes the book in my mind. Mythology, cultural history, biology, poetry, religious thought all weave into the narrative. This is the kind of book you buy to give away and end up keeping for yourself. My words do not do it justice--stop in and have a look.

Price Wars, or:What the he double hockey sticks is going on?

I could very easily list a dozen or so links about the battle between Walmart, Amazon, Target and Sears(really?) to see who can sell new books the cheapest. And much of what has been written is of the snarky or poking fun variety. But the real issues, and there are many, are cause for great concern. Certainly for bookstores and publishers and everyone else involved in the wild world of books. But also for retailers in general and also, I believe, for consumers as well.

I won't get into all the nuts and bolts of this. Go here for some good analysis and a link to the New York Times for the news portions of the story.

I would say the only title on the list that poses major problems is the Barbara Kingsolver--which is probably true for about 90% of booksellers. Here's an interesting twist: we are selling books for a Stephen King event in November and could have saved about $2,500.00 if we had ordered our books through one of these websites rather than the publisher directly. That is crazy. Krazee.

One of the biggest problems in all of this is that it devalues books as a sellable commodity. I'm as free market as the next guy, but that isn't exactly what we're dealing with here. It puts even chain stores in a tight spot. Since they're known for discounting I'm certain customers will be asking if they too can go cheaper. And they really can't afford to. Or is it they can't afford not to? I'm not sure. If nothing else this points out that the book industry is sick. No healthy industry would allow a couple middle men to step in and buy massive amounts of product to re-sell at massive loss. How massive? Well, the King book is going to retail for $35(although that suggested price is starting to mean less and less). If the rules are being followed, 46% is the discount these re-sellers should be getting. That means they, and we, get the book for $18.90 and selling it at $8.99 means a loss of $9.91 on each and every one they sell.

It will be very interesting to see how all of this plays out. It's possible that very soon, if not already, the inmates will be running the asylum of the book world.

A very mixed-bag

Well, we're almost two weeks into the coldest October in 60 years in Minnesota. And it is currently snowing some very fat and wet flakes onto us. It is pretty--but a little early for my tastes. And, after a very exciting last month of baseball, the evil and uber-talented Yankees have sent us fishing. Yet, there are some exciting things to discuss--like outdoor baseball next year. And two great in-store events this week.

Tomorrow night at 7 p.m. John Minczeski will be here reading from his new book of poems, "A Letter to Serafin" and on Friday 10/16/09 David Rhodes will be here at 7 p.m. to read from his newly released "The Easter House." Both men are great writers and great representatives of what the Midwest can bring to literature.

Plus, if that isn't enough for you, we have stacks of copies of the fourth Jeff Kinney YA book "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days" The kids can't get enough of this stuff.

Finally, the two new remainder shipments are here with lots of fantastic stuff in the $4.99-$8.99 range. Come get it before it's gone.

Where to put all the books?

I'm well aware that people face this question on a regular basis. Build more bookcases? Sell them or give them away? Move to a bigger house? All answers with different problems.

As a bookstore, especially a small one, we need to deal this kind of problem on a regular basis. There is some give and take depending on the season, of course. More books from September-December and then less from January-April/May. The summer season has its own little rhythm.

This fall is an especially wild season of books, as I've mentioned before. We've had to get a little more creative with the positioning of books than normal. Normally, we move books around pretty frequently on the front tables. But this season, this season, is different from any other. There are simply too many books for us to display. So, what he have decided to do, is create another table for new releases. Normally, we have two tables of hardcover new releases--both non-fiction and fiction and one table of new paperback releases.

Now we have four full tables of new books. We also have two shipments of some cheaper books coming in. These books are quality stuff that is either from Europe or books that have come out in paperback.

As I'm speaking, or typing, the MN Twins are tied in the late innings. Go Twins!

MBA stuff

MBA is short-hand for the Midwest Booksellers Association and each fall we convene in the Twin Cities to kick-off another year of bookselling and have a small trade-show.

Unlike the national get-together that is held each May this has less bells and whistles and superstars floating around the convention floor. But what the conference actually yields is oftentimes equally helpful and more fulfilling.

The conference has breakfasts and lunches with specific authors that booksellers can attend and get some actual face to face contact with the writers themselves. There are also educational and informational panels on how to better display items, how to use social media and others with various titles(but the same goal) that simply mean: how to sell more books better.

On Friday evening I attended an awards reception featuring the Midwest Bookseller's Choice Awards winners. There was a winner and runner-up for 5 categories--Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Children's Picture Book and Children's Young Adult book. Seven of the ten authors were in attendance and it was a great joy to hear them speak about their books, why the Midwest matters to them or how independent booksellers have meant something to them.

David Wroblewski, author of "Story of Edgar Sawtelle" spoke of his connections to Wisconsin and how they continue to inform him despite no longer living there. Michael Perry has won legions of booksellers over, both near and far, for his great books of non-fiction, his sincerity and his ability to put on a good show--which he did in a speech that was nothing less than great stand-up humor. He also told a heart-warming story about his father, a farmer in Wisconsin, and when, at 17, Michael decided to tell him that he had decided to become a nurse.

Todd Boss and Freya Manfred followed by reading some poems filled with both wonder and whimsy and Todd recollecting his own personal connections to Michael Perry through his now-deceased editor. Todd was a manager at Micawber's before we bought the store and it was wonderful to see his poetry career continue to rise.

Ingrid Law and Lauren Stringer carried the children's portion of the event by discussing illustration of snowflakes and some items kept at the ready for inspiration. Law discussed taking a real road trip that followed one she was writing about to make sure she was "at least getting some of it right."

Neil Gaiman finished the evening with another wonderful speech. He said that he considers himself a Midwesterner now, after 17 years, and how he still felt it his job to point out that doing things like driving trucks onto soon to be thawed lakes only to see which fell in first "is a bit odd." He carried the laughter and the head-nodding from shared experience of the earlier speakers and told us how he got interested in good books; how one bookseller had done that for him as a child.

In all, it was a great reminder to me of the great sense of place so many books we sell can evoke for others. It was reaffirming to hear authors speak passionately in a number of different ways about how literature still matters. Most of all, it was fun and a real honor to be there in their presence.

Saturday I walked the floor of Rivercenter looking at new titles for fall and talking with sales reps from publishers both local and national. It was a fun, if tiring, weekend filled with books and the people who surround them. Rejuvanation in so many ways.

Brave new world

Micawber's

Ridiculous self-promotion

So, after my complaining last week someone from D.A.P. called me and explained their side of things. While we didn't come to a total agreement it was beyond good of her to take some of her busy time and chat with me. A nice discussion ended with her asking if I would participate in a series they run on their art blog. My art cred isn't all that great but I think I pulled together a pretty decent list. Here it is.

Just as a note--several of these books aren't readily availble or in stock at Micawber's. It was just stuff I pulled off my personal bookshelves.