Happy Friday Folks!
It’s a funny shade of purple outside, there’s probably another storm en route that has a sweet grandma name but is on its way to batter everyone’s bins in the night. So, last month did turn out to be the worst January ever, sales-wise, but whatever, tomorrow is another day, and today is another month. It’s February now which everyone knows is when you temporarily eat heart-shaped-chocolate before you move on to egg-shaped-chocolate. In the spirit of romance, why not order a book from your favourite oversharing independent bookshop, or upgrade your subscription to support your unrequited bookseller.
Let’s kick things off with song today. Sometimes I listen to music on the way to the bookshop, but because it’s such a short walk I just pick a particular song that I have a sudden urge to hear. I’m sharing today’s with you because I want to be as good to you as you are to me.
First customer through the door today mentioned George R. R. Martin and therefore had to listen to a very tedious update from me because I am currently watching ‘Game of Thrones’ for the first time, and while I’m extremely delighted by so much of it, I’m also really horrified by the script’s chronic obsession with rape threats. I feel so bad for the all the bit-part actors who scored a minor role in the biggest TV show of its day, only to have to perform dialogue their own family would cringe to hear them say. Shudder. That aside, it is nice to hear fellow northerners on screen saying bastard all the time, which sounds so much more satisfying than a southerner’s barstard-isation of it. Maybe when I’ve finished GoT I’ll write a post on my top ten characters because it definitely includes that super sassy guy who says he’ll kill anyone that Arya names. Why is his delivery so camp and hilarious? I’m a fan! Anyway, it’s based on books, isn’t it? #relevant
A nice mum with a double pram can’t explain why her children always have meltdowns when they come into our lovely shop, they just do! It’s a noisy mystery, Charlie Brown. One has a cry, then stops, then the other starts. Anyway, she’s undeterred and buys a couple of books so I don’t mind at all.
I process one hefty remote order from a customer who saves our bacon every month with her incredible shopping list. She’s texting me from the zoo! Not only does she buy a stack of books, she’s sent me a photo of the red pandas too.
An excellent telephone order includes a few books that I really love; North Woods by Daniel Mason, and The Hours Before Dawn by Celia Fremlin amongst others. Naturally, I now feel very affectionately towards this customer who I’ve never met.
Husband of one of our v. regular customer arrives with a photo on his phone of our window display. Wife has sent him out to buy the book in the picture. The picture is of three books. Ha! I am going to try this clever trick on my husband.
Delivery arrives! I do the worst signature anyone has ever done to confirm I have received it.
A little girl has a voucher to spend, and treats herself to a white unicorn cuddly toy. When I scan it it comes up ‘Eco Unicorn’ on the till and for some reason my brain inserts a ‘the’ that isn’t there and I say aloud, “Oh, the unicorn’s name is Eco” before realising this toy is just part of the brand’s ‘eco’ range. I tell the little girl she can of course name the unicorn anything she wants to, but as she is leaving the shop I hear her say to her grandma that “Eco is coming too”.
I think I might buy some books today, this new delivery has a lot of tempting treats in it. Two craft books (this and this) that were recommended by my writing group - I have ongoing plot problems and love to spend money on craft books I won’t read - and there are two novels out I fancy for a fun weekend read; this one and this one. I can’t afford to buy four books today so I might have to close my eyes and point at one.
February Book Club are reading Wandering Souls by Cecile Pin. Book Club discussion threads are for paid members and I’ve just opened the February thread. If you’re reading Wandering Souls with us this month, come and tell me what you thought of it, and if you’d like to buy a copy of Wandering Souls from me, click here.
Sold this book which is apparently written by ‘the legendary Michael Jackson’. Apparently this means someone different in the whisky world, but still, a bold claim for anyone else with that name.
Bookshop.Org are raising money for the exceptionally good charity, Booktrust, this month. For the duration of Feb, any children’s/MG/YA titles you buy though Bookshop.Org will see a 10% donation direct to Booktrust, who support literacy throughout the UK with a host of programmes and projects including Bookstart - which ensures every child in the UK owns a book. Anything you buy from any of my lists like my Brilliant Books for New Readers or Golden Retriever Energy - Teen Stories Without Tragedy or Not The Very Hungry Caterpillar would generate money for this great charity. Any children’s, middle-grade or YA title counts, including pre-orders so why not set up an order for this or this or this?
Few picture book purchases and a short stack of sticker books make their way out of the shop with some happy customers. 17 books sold in the shop total today. Not bad at all for us, maybe we will feel the love in February!?!
It’s nearly closing time and I’ve polished off the cake that I didn’t have to murder anyone for. Business Mum said we’re trying to cut down on sending orders this month but I’ve idly filled up another basket throughout the day with things that I just think look nice. What can you do? Books happen!
Daughter arrives at the shop and demands I buy her this so I have to put my other book back on my secret shelf for next week. Good grief. Whose idea was it to raise another bookwormlet? Anyway, I’m going home to read some more of this and watch the next episode of ‘Masters of the Air’ which I prefer to call Elvis Flies A Plane. See you next week!
“Books happen” is my new life motto. Might have a neon sign made.
Bookwormlet! 😍