Sunday, December 18, 2011

Sunday Salon- OMG It's Christmas

So this is my first experience working retail during the holidays; I think yesterday was the busiest day we've had so far and it was absolutely non-stop. I was thrilled to see so many people come out to support a local independent bookstore, and buying so much stuff. Lots of customers are new to the store, which is also wonderful, and everyone is very excited about the changes coming up. The store is a 30,000 square foot space with incalculable shelf inches of thousands upon thousands of books, double-stacked and overstacked and piled up in the back. And we've been busy.

But today? Today is a day off. My husband is cooking breakfast as I type this and then we're going out to the movies this afternoon to see It's a Wonderful Life for the 21st year in a row at a small theater in my neighborhood. I can't wait.

I've been stuck on the same three books for several weeks now, though I did finish one this week, The Hare With Amber Eyes, by Edmund de Waal. I'll have a full review soon but the short version is, it's solid and engaging and most people will enjoy it. It's positively flying off the shelves at the store; it seems like almost as soon as we open a box they're gone.

Next I'm not sure what I'm going to read. I'd like to find a quiet evening to dip into The Sense of an Ending, and I'd like to pick one of my quirky books out of my piles, maybe The Inquisitory. Since I ran the series on Dalkey Archive last week I've received a number of offers to do similar series with other small presses so stay tuned for more Publishers Spotlights in the coming months.

In the mean time I'll be doing my 2011 summary soon (probably after Christmas) and my top 10 list as well. It's been another great year for books and reading, for sure!

What are you up to today? Holiday shopping? Don't forget my holiday gift guide if you need some last-minute ideas. Just relaxing? Whatever it is, have a great one. More Sunday Salon here.

10 comments:

Sandy Nawrot said...

Christmas kinda of snuck up on us I think. I know it can be tiring to be on your feet all day, but I really am excited for you, watching all these people buying books and supporting the indie bookstore. If I lived up there, I'd be there with them slinging my money around. Hmmm. I think I need to go book shopping.

bermudaonion said...

I'm glad to hear so many people are buying books this year!! Enjoy your day off!

gautami tripathy said...

Have a great day! I love THAT movie any day!


Here is my Sunday Salon post!

Beth Hoffman said...

It always makes me happy to hear that people are buying books!

Hope you have a lovely day off, Marie!

Wendy said...

I always thought it would be great fun to work in a bookstore at Christmas time! Glad to hear you are feeling the excitement...but also that you managed to get a day off today :) Have a great week, Marie!

Vasilly said...

The bookstore you work at sounds like a place I would love to visit! Today I'm just reading and relaxing. Have a great Sunday.

Zibilee said...

I love it that you are able to work in the store and connect with readers during the holidays. It must be so rewarding to find that special book for someone, or to give the perfect recommendation. I also get excited to visit the bookstore at this time of year and make list upon list of all the things I want Santa to bring me. I hope you have a wonderful day just relaxing today, and that you enjoy your movie!

Anonymous said...

Mostly I'm up to sleeping today after volunteering the overnight shift last night/this morning at a hospice. I might catch up on a little reading later, but we'll see if I'm awake enough to do it. Right now I'm just working on reading as many Sunday Salon posts as I can.

So jealous of you watching It's A Wonderful Life in a small theater. That's what the theater in our town SHOULD do, but doesn't. :(

Anonymous said...

Yay for people supporting the indies!

Audra said...

Your Sunday sounded marvelous! I'm so jealous. :) Looking forward to your thoughts on Hare with Amber Eyes -- I've been eyeballing it for a while!