So, if you follow me on Facebook or Twitter you know my big news- I started working this week as a full-time bookseller at the New England Mobile Book Fair, the venerable independent bookstore in Newton, Mass. Open since 1957, it's a gigantic warehouse of books. It's wonderful, and I get to go there nearly every day. Well, spending my days in a warehouse of books where I get an employee discount is not going to be good for my book habit- or, it's going to be very good indeed. Here's what I picked up during my first week.
Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson. I got it on Monday after I heard the announcement come over the loudspeaker "Steve Jobs is here."
Red Shift, by Alan Garner, is a science fiction/fantasy book about the same location in England over several hundred years. I understand there's a time-travel element and the book even includes a cipher at the end that the reader has to solve, to understand the ending. It's incredible looking and just intrigued me, so I had to pick it up.
The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I've never read this classic about orphaned Mary who comes to live with her uncle in a mysterious, foreboding castle. Penguin has a new line of books called Penguin Threads- three books with embossed, embroidered covers. The other titles in the series are
Emma by Jane Austen and Anna Sewell's
Black Beauty. Look these up at your local indie- they really are gorgeous and would be a wonderful addition to your paperback library.
Serve the People! by Yan Lianke is a satire on Chinese politics. It was banned in China and anything banned or scandalous sounds like it's worth checking out.
What I Saw and How I Lied is the first of two young adult titles I picked up on the recommendation of my friend Nikki, a Scholastic rep. It's about a teenage girl and family secrets during World War 2. The other one is
Revolution, by Jennifer Connelly, about the French Revolution and another teen girl. All of these books look great and almost all of these books have been on my wishlist for a while.
Red Shift and
Serve the People! were the only impulse buys. But I can't wait to dive into every one!
congrads on the new job. It would be my dream...or my nightmare...lol
ReplyDeleteWow, Red Shift looks REALLY good. And I hope you like Revolution. I read it a while back and enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun place to work Marie. I use to haunt this place often when I worked in Wellesley in the late 90s. enjoy. I downloaded the Jobs eBook this week.
ReplyDeleteI've seen that new cover of Emma...GORGEOUS! And I loved Revolution with all my heart. I am still thinking about it 8 months after the fact. I would be in huge trouble working there, but I'm still so happy for you. It is the perfect job for you!
ReplyDeleteI would spend my whole paycheck at the store if I worked there. I asked my indie to bring the Steve Jobs book to a Book Your Lunch next week so I can buy it there.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new job! It reminds me of when I got a job working in an ice cream place, and couldn't keep away from the product! :--)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great job! Congrats.
ReplyDeleteI've been to the Mobile Book Fair once and I am glad I don't live anywhere near it because I would definitely go broke. Congratulations on what must be close to a dream job!
ReplyDeleteRevolution is a wonderful book.
Time travel! I'm very intrigued. and the Secret Garden cover is very pretty. I read that last year and enjoyed it immensely.
ReplyDeleteI was specifically barred from finding employment in a bookstore by my family, who thinks that my book collecting is nuts and a little overboard, but oh, how I would love to work in one! To be surrounded by books all day, and even come home with them! Ok, enough dreaming, or I am liable to go out and look for an application! Great new additions, Marie! My husband is reading the Jobs book, and I hope to get to it soon!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that you haven't read The Secret Garden! It's such a great book. I hope you enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the new job! Also, I love everything by Frances Hodgson Burnett, hope you like The Secret Garden!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the new job! I was at the New England Mobile Book Fair once, years ago, when I was in college. It's probably time for a return visit! And The Secret Garden is one of my all-time favorite books. I read it as a kid and loved it.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your new job - be careful not to spend your entire salary on books! I know that would be hard for me.
ReplyDeleteWorking in a bookstore is dangerous, but fun! That second book looks interesting, but I'd be worried that I wouldn't figure out the ending!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was growing up I wanted to either run a pet store or work in a library. Working in a corporate run pet store was horrid and disappointing. I hope your book store job turns out great.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the new job. Sounds like the dream job for a bibliophile like yourself! I'm reading the Steve Jobs biography now and absolutely loving it!
ReplyDeleteHow fun! I'm afraid if I worked at a book store, I'd end up owing them money on payday!
ReplyDeleteRachel (chaosisafriendofmine)