Sunday, October 30, 2011

Sunday Salon- Taking It Easy Today

Today I'm sleeping in. I've just finished my first week as a bookseller and what a week it was. But today is a day off and I'm going to carve a pumpkin and maybe go out for brunch.

I've been reading a ton this week. I tried two galleys that bored me so I put them aside, then went for Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle and Doris Lessing's The Fifth Child. Both were terrific, creepy short reads and highly recommended. Today I'm reading Victor Lavalle's Big Machine, a science fiction award winner I picked up at Readercon last year.

See that? That's my shelf of staff picks at the bookstore. I love that I get to do this and talk to people all day long about great books. A lot of what I do is ready reference- find this book, etc., but every now and then I get to recommend a personal favorite or find a great book for someone. So fun.

But today I'm home and staying out of the snow and mess that's covering the roads. Tomorrow's Halloween and I'll put on my Star Trek costume to hand out candy. My husband is carving a Star Trek-themed pumpkin this year; I don't have a picture yet but you'll see it when I do! What are you up to today? I hope you're having a great day and a happy Halloween.

More Sunday Salon here.


13 comments:

Sandy Nawrot said...

I can't even imagine how great it would be to recommend books all day. I love your shelf. I see The Prestige there. What was it that you said about this book? It involved some cursing you loved it so.

rhapsodyinbooks said...

What fun that you get to do staff picks! I always always pay attention to those in bookstores, and very often buy or borrow books based on those recommendations!

bermudaonion said...

Oh, a staff picks shelf would be so much fun! To be honest, I keep hoping the Indie I work for will ask me for a couple of picks.

Athira said...

Love it that you have your own staff pick shelf! Glad you had a great first week at work, and btw, Congratulations on the job!

Zibilee said...

So,so cool that you get to have your own shelf! I would so love to work in a bookstore! I think that is actually the only place I would want to work. I can't wait to see your pumpkin as well. I hope you have an amazing Halloween!

Anonymous said...

A whole shelf of personal recommendations. Awesome!

Anonymous said...

My library has We've Always Lived in the Castle on audio via Overdrive - I have it on my wish list and keep meaning to get to it.... Not enough time! Hope you have a great week, Marie. :)

bookspersonally said...

Hope you've been enjoying the new job! Love Shirley Jackson's short stories but have not read this one yet... imagine it would be the perfect read! Have a great Halloween :D

Harvee said...

So nice to be able to recommend books to buyers! Have a good time at Halloween!

Anonymous said...

Staff picks...

...that reminds me of something I wanted us to try at the library where I work. I love seeing what others are reading...but I only recognize about three or four on that shelf. I guess that's good, because I can be introduced to some new works.

Alexia561 said...

Congratulations on surviving your first week! Recommending books to customers wss always my favorite part of being a bookseller, but we only got a single pick, not an entire shelf. So jealous! :)

Anonymous said...

Happy Halloween!

Kathleen said...

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is such a great story. I'm overdue to reread it. Sounds like you have a dream job now!