Celebrate You.
Tomorrow is Independent Bookstore Day, and I’m sure you’re in final preparation mode. This means you’re off the hook for a Quick & Dirty Survey, for Whatnot, and for everything else. Instead, spend the time enjoying this celebration of you.
The entire purpose of Books & Whatnot is to–hopefully in some small way–assist independent bookstores through helpful tips and content. I’ve enjoyed these weeks leading up to IBD by reading about your events in your newsletters, answering questions posed on social media (The Count of Monte Cristo… definitely), and seeing publisher excitement. I especially enjoyed reading Craig Popelars’s reminiscence about his local childhood bookstore and the bookstore legacy he’s passing down to his daughter on the Algonquin blog.
Even though you’re excused from the official survey, Craig’s post makes me curious. What was the book that opened your eyes to literature? I was asked that question years ago by Pauls Toutonghi. We were at a bar (of course) after a book event for Red Weather, and he posed the question. I didn’t even hesitate. Even though my mom had always ensured that her daughters (all 5 of us) had something to read, it wasn’t until I read A Separate Peace by John Knowles in school that I started paying attention. I have several copies on my shelf now, but my favorite is the one with the stamp on the inside front cover that reads, “Property of Garden Plain High School.”
Mea culpa.
This question is for all subscribers, booksellers or not. What was the book that opened your eyes to literature?
Just hit reply to answer.
