1960s

This is what our building looked like in a bustling era.

Just a little update.

The "May We Recommend" blog is coming along nicely. I appreciate just how many books our staff reads when I have to scan each recommend card and upload it to the blog. It's pretty cool. And what I love about the cards is the decidedly human element. My cards seem to show the most human aspect... I frequently leave out words or just write them wrong. I swallow my pride and publish them anyway.

Have a look at the ever expanding blog by clicking on this link: May We Recommend

How cool is this!?

Here A Face, There A Face Arlene Alda Tundra Books Hardcover, $14.95 9780887768453

Every page of this book is a treat. Ordinary objects and settings show us that Arlene Alda has a perceptive eye. From windows to trash cans, she can see a face in just about everything. Each page made me ooh and ahh! See if you don't.

Staff & Customer Recommends: Visual Style

We've been working on a project to scan all the staff and customer recommends from Market Block Books*, Little Book House and Book House. It's a slow process and takes a bit of time, but it's coming together. These are the cards we have on the shelves next to the books we suggest you read. Ultimately, each of these handwritten cards will be accompanied by the cover art of the book.

Have a look a Our Recommendation Cards and see what we have to say. See if you can read our handwriting! Ha! And notice how many typos I have when "spell check" is not installed in my pen!

Enjoy! I put a permanent link to it on the right-hand column of this page in the "Book Related" links.

(*You'll notice that the recommendation cards don't display the Market Block Books logo. Fear not, when the cards are reprinted the MBB logo will appear.)

It's Sunday and a new cover has been added to the right hand column for your vote. Remember, this is totally superficial! Go with your first reaction. Don't miss the fun.

If you give an author an audience...

We were thrilled to host Laura Numeroff at Market Block Books this week. The kindergarten classes at Tamarac Elementary School came to enjoy the author reading her new book: The Jellybeans and the Big Dance. Of course we all know Numeroff because of her book If You Give A Mouse a Cookie and many more.

Getting ready for Spring.

I find myself trying to be infinitely more practical when it comes to weather. Since I don't have to travel far to work (I'm in walking distance of the bookstore) I tend not to give winter weather much consideration. It's only snow. Sure, it makes parking in Troy a major headache. (Troy doesn't give much consideration to weather as well.) The only thing I watch for is how much extra time I need to allow to get to work. How hard is that? I'm not saying I do the Happy Winter Dance, but snow still makes me smile when it falls. Our triangular store, with two thirds windows, gives the effect of a being in a snow globe. It can be dramatic and beautiful.

Winter comes and goes. Spring is just around the corner. Barring the freak snowstorm in May, we'll be getting ready for the next day. Soon the crocus will poke its head, daffodils will take my breath away, it'll be time to plant some herbs.

And just like nature, our bookstore is filling with new and exciting books. And with the coming of April is National Poetry Month. There are a bunch of new titles that I will be talking about next month. Mary Oliver has a new book! Eavan Boland has a book of collected works as well as an gorgeous anthology of sonnets she worked on with Edward Hirsch. If you don't know Oliver, Boland, or Hirsch you owe it to yourself to get educated. And don't miss the newest book by Li-Young Lee! I'm eager to take you on a tour in April.

Poetry seems to be one of the poorest selling genres in the publishing world. Even the publishers seem to give it short shrift. And I wonder about this.

I want to know why you don't read more Poetry. Or why you DO!

It seems to me that Poetry is a foreign language to most. But like any form, it takes time, it takes practice. Come to see me. Let me read to you. Better yet, you read a piece to me and anyone who happens to be in the store. Build up your Poetry muscle. In my opinion, Poetry is best read out loud.

More catalogs

Sales reps continue to visit. And in all honesty, if I stacked all the catalogs they would be more than six feet high. Happily, the pile is dwindling. Here's the cover from the University of California Press. It's VERY California, don't you think? Most publisher catalog covers aren't this interesting, but this season has some good ones.

Book Porn
This is the catalog from the current W.W. Norton catalog. I just love this cover. Like all things that are so overtly bookish, I put this cover art into the category of "book porn." Who else but a bookseller (we know librarians would NEVER admit this in public) would have a category of such art?



It's buying season these days. Sales reps come in with countless catalogs to show the Spring and Summer line up. Norton has a new title coming out that will be popular for the City of Troy. At least that's our guess.

The Nightingales of Troy To Be Published JULY 2008 Pre-orders being accepted

I hope you enjoy it. It could be popular for the "battle of the book covers" on the right hand side of this blog. What do you think?

Thanks, Norton!

Troy Night Out & Macaroni and Cheese

Those of you in the area know that the Last Friday of the month is Troy Night Out(TNO). The night when we stay open later, as do all the shops and galleries in downtown. It's a major schmoozefest with lots of strollers, entertainment and nibbles and drinks in different locations. We typically have at least one author signing and frequently have live music.

This month was the ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY for TNO and it was festive despite the snow "storm." (I'm holding my tongue from going on another rant about how the weather folks seem to turn up the hysteria whenever it threatens to snow!)

We had two marvelous authors: Nancy Campbell, a professor at RPI, and Andy Straka, a mystery writer and former resident of Troy. The folks turned out in droves and filled the store with conversation and laughter. TNO starts at 5Pm and typically doesn't get hopping until 6 or so. But this Friday it was already in full swing by 5PM. I love these kinds of nights. We had wine with a cheese platter courtesy of the RPI booksigning. On the nights when there is leftover cheese (there's never wine left over) I make my Mom's Mac & Cheese casserole. The recipe is at the end of this post for those who need a little comfort food.

Discovering Addiction: The Science and Politics of Substance Abuse Research Nancy D. Campbell University of Michigan Press Hardcover, $50.00 9780472116102

Record of Wrongs Andy Straka Five Star Hardcover, $25.95 9781594146527

Nina's Macaroni and Cheese

The secret is chunks of cheese. Cubed if you like, but hearty chunks. Since we have leftover cheese we have a variety of flavors. My Mom was a fan of sharp cheddar. You can use any cheeses you like, but I don't recommend Velveeta™.

Cook your macaroni, drain and put in in the casserole dish, salt and pepper to taste.
Add the cheese cubes and mix.
Next you add milk. (I use fat free)
You pour enough milk UNTIL you begin to see the milk level amongst the macaroni. You're not going to cover the macaroni. When this bakes is bubbles up and mingles with the cheese. Divine!

Top it with more cheese, or bread crumbs. I'm a fan of paprika.
Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes or until golden brown.

I also bake this in a bread loaf pan and when it's done and completely cooled I'll slice the Mac & Cheese into thick slices which I freeze for future consumption. And then I brown it in a skillet to thaw it. YUM!