When is a bookstore not a bookstore?

This is just a mild rambling but one that always catches me by surprise. Since we opened our doors almost five years ago we have had a number of people refer to our shop as the library. Now, I can understand it when a small child comes into the store and is confused, but not adults. I'm a bit disappointed when a ten year old thinks we're a library, but not totally surprised. But it's the adults who come in ask refer to us as the library.

What do you think is going on? Careless use of language? Lack of exposure to a real library? Just not paying attention? We had a representative from an organization come in to pick up a gift certificate (hint, spending money) when her cell phone rang and she said, "I can't talk, I'm at the library."

We had a few customers come in and ask if we loaned books out. And I pointed out that they were looking for the library down the street. Or how about the customers who came in and asked if they could return books their books in exchange for others. I stood with my mouth open, trying not to laugh. "Uh, no, but have you been to the library?"

You tell me, what's going on here. I've never seen this before in any bookstore except this one.

And tell me we don't NEED public libraries.
-Stanley wonders

William S. and the Great Escape by Zilpha Keatly Snyder

The last time I read a Zilpha Keatly Snyder book was 1966! So, I was more than excited to be reading this one. I'm halfway through it and confess to being a bit underwhelmed. But I'll give you the full report when I'm done.
--Stanley

Back in the saddle

Without duplicating my posting on the staff blog, I just wanted to say that I've been away for a week and had created a series of posts to show up in my absence. But now that I'm back it seems that it's harder to sit down and get something posted here. But I'm settling back in after a week of silence and no computers (or phones!) and I'll be putting things up here quite soon.

You might want to know there are a few events coming up next week:

September 24, 4:30 PM Sarah Evans will be signing her book The Sour LIttle Lemon Tree. This is the book that might be of interest to some of you. Sarah is a young girl who wrote this children's book:

"In an ancient orchard, one little lemon tree has been waiting forever for his lemons to grow. When they finally do, he discovers how different he is from the other trees. A memorable tale for children of all ages, The Sour LIttle Lemon Tree illustrates the important life lesson that everyone is unique and capable of doing great things."


September 25, 5:00 PM Mark Changizi (RPI professor) will be signing his book The Vision Revolution.

September 25, 6:00 PM Douglas Blackmon will be at The Daily Grind in Troy to talk and sign his book Slavery By Another Name.

September 25, 7:00 PM Ellen Graf will be signing her new book The Natural Laws of Good Luck.

September 25 is the kick off for artist Ken Ragsdale, who is our featured artist in the Walk-Up Gallery

September 26, 12:00 PM Brittany Johnson will be signing her book Color 4 Kids.

I'll post more details in the ensuing days but you can see the information on our WEB PAGE right now.

The Compound by S. A. Bodeen

The Compound by S. A. Bodeen
2009-09 - Paperback
Square Fish
9780312578602
$8.99

"Eli and his family have lived in the underground Compound for six years. The world they knew is gone, and they've become accustomed to their new life. Accustomed, but not happy. No amount of luxury can stifle the dull routine of living in the same place, with only his two sisters, only his father and mother, doing the same thing day after day after day. As problems with their carefully planned existence threaten to destroy their sanctuary--and their sanity--Eli can't help but wonder if he'd rather take his chances outside. Eli's father built the Compound to keep them safe. But are they safe--really?"

There seems to be a wave of post-apocalyptic fiction heading our way. This being one of the first. Did you read Cormac McCarthy's <>uThe Road? Nothing will top that piece of writing. It's spare, bleak, powerfully written. But here in the area of teen books is another offering to make us ponder about where our lives might be taken us. Or is it the lives we're living right now? You get to decide that one. I'm sending this to you from the past. I will have been in the Adirondacks for a week long retreat, not hiding in some bunker. See you on Tuesday. If the world is still here when I get back.

City of Fire by Laurence Yep

City of Fire by Laurence Yep
2009-09 - Hardcover
Starscape Books
9780765319241
$15.99

Sure to appeal to fans of Rick Riordan and Eoin Colfer, this action-packed tale takes readers on an unforgettable journey through an alternate version of our world in 1941--a world filled with magical beings such as dragons in human form, tiny "lap griffins," reincarnations of legendary Chinese warriors, Japanese folk creatures, and goddesses in disguise.

Episodes: My Life as I See It by Blaze Ginsberg

Episodes: My Life as I See It by Blaze Ginsberg
2009-09 - Hardcover
Roaring Brook Press
9781596434615
$16.99

Episodes is a memoir like no other. Debut writer, Blaze Ginsberg, offers a unique perspective on his life as a highly-functioning autistic 21 year old. Inspired by the format of the Internet Movie Database, Blaze organizes his life events as a collection of episodes. Some episodes are still running, some are in syndication, and some have sadly come to an end. With an innovative style and approach that is all its own, Episodes reinvents the traditional memoir; and it will inspire young readers to see the world as they've never seen it before. Here's another book written for a younger audience but I suspect many adults could be drawn to this memoir.

Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani

Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani
2009-09 - Hardcover
Harper Teen
9780061451027
$16.99

From the publisher's page:

"I'm marooned.

Abandoned.

Left to rot in boarding school . . .

Viola doesn't want to go to boarding school, but somehow she ends up at an all-girls school in South Bend, Indiana, far, far away from her home in Brooklyn, New York. Now Viola is stuck for a whole year in the sherbet-colored sweater capital of the world.

Ick.

There's no way Viola's going to survive the year—especially since she has to replace her best friend Andrew with three new roommates who, disturbingly, actually seem to like it there. She resorts to viewing the world (and hiding) behind the lens of her video camera.

Boarding school, though, and her roommates and even the Midwest are nothing like she thought they would be, and soon Viola realizes she may be in for the most incredible year of her life.

But first she has to put the camera down and let the world in."


Adriana Trigiani has been successful in writing books for adults. This is her first young adult novel and she just might have found a new audience. To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if her adult fans pic this one up. It has a clever premise and the ubiquitous video camera will give readers a sense of what we already experience: life a documentary/entertainment! Grim realities that shape this story as well as our lives. What do you think? Sound interesting?

The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children by Keith McGowan

The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children by Keith McGowan
2009-09 - Hardcover
Henry Holt & Company
9780805086683
$15.99

This is a clever retelling of the Hansel and Gretel story. But this one comes with a bit of a mystery to solve. Of course, we already know the mystery but children will enjoy the creepy story that leads up to that inevitable ending. Or is it inevitable? Hmmmm! Don't you love how the cover looks a little like a Betty Crocker© cookbook? This is geared toward the 8 to 12 year old age but you're sure to enjoy it right along with them! Dig in!

Trouble Gum by Matthew Cordell

Trouble Gum by Matthew Cordell2009-09 - Hardcover
Feiwel & Friends
9780312387747
$16.99

You already know that gum can cause lots of problems. It can get stuck in your hair (moustache, if you have one!). It gets stuck to the bottom of your shoe and then you walk in the house and it's now stuck to the carpet. And you've been warned about all the trouble it can cause. And yet... you just can't seem to resist its hypnotic allure. That's the story of these two piglets who are given the rules to enjoying gum, but they just get caught up in the moment. This book has good illustrations, simple and clear. And it even has a good story line/message.

Binky the Space Cat by Ashley Spires

Binky the Space Cat
By Ashley Spires
2009-08 - Paperback
Kids Can Press
9781554534197
$7.95

If you've ever had a house cat this scenario may seem plausible to you. That is to say, assuming you had a cat that stares out the window and an active imagination. This is a very funny book that adults will enjoy as much as the kids.

Publisher comment: "Binky is a space cat - at least in his own mind. He's really a house cat who has never left the family "space station." Unlike other house cats, Binky has a mission: to blast off into outer space (outside), explore unknown places (the backyard) and battle aliens (bugs). Binky must undergo rigorous training so he can repel the alien attacks that threaten his humans. As he builds his spaceship, he must be extremely careful with his blueprints - the enemy is always watching. Soon Binky is ready to voyage into outer space. His humans go out there every day and he's sure they need a certified space cat to protect them. But just as he's about to blast off with his co-pilot, Ted (stuffed mousie), Binky realizes that he's left something very important behind ... and it's not the zero-gravity kitty litter. In the first book in the Binky Adventure series, graphic-novel readers will delight in watching where this lovable and quirky cat's imagination takes him."

Kids Can Press has been impressing me a lot lately. And here's one more example of a clever kids book.

Old Possum is back

Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
By T. S. Eliot, Illustrator Axel Scheffler
2009-10 - Hardcover
Harcourt Children's Books
9780547248271
$16.00

Everything old is new again! And it's long past time for a new edition of T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. This is a delight to read again. Cat lovers pay heed! And it's time to introduce this to your kids. I love this edition. The illustrations feel like they were meant for this text. Have a look and see!