In addition to the books that were given to me [...]]]> I’ve been spending some time these past few days sorting and shelving the books I brought back from BookExpo America.  I picked up several Fall titles that editors and publicists are excited about, and advance reader copies of others that were being promoted at the show.

In addition to the books that were given to me for review consideration, I purchased a few books when I was away.  I also bought a few books locally (or near-locally, anyway!).  Let me share some of the books I’ve bought from indie bookstores over the past few weeks:

Beth Fish and I visited McNally Jackson – I’ll give a full report of that visit in an upcoming Spotlight on Bookstores post.  What I can tell you now is the power of their bookseller recommendations.  Several spots in the store highlighted bookseller picks, with short testimonials accompanying the book displays.  The cover of Joe Brainard’s I Remember caught my eye, then I read this recommendation card which was written in the style of the book – sold!

Next we visited Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks in the West Village.  Bonnie’s store sells pre-loved cookbooks, vintage linens, and other food-related memorabilia.  I went in looking for a cookbook that might have my Gram’s hermit recipe, and came out with this blast-from-the-past: Betty Crocker’s New Boys and Girls Cook Book – ; it’s twin lived in our kitchen when I was a kid.

A few nights later I found myself on the Metro with Beth Fish and Softdrink (and, yes, we started off headed in the wrong direction, but quickly righted ourselves!).  I noticed a woman reading a book that was unfamiliar to me – it had a simple graphic on the cover, and looked to be an illustrated novel.  The reader was smiling and laughing softly to herself – just what I wanted, a pick-me-up book.  In the spirit of investigation, Softdrink executed a near-perfect back-bend to twist and read the cover; we looked for it when we arrived at the Strand, but they didn’t have it in stock.  Instead, on the recommendation of Beth Fish, both Softdrink and I picked up Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel Embroideries.  Maybe we’ll do a readalong later this summer.

Back in Boston, I saw that River Run Bookstore (about an hour’s drive north of me) was hosting Karl Marlantes reading from Matterhorn.  Oh, how I wanted to attend this event!  I scrambled (unsuccessfully, it turns out), trying to find childcare to cover the few hours on Friday afternoon.  Now, when I attend a reading I like to support the bookstore by purchasing the book there.  I already have the book from Powell’s Indiespensables program, so I got in touch with @readAndBreathe, the events coordinator at the store – could she order that mystery book that we spotted on the Metro the week before?  She could, and she did!  Although I was unable to attend the reading, I am now the proud owner of of Ricky Gervais’ The World of Karl Pilkington.  I thought the cover had a sketch of a vase of flowers, but Softdrink had a better view … I hope this was the book our mystery Metro rider was enjoying!

One more book for this week … I plan to go to our local bookshop on Sunday afternoon to hear Stona Fitch read from his novel Give + Take and to talk about the Concord Free Press.  Since, per the CFP philosophy of ‘paying it forward,’ I shared my Concord Free Press edition of Give + Take, I plan to purchase a new edition which was recently re-issued by Thomas Dunne.

This was a good reality check for me – yup, I’m a reader, a book lover, and, apparently, a book collector.  Books I read come from all over the place, not just review copies from publishers.  I’m an eclectic reader, and I’m not afraid to take a chance with a recommendation (although there is one HOT upcoming title that I’ve passed along to a friend because the genre, in general, doesn’t appeal to me.  Any guesses?  Will I read it eventually?)

I know not everyone has access to a local independent bookstore — if you did, how would you spend your time there?  Browsing a particular section?  Looking at a recommendation display?  Talking to the booksellers?

Stacy, please contact me with your mailing address, and I’ll get the book in the mail to you.  After you read it, please log it at the GivingTracker at Concord Free Press (you can do this anonymously), then share the book (for free) with another reader … the cycle of [...]]]> Stacy from Stacy’s Books - Congratulations!

Stacy, please contact me with your mailing address, and I’ll get the book in the mail to you.  After you read it, please log it at the GivingTracker at Concord Free Press (you can do this anonymously), then share the book (for free) with another reader … the cycle of giving will continue.

Anyone can follow the news at Concord Free Press on their blog; be on the lookout for information about their next FREE book, IOU – New Writing on Money.

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Last night I attended an event at the Concord Bookshop, one of a number of independent bookstores that [...]]]> The online jungle is slashing prices, and the big box stores are following suit by undercutting each other by a penny.  What’s an indie bookstore to do?  Well, how about giving away books?  For free?  Yes, for free!

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Last night I attended an event at the Concord Bookshop, one of a number of independent bookstores that are distributing the latest book from Concord Free Press.  The publisher calls their model “a revolutionary experiment in generosity-based publishing.”  Each book in the run of 2,500 will be given away free via the select independent bookstores and online at Concord Free Press.

Readers are asked to make a freewill offering to a charity of their choice, or directly to a person in need.  Then, pass the book along to a friend (many have been shared via BookCrossing), and the cycle begins again.

The books are numbered; I’ll log my name and location and will be able to track where “my” book has traveled, and what type of donations it has inspired.  Pretty cool, right?

So, you’re probably wondering what book I got … can it be any good, a book that a publisher is willing to give away for free?  Is the author able to string words into sentences?  Will it be worth my time to read it? Yes, yes, and yes!  The first two books published by Concord Free Press “sold out” their limited edition printings, but are still inspiring charitable donations to be logged on the website.  These are Give and Take by Stona Fitch and Push Comes to Shove by Wesley Brown.

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The third book published by Concord Free Press is The Next Queen of Heaven by Gregory Maguire.  Can you guess what he signed for, what his contracted rate was? That’s right – zip, zilch, nada, nothing, goose eggs!  The author receives no monetary compensation for the time and effort he put into writing this novel.  I imagine the satisfaction of being part of this process is, as they say on the MasterCard commercials, priceless.

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The event began with Stona Fitch, founder and editor-in-chief, handing out books to the audience.  This is one of those just-missed-it pictures, taken after he tossed a handful to the back rows.  Fitch then introduced a gospel trio from a church in Roxbury.  He dubbed them “the Maguire Choir” for the evening; they sang for about 20 minutes, setting the stage for Maguire’s reading from The Next Queen of Heaven (follow link to synopsis and interview).

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Maguire read a 15-minute section from the perspectives of two of the main characters, then Andy Newman read a 5-minute piece from a third character.  The shift in readers and character voices really whet my appetite for more; I’m looking forward to reading the novel and finding out more about Leontina Scales and her pre-Y2K life in upstate New York.  I’ve agreed to pass the book along after reading it, so you know there will be a giveaway coming up!

After a short Q&A, the event broke for mingling, autographing, and cake and other treats.  A gorgeous art print commemorating the first anniversary of Concord Free Press and t-shirts with their logo were available for sale.  Shhh, don’t tell J, he’ll find one of these under the Christmas tree this year.  Is that Paul Revere reading a book on horseback?

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Shirts (two designs) can be ordered on the web site.  If you act fast, you might be able to get a book; if not, keep an eye here for my giveaway.  Concord Free Press graciously accepts support in the form of a tax-deductible contribution.