Guest Post: The Right Book for the Right Person

Feb 01

Guest Post: The Right Book for the Right Person

By Michael Kindness Uncategorized Add comments

Josh Christie is a bookseller at Sherman’s Books and Stationery in Freeport, Maine. He realized one of his dreams by getting a job at a bookstore in 2004, after his freshman year at the University of Maine. While he now holds a degree in Political Science from UMaine, Josh decided to stick it out in books after his graduation in 2007. Along with evangelizing about the written word at Sherman’s, he works as a trade representative in the ski industry, and dabbles in radio and photography. Josh posts about books, beer, comics, skiing and other assorted geekery in
his blog, which he has not been clever enough to name yet.

Michael recently reflected on the joys (and occasional frustrations) of working in a bookstore. Happily, I currently fill my days behind the counter and among the stacks of an independent bookseller. Michael’s description of the job being pretty close to perfect isn’t a case of rose-colored glasses – it truly is a joy to work in the world of books every day. Among all the many perks (such as meeting publishing folks like Ann and Michael, getting my hands on almost every book that comes through our doors, free coffee from the place downstairs…), one of the best parts of the job is getting feedback on books from customers, and giving recommendations to the folks that come in the store.

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all in the world of books.

As a bookseller, one of the daily challenges of the job is getting the right book into the hands of the customer. While a bookstore is a business, I don’t mean this in a cynical sense; bookstores aren’t in the habit of pushing expensive, unwanted books in the hands of customers to make a sale. Instead, I have the fun job of determining, in moments, the next book that will blow your socks off. Do I go for a current best seller, or something from deep in our backlist that never got the recognition it deserved? Something close to what they’ve recently liked, or a complete 180 from it? A critical favorite, or a favorite of mine? Fiction or nonfiction, poetry or pictures? The options are dizzying, and the rush I (still) get when someone asks “what should I read next?” is one of my favorite parts of any day in the store. Gimme a clue... by malik ml williams

Of course, sometimes the fun is dampened when I know that a book I adored, a book I’d give to my friends and glowingly review on Goodreads, simply isn’t “the book” for some people. For example, two my favorite works of fiction in years are Steve Toltz’s A Fraction of the Whole and Junot Diaz’s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (maybe I just have a thing for authors with names ending in ‘z’). However, the subject matter in these books can be a bit … challenging, to say the least. Language and topics of discussion that had me howling in laughter are just as likely to make some readers drop a book in disgust. Likewise, as much as I adore graphic novels and will try and convince people to read them, some customers simply don’t want pictures and words in the same book. So back we go, digging into our collective memories for something to screams “me, me, read me!”

As much as these moments can be occasionally trying, they offer two enjoyable challenges – finding something else someone will enjoy, or convincing them to try something new I’m sure they’ll love. When you shop in a bookstore, what do you look for in bookseller recommendations? Are you willing to take a chance and try something recommended by someone you’ve just met, or tread closer to the tried-and-true bestsellers (although these do often overlap)? Do you take personal recommendations, or do you go to a shop with something already in mind? If you are looking for some new books ideas, I’ve got a few you might like…

photo credit: malik ml williams
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We encourage you to write down or print out the title information and shop at your local bookstore. Titles link to LibraryThing, a social networking site that allows you to catalog your home library. LibraryThing also links to various online purchasing options. Here are the books from this post:

A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz, Spiegel & Grau trade paperback

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz, Riverhead trade paperback

(all information is for the U.S. editions).

http://1330v.blogspot.com Vasilly

When I go to a bookstore I usually already have in mind what book I want. That book is usually a recommendation from a blogger.

I’m always willing to take a chance on a recommendation by someone I’ve just met as long as they can tell me what they loved about the recommended book.
http://1330v.blogspot.com Vasilly

When I go to a bookstore I usually already have in mind what book I want. That book is usually a recommendation from a blogger.

I’m always willing to take a chance on a recommendation by someone I’ve just met as long as they can tell me what they loved about the recommended book.
http://www.thebookladysblog.com Rebecca @ The Book Lady’s Blog

Josh sums up the bookseller’s mission perfectly! That moment when you know you’ve matched up a customer with the perfect book makes all of the frustrating, annoying, pull-your-hair-out crazy customers worth it. And when they come back in to tell you how much they liked it and ask for another one? It doesn’t get any better.
http://www.thebookladysblog.com Rebecca @ The Book Lady’s Blog

Josh sums up the bookseller’s mission perfectly! That moment when you know you’ve matched up a customer with the perfect book makes all of the frustrating, annoying, pull-your-hair-out crazy customers worth it. And when they come back in to tell you how much they liked it and ask for another one? It doesn’t get any better.
Suzanne

I have to say that I have never received a recommendation from a bookstore employee; not that I’ve ever asked, though, because like Vasilly I usually know what I’m looking for when I go into the store (that’s not to say I don’t browse and end up with more books than the one I came in for!)
I find out about books from websites/podcasts like Books on the Nightstand and from various magazines that I read.
Suzanne

I have to say that I have never received a recommendation from a bookstore employee; not that I’ve ever asked, though, because like Vasilly I usually know what I’m looking for when I go into the store (that’s not to say I don’t browse and end up with more books than the one I came in for!)
I find out about books from websites/podcasts like Books on the Nightstand and from various magazines that I read.
Thomas

I often strike up a conversation with a bookseller when I walk into a store that has few or no other customers. I always love to hear the phrase “I stayed up all night reading this book, I just couldn’t put it down”. or “This is my favorite book by this author.” Once a bookseller even handed me a copy of a book and said “This is the best book in the store at the moment!” LOL
I agree with Guest Bookseller Josh that Fraction of the Whole and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao were two of the better books to come along last year. I also think it is a great addition to Books on the Nightstand to include Guest Booksellers on you blog!
Thanks for all the cool information that you both Share.
Thomas

I often strike up a conversation with a bookseller when I walk into a store that has few or no other customers. I always love to hear the phrase “I stayed up all night reading this book, I just couldn’t put it down”. or “This is my favorite book by this author.” Once a bookseller even handed me a copy of a book and said “This is the best book in the store at the moment!” LOL
I agree with Guest Bookseller Josh that Fraction of the Whole and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao were two of the better books to come along last year. I also think it is a great addition to Books on the Nightstand to include Guest Booksellers on you blog!
Thanks for all the cool information that you both Share.
http://bermudaonion.wordpress.com Kathy

Great post. It sounds like a fun job to me!
http://bermudaonion.wordpress.com Kathy

Great post. It sounds like a fun job to me!
Tanya

I’ve always let my last book recommend the next book: For example, I read “The Handmaiden’s Tale” which had me thinking about “1984″ which in turn led me “Child 44″ and now I have “Double Lives” (non-fiction) on hand… While I have never been at a loss as to what to read next, I have paid attention to the “Employee Recommendations” which are posted in some of the bookstores I go to. BTW, I head to Boothbay every summer and Sherman’s is always the first stop! Maybe I’ll see you there this summer!
Tanya

I’ve always let my last book recommend the next book: For example, I read “The Handmaiden’s Tale” which had me thinking about “1984″ which in turn led me “Child 44″ and now I have “Double Lives” (non-fiction) on hand… While I have never been at a loss as to what to read next, I have paid attention to the “Employee Recommendations” which are posted in some of the bookstores I go to. BTW, I head to Boothbay every summer and Sherman’s is always the first stop! Maybe I’ll see you there this summer!
http://jjchristie.wordpress.com Josh Christie

Thanks to everyone for your kind and encouraging words! I loved getting a chance to write this post, and I hope I’ll have a chance to play in Ann and Michael’s “sandbox” here at BOTNS again soon.

Tanya, I’m glad our Boothbay store is one of your favorites! I occasionally get up there from my store in Freeport throughout the year, hopefully I’ll be able to recommend some books to you there this summer!
http://jjchristie.wordpress.com Josh Christie

Thanks to everyone for your kind and encouraging words! I loved getting a chance to write this post, and I hope I’ll have a chance to play in Ann and Michael’s “sandbox” here at BOTNS again soon.

Tanya, I’m glad our Boothbay store is one of your favorites! I occasionally get up there from my store in Freeport throughout the year, hopefully I’ll be able to recommend some books to you there this summer!