Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Conversations in a Bookshop
A Conversation in a U.S. Bookshop:
Me: “How can I help you?”
Caller: “This a bookstore?”
Me: “Yes, this is a bookstore.”
Caller: “Oh. I need the 8th Harry Potter book.”
Me: “I’m sorry sir, but there are only 7 Harry Potter books.”
Caller: “But I need the 8th one.”
Me: “There are only 7 books, sir.”
Caller: “Why?”
Me: “Because there are only 7 years at Hogwarts.”
Caller: “What does that mean?”
Me: “Sir, have you read the Harry Potter books?”
Caller: “No, my son reads them and he finished the 7th one and asked me to get the 8th one.”
Me: “Sir, if he read the 7th one, he would know that that was the final book in the series.”
Caller: “But he wants to read it. What can I do?”
Me: “Contact the author?”
Caller: “Do you have his number?”
Me: “Do I have J.K. Rowling’s number?”
Caller: “Yes.”
Me: “No. I… uh… don’t happen to have that on me.”
Caller: “Oh. Can you tell my son that there are only 7?”
Me: “No, I’m sure you’re quite capable of doing that all on your own.”
Caller: “He will be very upset!” *hangs up*
Me: “How can I help you?”
Caller: “This a bookstore?”
Me: “Yes, this is a bookstore.”
Caller: “Oh. I need the 8th Harry Potter book.”
Me: “I’m sorry sir, but there are only 7 Harry Potter books.”
Caller: “But I need the 8th one.”
Me: “There are only 7 books, sir.”
Caller: “Why?”
Me: “Because there are only 7 years at Hogwarts.”
Caller: “What does that mean?”
Me: “Sir, have you read the Harry Potter books?”
Caller: “No, my son reads them and he finished the 7th one and asked me to get the 8th one.”
Me: “Sir, if he read the 7th one, he would know that that was the final book in the series.”
Caller: “But he wants to read it. What can I do?”
Me: “Contact the author?”
Caller: “Do you have his number?”
Me: “Do I have J.K. Rowling’s number?”
Caller: “Yes.”
Me: “No. I… uh… don’t happen to have that on me.”
Caller: “Oh. Can you tell my son that there are only 7?”
Me: “No, I’m sure you’re quite capable of doing that all on your own.”
Caller: “He will be very upset!” *hangs up*
Monday, October 4, 2010
It Takes all Types of Customers!
Working in a Bookshop is always interesting and bookstore owners across the UK are compiling a list of the most stupid and amusing they have heard from shoppers.
Examples so far include the customer who asked if Anne Frank wrote any more books after her diary - and the man who when asked to specify what sort of map he wanted said "mappy maps."
Another of the gems compiled to celebrate Independent Booksellers Week is the lady who asked "Did Charles Dickens write any shorter versions of his books?"
I like the teenager who wanted to return a copy of Douglas Adams'Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy' - because it didn't even contain anything about Italy where she was going Euro-railing.
(Source: http://newslite.tv/2010/06/18/overheard-in-a-bookshop-are-re.html)
Examples so far include the customer who asked if Anne Frank wrote any more books after her diary - and the man who when asked to specify what sort of map he wanted said "mappy maps."
Another of the gems compiled to celebrate Independent Booksellers Week is the lady who asked "Did Charles Dickens write any shorter versions of his books?"
I like the teenager who wanted to return a copy of Douglas Adams'Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy' - because it didn't even contain anything about Italy where she was going Euro-railing.
(Source: http://newslite.tv/2010/06/18/overheard-in-a-bookshop-are-re.html)
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
A Big Day!
Today was a big day with visits from some writers.
This morning, Craig Smith, author of The Wonky Donkey, visited The Children's Bookshop. What a star! He sang his way through story-time and the kids loved him. The day ended with a visit by Georgia Blain, author of Darkwater and many other texts. About 30 people bravely came out into the rainy night to enjoy a great discussion of Georgia's work... And I am looking forward to meeting Jeannie Baker next week!
Who would I like to visit the shop over the next twelve months? Tim Winton, Shaun Tan, Pamela Allen... and we always love a visit from Markus Zusak. We will see!
This morning, Craig Smith, author of The Wonky Donkey, visited The Children's Bookshop. What a star! He sang his way through story-time and the kids loved him. The day ended with a visit by Georgia Blain, author of Darkwater and many other texts. About 30 people bravely came out into the rainy night to enjoy a great discussion of Georgia's work... And I am looking forward to meeting Jeannie Baker next week!
Who would I like to visit the shop over the next twelve months? Tim Winton, Shaun Tan, Pamela Allen... and we always love a visit from Markus Zusak. We will see!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Book Clubs for Adults.
August is our busiest month of the year because of Book week Events and Book Fairs that we host. But after a long day I happily stayed back for our Third Tuesday Book Club Group meeting- and the discussion was great! We now have three book clubs for adults with almost 50 Book club members and we recently celebrated three years of Book Club meetings. Tonight we discussed Truth by Peter Temple and I was fascinated by the varied responses to the book. We agreed that the book utilises some great language- a clipped, raw poetic style with sharp, masculine dialogue. We all had different memories of what happened in the novel and while we agreed that Truth is a challenging read, the book offered something for all. I don't like to re-read books but I am keen to re-read this one.
I am particularly looking forward to discussing Room by Emma Donoghue- the most intriguing book I've read for a long time!
I am particularly looking forward to discussing Room by Emma Donoghue- the most intriguing book I've read for a long time!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Stellar Visitors!
The week becomes worthwhile when you get a chance to meet talented writers such as Isobelle Carmody. Forty or more fans met this afternoon at The Children's Bookshop to listen to Isobelle discuss her new junior fantasy novel The Red Wind, part one in her new series, Kingdom of the Lost. We were charmed by Isobelle as she shared insights, read from her novel and answered a range of questions. Isobelle never patronises the reader and I love to see junior novels such as this using great descriptive language that draws you further into the world of the novel.
The week was also memorable because I read a brilliant new novel, Room, by Emma Donoghue.This is a remarkable novel that has just been long-listed for the Man Booker. I won't say much about this novel except to say that it is narrated by a five year old boywho has lived within a single room for his entire life. This is an absolutely compelling read!
The week was also memorable because I read a brilliant new novel, Room, by Emma Donoghue.This is a remarkable novel that has just been long-listed for the Man Booker. I won't say much about this novel except to say that it is narrated by a five year old boywho has lived within a single room for his entire life. This is an absolutely compelling read!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Book Clubs for Adult Readers
Our original Book Club Members (that's our Book Club for Adults) have now been meeting for three years! We now have two groups, the Second Tuesday Book Club and the Last Tuesday Book Club, both groups meeting in the evenings at 7-30pm.
Last night, the group discussed The Hand that First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell. We have never had such universal praise for a book- members loved it! Our meeting distinctly lacked conflict and argument (which I normallyl love) since all agreed that Maggie O'Farrell is indeed a fine writer. Is she one the greatest contemporary writers as some critics have advocated? Our last meeting focused on Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Many greeted the book with trepidation though all agreed that McCarthy's book is indeed one of the great novels of the past decade.
What books lies ahead? In coming months we are reading Brooklyn by Colm Toibin and Truth by Peter Temple. Great books ahead!
Paul Macdonald
Last night, the group discussed The Hand that First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell. We have never had such universal praise for a book- members loved it! Our meeting distinctly lacked conflict and argument (which I normallyl love) since all agreed that Maggie O'Farrell is indeed a fine writer. Is she one the greatest contemporary writers as some critics have advocated? Our last meeting focused on Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Many greeted the book with trepidation though all agreed that McCarthy's book is indeed one of the great novels of the past decade.
What books lies ahead? In coming months we are reading Brooklyn by Colm Toibin and Truth by Peter Temple. Great books ahead!
Paul Macdonald
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