It's National Library Week!

When people ask me whether opening a book store was a dream come true, my more practical side of me responds: No. But, when I stop to think about my path to the book store business does seem like I've been dreaming (albeit with my eyes open) for some time. Truth be told I've always been a voracious reader. You know the kid, reading well by age 3. (Most notably the sign on the bus between home and Shirley Chisolm Day Care: "Won't you please give this seat to the elderly or handicapped?") Every cereal box or book you put in front of me. My first novel? Land of the Polish People (my 1st grade teacher had run out of options). And my first job? Working at the Brooklyn Public Library. I was in heaven!! Getting my first paycheck following a week of sitting in the stacks reading. (After working like the devil to complete my assignments, of course.) Unreal. So, thousands of books and two bookstores later, I am thrilled that my local library is reopening this spring with a full restoration and cultural center to boot. I love libraries for their ability to put the world at the fingertips of all who enter. But, all libraries are not equal. The Macon Branch Library in Bedford-Stuyvesant had one of the most meager collections around. We're changing that and you can help. During Library Week (April 11th-18th) 10% of all purchases made at Brownstone Books will be donated to the Buy-A-Book for Macon Campaign. I encourage all book lovers to share the love with generations of readers. Shop Brownstone Books this week and keep the flame of reading alive.

The Inheritance of Loss

Book club member Brooke is in India this week and had this to say about our current selection and her current state of near nirvana:

Sorry I won't be there for that discussion. I just finished reading Inheritance of Loss on a long train trip coming up to Delhi from the south. I think she is an incredible writer to be on 28 years old. She lives on South Portland in Fort Greene. Her mother is Anita Desai who has also been shortlisted for the Booker prize several times including when she and her daughter competed for the same award.
Meanwhile, the weather here is getting to be spring and I'm staying at the ashram which is in the middle of mango plantation about 150 yards from the Indian Ocean. With no TV, radio only in Hindi, I'm in bed by 9:00 PM reading myself to sleep.

Has Spring Arrived?

This month Brownstone Books has scheduled several events and we want you to be there ! It is officially springtime so no more excuses about the weather. Next Friday, April 11th 2008, Chris Slaughter will hosts our monthly open-mic event, RealPoetry at 7:30pm. A mixed crowd of young and younger make space for the likes of Ainsley Burrows, Len Xiang, and many more. If you are a "spitter" of words & poetry, then please make an appearance. We look forward to seeing you there.

In addition to our RealPoetry events, we are hosting two special authors to read from their latest books. First, we have Lori Tharps, co-author of Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America. Her new work, Kinky Gazpacho: Life, Love & Spain celebrates the mysticism of travel and the joys of watching two distinct cultures connect and come together. It is a memoir, a travel essay and a love story. She will be appearing at Brownstone on Lewis Avenue, Friday, April 18th at 7pm.

On Thursday, April 24th, Marcus Reeves, author and journalist, will read from his debut novel, Somebody Scream! Marcus tells the story of hip hop’s rise from New York-based musical form to commercial music revolution to unifying expression for a post-black power generation. You don't want to miss this event so mark you calendar!

Of course, we carry both of these books at either location, so pick up your copy and get a head start on reading. Lori and Marcus will be in-store soon ! Have a lovely week and please share your reading and listening experiences with us.

The Coldest Book Club Meeting Ever

Last night was tough. One of our members chose his own work for our selection and critique. This meeting was different from anything we've experienced in our 7+ years together. After a round of mostly polite recognition of the author's efforts things barreled down hill. Long story short the reviews were bad. Really bad. The author left 20 minutes into the meeting. (It would have been really tough for anyone to stand up to such ego-crushing critique.) I give lots of credit to our members' commitment to open and honest discourse despite our personal relationships with one another. They/we exersized great respect for our jobs as readers. Not easy but there's no other way...

Book Club (Ours and Oprah's)

Before opening Brownstone Books I participated in a couple of now defunct book clubs. They all started with gusto. Seasoned readers, a couple of writers, great food and a rotating lounge from one member's house to the next. All would go well (typically for the first year or so) before life would intervene. New children, new relationships, renovation. Each valid occassions with a way to throwing off even the most diligent of readers. So when I started the book club at Brownstone Books I thought hard about how to build something that would last. I decided to make the entry, participation and exit all painless. I thought we've got a built in space and daily crop from which to draw potential members. Add snacks and water and everythign should be a go. Easy peasy as my daughter would say. Seven years and about 80 books later we still have a few original members, a 30% male membership, and meetings that are ALWAYS well attended. And the discussions are simply phenomenal. I think it works because our members don't have to do anything extra. Here are our rules:
1. Each month a predetermined members chooses our selection;
2. Said member facilitates the discussion;
3. We discuss, not debate.
4. We maintain a respectful discourse (mostly); and
5. We'll read anything the club has not already discussed collectively.

That last rule is where the potential problem lies. This month one of our members has chosen a novel he has written. No rule against that. But should there be? Will the other members be able to talk openly and honestly about the work? Will the writer feel attacked and detach from the group? Already the votes are coming in and Oct. 17th promises to be a long night.

On to someone else's club:
Oprah's picks are getting better and better. Love in the Time of Cholera is one of my favorite books of all time. In fact I keep a copy nearby just because. When the announcement was made I literally found my well-worn edition in arms reach. This is one of the best love stories ever written. I encourage each of you to stop into Brownstone Books to pick up a copy. When you're done we can chat about what I think makes "Love" to special.

Today Oprah also recommended Eat, Pray, Love. Yet another book with magic between the pages. Great for the 30-40 something year-old doing the inevitable soulsearch as life shows its cracks.

Final Note: He did it!

What a Wonderful Weekend to be a Book Seller

More often than not being a book seller is a very gratifying lifestyle. I enjoy helping readers develop their opinions, children hone their skills and writers, their voice. There are times, however, when selling books (especially in a non-corporate environment where customers must spend hundreds of dollars before realizing the savings that go along with membership) feels like a lost art. But not when book lovers are around. This weekend the store was full not just with book lovers but with lovers of Brownstone Books. So many of my best customers came by to shop and support our annual Spelling Bee.

Customers acted as announcers, judges, and coordinators. One of my 'regulars' even sponsored our grand prize. The competition was at times thrilling and often endearing. In the end Darius, Nzinga and Stephanie were victorious. Congratulations!

And, then on Sunday Brooklyn played host to writers from the borough and around the country at the 2nd Annual Brooklyn Book Fair. Brownstone Books was there in full greeting and selling the works of some of the authors you've made best-sellers. I'll just name a few: Edwidge Dandicat, Johnathan Lethem, Stephen Carter, Chris Abani, Walter Mosley, Mo Willems, Dave Eggers, Colson Whitehead, and most importantly, Brooklyn Readers. 20,000 of you, maybe?

I'm on a high not even O.J. Simpson can reach.
-Crystal

P.S. I will weigh in on "If I Did It." Just not today.

Life's a Bitch...

Last Saturday I picked up "Life on the Refrigerator Door" and instantly my weekend plans were ruined. I spent the rest of my free time engrossed in Kuipers' book, which is a cleverly crafted dialog between a mother and her daughter over the course of a year. The conversations happen through short notes to one another left on the eponymous fridge. Through these letters I saw cooperation and avoidance; love and anger; growth and retraction; and the coming together and falling apart of life. Brilliant. I found myself thinking about the relationship I had with my mother as a teenager and of course the one I'll have with my daughter in 7 short years. I was completely engrossed and remain entrigued by how little 'big' things seem in retropect. (4 stars, Alice!)