Redbery Books

 

I am constantly amazed by the insights I gain from the discussions in our book groups. It’s been a great way to find things that I may not have read as well as to be thoughtful and reflective on the things I did read. Those are both concepts that are sometimes at odds with being a bookstore owner, strange as it may seem.  I get asked how I keep up with all the groups. The answer is that I sometimes don’t. When we started our last couple of book clubs I delegated the role of facilitator but I still find myself drawn into the book and the discussion. The exception to that is the Men’s Discussion Group which I’ve managed to let that one stay a men’s group. 

It’s hard to say which group I most enjoy. You have to love them all but the Chapter and Verse Group is dear to my heart, maybe because I’ve been a children’s librarian for years or maybe because I’m still a kid. Probably a little of both.  This is a group for adults who enjoy children’s literature.  Our members come from a variety of backgrounds: an artist and writer, a media specialist, a couple of teachers and other professionals, a grandparent or two. All share the joy of the power of a good children’s book.The Children’s Literature Network in Minneapolis selects the books we read.Three or four other groups meet the same night in different bookstores in the Midwest.  We email ahead of time the topics and questions we might explore, author information and maybe even an idea for a treat to go along with the book. In the days following, we share the discussion highpoints and get feedback from the other groups. It’s always interesting to see the similarities or disparities in how the evening unfolded. Our book club page will be giving brief annotations of the books. We’d love to see you at the next Chapter and Verse, always on the third Thursday, in our area or one of the participating chapters elsewhere. For more information or to start your own chapter go to http://www.childrensliteraturenetwork.com/bookclub/bkclubcurr.html.

Redbery is in season. Have you seen all of the red and white in the stores? We have a few red and white displays of our own. Some of our titles for Valentine’s Day are the expected and marketed specifically for Feb. 14^th.

I think it is fun to think outside of the usual and put together something especially for the special people in your life. We have a couple of gorgeous coffee table cookbooks. Tie a coupon for a romantic make-at-home dinner and you’d have a winner. Fill in the blank of what follows “for the Love of” and create a gift basket. We can put together a package for the lover of writing with a designer, quality pen, a journal, and few books on writing. Or how about for the love of the outdoors, gardening, chocolate, mystery? The possibilities are endless. 

My favorite romantic book from my reading list this year is Julia Child’s My Life in France.  You might have thought this book was about cooking and you would be partially right. It’s also about Julia’s marriage as well as her love affair with Paris, food, and living life.  Long before, Valentine’s Day became the commercial success it is today, Julia and Paul had a tradition of creating a unique valentine card for friends and family including one that pictured them in a bubbly bath with hearts floating in the air. While nothing as exciting as that, Bill and I are trying out the valentine tradition this year but for us it was a practicality too. We just can’t seem to get the hang of being in retail at Christmas and still balance all the traditions of that season. So we turned our Christmas card list into a Valentine List this year. You may have guessed that the card features our new granddaughter.

Stop by Redbery Books for your inspiration for a heartfelt gift. 

 

 

My niece invited me to join her family for dinner tonight at a Mexican restaurant in her neighborhood. It just so happens that it is in the neighborhood where I started my teaching career many years ago. This particular restaurant was in existence at that time and a watering hole for staff on occasion and an occasional lunch spot for the few times a year that lunch wasn’t a grab-and-go in the faculty room. I haven’t been there for years and was surprised it was still in existence.

Still, it poked the memory and prompted a connection to the book I’m currently reading, The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa. Ever since a traumatic brain injury, the professor has only eighty minutes of short-term memory.  He is defined by his past and then by eighty minute segments. That would mean by bedtime tonight I could remember my time at the restaurant from the ‘70s but not know my great-nephew from 81 minutes earlier. Would I be more mindful of living in the moment today just as I probably did when I was forty years younger? 

The Professor is a mathematical genius and a baseball fan and that becomes an avenue for connections with the Housekeeper. Both characters are referred to only by their roles, no other names identify them. When she first meets the man with notes pinned all over his jacket, the Housekeeper expects initially to be one of many in the line of housekeepers who didn’t work out. As they are drawn into each other’s lives, family is defined in a new way.A heartwarming and elegant story. The mention that math, numbers, formulas, and equations are interspersed throughout the story might put off some readers and that would be a loss. I personally am not one who spends much time thinking about numbers except when I run the z tape at the register each day. I’m loving this book.  I’d also love to see the original before translation. I’m guessing the strings of numbers would be elegant.

 So tonight, Henry the one-year old will be the prime number.  

 

 

 

 

 

I was asked recently if the bookstore is fulfilling in the ways I expected when we started Redbery Books nearly five years ago. It was a heady question and caused me to pause before answering, not because it hasn’t been fulfilling. That’s an easy one. Yes, it has. Instead, it took me back to all the reasons Redbery Books was launched.  Looking for a new challenge, a creative outlet, and an opportunity to grow were items on that long list. So how am I doing? Check here for a regular update on how that’s working out for me.

The challenge of pricing with the big guys has always been a challenge. We know we can’t compete on price but we feel the shopping local experience has a lot of value added. That's a topic for another day. And to those who wonder if Redbery Books is shopping at the big guys and reselling locally. There are several reasons not to get into that game but being able to look my customers in the eye is a big one. 

grandreads is an individualized, subscription gift service from Redbery Books for children important in your life.  On-line enrollment and renewal forms are now available.  Select the grandreads tab in the top menu bar.  Or, if you prefer, call Redbery at 715-798-5014 and talk to Bev.

Now available at Redbery Books: more than 220,000 e-books in several formats, including Adobe, Palm, and Microsoft. You may purchase e-books directly from redberybooks.com and download those e-books to your computer and/or handheld device.  Use the search box to return physical books and then click on the e-book tab to view e-book versions. You may also search for e-books directly using the e-book search block.  Supported devices include Adobe Digital Editions Readers, Microsoft Readers, and Palm eReaders, including the iPhone.

After much work, the long-awaited new Redbery Books web site is now live.  Hopefully, the new web site will provide you with greater functionality and more and easier access to information.  This new site contains an active eStore where you can order from Redbery Books 24/7 with your choice of free media mail shipping or free in store pick up, easier access to events, greater information about our book clubs and the ability to check our in store inventory updated every store day.  So poke around, check us out and let us know what you think.

Bill