Shelf Awareness for Friday, June 21, 2024 (2024)

Gary Lovely

Gary Lovely, veteran bookseller and board member of the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association, is becoming co-owner and managing partner of Two Dollar Radio Headquarters (HQ), the bookstore/bar/café in Columbus, Ohio, effective September 1.

Lovely is currently store manager of Prologue Bookshop, Columbus. He earlier worked at Write Bloody Publishing, CoffeeTree Books, the Acorn Bookshop, and the Book Loft of German Village. He is the founder and publisher of Harpoon Books, an independent publishing company, and has judged the Cercador Prize for Literature in Translation and the James Thurber Prize for American Humor. He is a judge for this year's National Book Award for Translated Literature.

Eric Obenauf, co-founder and editorial director of Two Dollar Radio, said, "Gary's become a great friend, sage advisor, and trustworthy book recommender since I first met him seven years ago. When we opened HQ, we set out to stock books you may not find at an average shop, prizing an experience of discovery above a broad selection. Over the years, it's become apparent that Gary shares our spirit of community-building through literature, and is keenly aware of the most exciting and eclectic books hitting the streets today. We couldn't be more thrilled or fortunate to have him on board, to bring his insight to further the diverse selection of well-rounded literature that we carry, and to continue to seek out partnerships that align with our values and mission."

Lovely said, "Two Dollar Radio has been an important touchstone in my life since I moved to Columbus, both as an unrivaled literary asylum for authors all across the country as well as a gathering place for the Columbus book scene. From the hyper-curated selection of books, to the Cheers-like atmosphere of the bar and cafe, Eric, Eliza, and Brett have built a shining example of what it means to be a community bookstore and I'm over the moon to help expand on the good work they're already doing. It means an incredible amount to me to be trusted with such a legendary institution, and I'm honored to contribute what I can to expand on their mission."

HQ stocks about 1,000 titles with a focus on independently published literature. Lovely plans to expand the stock to 3,000 titles, increase sidelines, and collaborate more with other independent presses to highlight literature in translation. He also wants to expand the already busy events schedule with off-site events, partnerships with other Columbus organizations, as well as an increase in store hours.

Phoenix Books' new location in Burlington

Phoenix Books, Burlington, Vt., founded in 2012 on a community-supported model, is moving to 89 Church Street, in the historic Howard Opera House, at the end of August. Co-owners Renée Reiner and Michael DeSanto have secured what they describe as "a spectacular new location in the heart of the Church Street Marketplace."Phoenix Books is still operating at the Bank Street location during the renovations.

The redesigned and reimagined new storefront will house the bookstore and, to honor the building's history, an event space to host readings, concerts, and theatrical performances. The company's in-house publishing operation, Onion River Press, will be located on-site and will also use the performance space for seminars, classes, and readings.

Founded in 2007, Phoenix Books is a Vermont-owned independent bookstore with locations in Essex, Burlington, and Rutland.

Bryan Loar is the new owner of Cover to Cover Children's Books in Columbus, Ohio.

Loar has been the bookstore's general manager since joining the team in 2019 and is now taking over from previous owner Melia Wolf. Prior to joining Cover to Cover, Loar had extensive experience as both a librarian and a bookseller.

On the bookselling side, he was a manager at a number of Barnes & Noble subsidiaries and was head of the children's department at the Borders Books & Music in Kauai, Hawaii. As a librarian, he worked for a global design firm as well as an executive search firm. He also co-founded the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Cbus Libraries.

"I'm excited to continue Cover to Cover's extraordinary legacy of serving children, the community, and educators," said Loar. "We look forward to growing our regional and national reach with events like the Columbus Book Festival, Ohioana Book Festival, and more."

"I'm honored to have been a part of the legacy of this amazing bookstore that has connected so many young readers to the joy of reading," said Wolf. "I am so happy that Cover to Cover will go forward and thrive with Bryan. There's no one more qualified, knowledgeable, and passionate to assure Cover to Cover's continued success."

Sally Oddi, who founded Cover to Cover 44 years ago, added: "Columbus has incredible library systems that foster younger readers, school systems that value children's literature, and parents and families who see family read-alouds as an integral part of their lives. I am thrilled to hear that Bryan will continue to have Cover to Cover connecting them all together."

Books-A-Million will host a grand-opening celebration and ribbon-cutting tomorrow, June 22, at its new Bangor, Maine, store, which has moved to 490 Stillwater Ave. in the Stillwater Plaza from its original location at 116 Bangor Mall Blvd.

The store will feature reading areas, a dedicated children's section, and a selection of Pen to Paper gifts, stationery, and literary-themed merchandise; as well as special events, author signings, and book clubs.

"This new Books-A-Million location is an exciting addition to the Bangor community," said Olivia McDaniel, vice-president of marketing at Books-A-Million. "The space will not only offer a wide range of books but also serve as a community hub where neighbors can connect, explore, and enjoy themselves."

BAM operates 250 stores nationwide.

Dolly Makoff, the founder of Dolly's Bookstore in Park City, Utah, died June 12 at the age of 93, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Makoff founded the bookstore in 1973. According to longtime bookstore employee Liza Simpson, the store initially sold both books and women's clothes "because you couldn't make enough money on one or the other to stay in business."

Dolly's Bookstore changed location several times, eventually finding its "forever home at 510 Main St," KPCW noted. In 1984, Makoff sold the store to Norm and Claire Weiss, a couple living in Los Angeles. They relocated to Park City and became good friends with Makoff.

Teri Orr, columnist and former editor of the Park Record, met Makoff after moving to the area in 1979. She remembered: "She took me right in and I said I was trying to be a writer and she said, 'you're already a writer. You don't try to be a writer. You're a writer.' And it was so lovely, her confidence. She was someone who enjoyed all kinds of books, which you would think would be obvious with a bookstore but it's not always. She was a reader of everything."

Shelf Awareness for Readers, our weekly consumer-facing publication featuring book reviews, author interviews, backlist recommendations, and fun news items, is being published today. Starred review highlights include Miss May Does Not Exist by Carrie Courogen, "a long-overdue biography" of "comic genius" Elaine May; the novel Jackie by Dawn Tripp, which offers "cinematic scenes and thoughtful interior reflections" about the life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis; and Editor: How Publishing Legend Judith Jones Shaped Culture in America by Sara B. Franklin, which should delight "anyone enamored of publishing's golden age." In The Writer's Life, memoirist and novelist Matt Young considers fractured narrative structures, time as a flat circle, the reverberations of trauma, and the gentle side of being a man after serving in the Marine Corps. Plus, rediscover the work of the late Scottish author John Burnside, who was "one of only four people to have won both of the U.K.'s most prestigious poetry prizes for the same book."

Today's issue of Shelf Awareness for Readers is going to more than 690,000 customers of 251 independent bookstores. Stores interested in learning more can contact our partnership program team via e-mail. To see today's issue, click here.

Author Robin Sloan (Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore)and Spencer Ruchti of Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, Wash., jump a little closer to the moon at Sloan's launch event for Moonbound (MCD/FSG), a science-fiction/fantasy novel set 11,000 years in the future and narrated by an AI slime mold.

"What a fun time at our first #blinddatewithabookclub last night," Belmont Bookshop, Belmont, N.C., posted on Instagram. "Don't miss this unique book club experience in July. We have some fantastic titles picked! Book Reveal and pickup on 6/28!"

Here's how Blind Date with a Book Club works: "Each month, our team carefully selects 3 to 6 books from a diverse range of genres and themes, which include both fiction and non-fiction. Here's the catch.... only we know what the titles are!

"Here's how to participate: Purchase a ticket, numbered 1-6 based on the clues we have provided. Plan to attend our monthly pick-up and book reveal, where we'll reveal the titles and match you with your mystery book. Don't worry if you can't make the pickup party! We will hold the book for you until you can get it--but we can't promise there won't be spoilers!

"After the reveal, you'll have the opportunity to connect with fellow readers who chose the same book as you. Save the date for our monthly Blind Date with a Book Club meeting. Our team will facilitate engaging discussions which allow you to share your thoughts and interpretations of the book with your fellow blind date book group!"

How to Grieve What We've Lost: Evidence-Based Skills to Process Grief and Reconnect with What Matters by Russ Harris, Alexandra Kennedy, Sameet M. Kumar, Mary Beth Williams, and Soili Poijula (New Harbinger).

Muriel Sauzay and François Ivernel, two former top-level executives at French production company Pathé, won a bidding war to secure screen rights from publiser L'Iconoclaste for Jean-Baptiste Andréa's Veiller sur Elle (Watching Over Her), winner of the 2023 Prix Goncourt, France's most prestigious literary prize, Variety reported.

Watching Over Her is one of the best selling Goncourt winners in the prize's 121-year history, and has thus far been translated into 34 languages. It will soon be published in English by Atlantic Books. Sauzay's company Maremako and Ivernel's Montebello Productions will be developing the screen adaptation and are currently assembling a creative team.

Andrea said he was "thrilled at the prospect of seeing the characters from (his) novel come to life on screen, in the vivid colors and shadows of a past world that feels so contemporary."

Ivernel and Sauzay described Watching Over Her as "an inventive epic and a reflection of our contemporary obsessions, animated by highly romantic characters, rich plots with twists, and unforgettable scenes that predestine the book for screen adaptation."

Joseph Coelho won the YOTO Carnegie Medal for Writing for his novel in verse The Boy Lost in the Maze, illustrated by Kate Milner. Aaron Becker took the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration for his wordless picture book The Tree and the River. The winners will each receive a specially commissioned golden medal and a £5,000 (about $6,340) Colin Mears Award cash prize.

Prize organizers described Coelho's win as "a fitting tribute to an award that is uniquely judged by librarians and to his outgoing tenure as Waterstones Children's Laureate (2022-2024) where he launched the 'library marathon' project--a personal mission which saw him visit and join a library in every region of the U.K., a total of 213 nationwide, to highlight their importance and show the support they provide to local communities."

Maura Farrelly, chair of judges for the Yoto Carnegies, said: "The Boy Lost in the Maze is an extraordinary novel told through poems about two boys searching for their fathers. It is multi-layered immersive read which is playful in its language and construction and is as architectural as the mythical maze itself. The Tree and the River is a beautiful visual narrative of the natural world and the impact of humankind which invites readers to become absorbed in the landscapes. The epic spreads are alive with intricate detail and gorgeous use of light and color. Both are ambitious and exciting books that inspire the imagination and empower young readers."

Becker also won the Yoto Carnegie Shadowers' Choice Medal for Illustration, while Yoto Carnegie Shadowers' Choice Medal for Writing went to Tia Fisher for Crossing the Line, her debut novel told in verse. The two winners receive a golden medal and, for the first time this year, £500 (about $635) worth of books to donate to a library of their choice.

photo: Tam Bernard

Philip Ellis is Sex & Relationships editor at Men's Health magazine and the author of . He lives in Birmingham, U.K. His second novel, We Could Be Heroes (Putnam, June 4, 2024), is a romantic comedy set in the not-so-different worlds of superhero movies and drag.

Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less:

It's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets Notting Hill, with drag queens. Come for the jokes, stay for the big feelings!

On your nightstand now:

I'm currently reading Experienced by Kate Young. I was lucky enough to read an early draft of this brilliant romantic comedy and am having a great time diving into the final version now that it's out in the world; it's about a lesbian who's only ever had one girlfriend, until that girlfriend hits pause on their relationship so she can go out into the world and sleep with more people. Naturally, complications ensue.

Next on my list is A Power Unbound, the final installment in Freya Marske's phenomenal LGBTQ+ romantic fantasy trilogy; these books are witty, gripping, surprisingly sexy, and brimming with magic.

I can't wait to read Henry Henry by Allen Bratton, his queer satire inspired by Shakespeare's history plays, which everybody is talking about right now. I'm also halfway through the audiobook of Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain: my husband is a chef, and this is one of his all-time favourites. The audiobook is narrated by the late Bourdain himself, which makes for a bittersweet listening experience.

Favorite book when you were a child:

Mort by Terry Pratchett. I found a lot of the early Discworld novels impenetrable, probably because I lacked the classic fantasy references from the '80s that Pratchett was skewering, but I loved the books that focused on the character of Death and his dysfunctional extended family.

Your top five authors:

Kate Atkinson, whom I started reading in my early 20s and whose recent novel Shrines of Gaiety is one of the best things I've read in years.

Sarah Waters, whose novel Fingersmith I have not stopped thinking about since I read it over 10 years ago; it's a swoonworthy lesbian romance and a rollicking Dickensian crime story wrapped up into one, with a twist you'll never see coming.

David Mitchell, who writes literary doorstoppers that are surprisingly accessible and blend genres in fun, interesting ways. If your only experience of his work is Cloud Atlas, I encourage you to seek out the even-more-ambitious The Bone Clocks.

Alexis Hall, whose queer romantic comedies are hilarious and addictive: Boyfriend Material is one of the funniest books I've ever read, and I have had a great time with Hall's recent foray into magical romance, Mortal Follies.

And finally, perhaps unsurprisingly, romcom royalty Emily Henry. Her debut novel, Beach Read, was a breath of fresh air when I first read it during lockdown, and I've been on the Henry train ever since. She has such a talent for coming up with what might at first seem like a light, frothy premise, and then imbuing it with real emotional weight.

Book you've faked reading:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I'm a sucker for adaptations and retellings of this story, like the iconic Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding and Curtis Sittenfeld's modern reimagining Eligible. And I just think it's so cool how this story can continue to reveal new insights when looked at through the lens of different cultures and identities: Pride by Ibi Zoboi reinterprets the Bennets as an Afro-Latino family resisting the gentrification of their Brooklyn neighborhood; Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal takes place almost in real time over a multiple-day wedding celebration in modern Pakistan; and the movie Fire Island transports viewers from the world of Regency balls to gay circuit parties. I'm also a longstanding defender of the 2005 film version with Keira Knightley, but I have somehow never got around to reading the original if you can believe it!

Book you're an evangelist for:

The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue. I've been recommending this novel to everybody since it came out last year; the late 2000s nostalgia is so on-point it's almost triggering, and the plot--revolving around two best friends and a very peculiar love triangle--had me hooked.

Book you've bought for the cover:

So, so many. But most recently, The Book of Love by Kelly Link. Although I was already sold before I saw the cover; when one of your favourite short story writers finally puts out a novel--and a thick one at that!--you sit up and pay attention.

Book you hid from your parents:

Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. My parents were never too bothered about me reading horror--I picked up my first Stephen King when I was 11 or 12--but they probably would have had thoughts about just how much erotica was smuggled into the pages of those books in between all the bloodsucking.

Book that changed your life:

Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin. I was 17 when I first picked up this series about the lives and loves of a chosen family in San Francisco, and seeing a gay character like Michael Tolliver so beautifully depicted on the page opened my eyes to whom fiction could be written for and about. A 10th installment, Mona of the Manor, just came out, and spending time with these characters again was like being reunited with old friends.

Favorite line from a book:

"He sounded like a drinker, and possibly a hom*osexual. I took an immediate liking to him." --from "The Resident," a story in Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado. Honestly, if I were a character in a book, this is how I would want to be introduced.

Five books you'll never part with:

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel, although really this could apply to any and all of her novels. Less by Andrew Sean Greer, a romantic whirlwind of a book that I love so much I have absolutely no desire to read the sequel. Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote, Audrey Hepburn's Givenchy and pearls notwithstanding, Holly Golightly remains a truly f*cked-up character and I will always love her. Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin; I am amazed by what he accomplished in so short a book. And finally, The Secret History by Donna Tartt; allow me to be the first person to ever express the opinion that this Donna Tartt lady is very good at writing and will probably go far!

Book you most want to read again for the first time:

Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell. I had anticipated this book for so long, so eager to see if Simon and Baz would finally end up together, that I burned through it in a single sitting when I should probably have savoured the emotional revelations a little more. When Rowell's new book Slow Dance comes out later this year, I will try to exercise more self-control.

Book you're jealous you didn't write:

I'm hugely envious of the humour, insight, and vivid characterization in Greta and Valdin by Rebecca K. Reilly; she created a family that felt so real I wanted to invite myself over for dinner.

Book you would hand to your teenage self:

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. Not just because it's a deeply moving gay romance, but because it's also a very fun book, and I think teenage me could have done with taking everything--including himself--a little less seriously.

If you are a typical person interacting with most technology, your only concern is that it "just works," as Steve Jobs liked to say of Apple products. But that simple metric wasn't enough to satisfy journalist Andrew Smith. The product of his curiosity is Devil in the Stack, a fascinating journey into the world of computer code, its history, the people who create it, some of its current controversies, and its implications for the future of society.

Smith's four-year odyssey in what he calls the microcosmos is so engrossing, in part, because he's not content to be a bystander in the coding process. Instead, with refreshing self-deprecation, he describes his halting steps toward acquiring proficiency in the art, a task that finds him settling on the language known as Python, whose creator, Dutch programmer Guido van Rossum, is one of a roster of key programming figures he interviews.

With insight and wit, Smith recounts his immersion in this sometimes strange fraternity, as he attends Python's annual conferences and participates in PyWeek, its biannual game-creating competition. This is all part of a broader exploration of the subject of open-source software, illuminating both the beauty of its collaborative aspects and the frequent challenges to realizing them. By the end of his book, as the Covid pandemic explodes in March 2020, Smith has progressed sufficiently in his often frustrating education to become immersed in writing code for a Covid dashboard for residents of the Bay Area, where he lives.

For all his passion for coding, he doesn't shy away from controversial topics in the field. He calls out the "staggering hom*ogeneity within the profession," reflected in that fact that a mere 7% of coders are women, while less than 3% are Black, and describes the real world consequences of this lack of diversity. He also investigates whether a certain personality type or brain structure makes someone especially adept at writing code, submitting to fMRI brain scans in Germany and at MIT by researchers trying to answer that question. Smith devotes considerable attention to the urgent subject of algorithms and artificial intelligence, a misnomer he insists should be abandoned for the term machine learning. While he avoids the more apocalyptic aspects of that topic, he doesn't shy aware from its dark side.

In taking readers on an intellectually stimulating guided tour of the sometimes exotic world of programming, Smith (Totally Wired) hopes to "open a broad discussion of what we want code to do for us and what we don't." Anyone who's curious about the why and how of what makes computers do what they do will find Devil in the Stack a fertile introduction. --Harvey Freedenberg, freelance reviewer

Shelf Talker: Journalist Andrew Smith embarks on a long and winding journey through the world of computer coding.

A massive shout out to all our independent bookshops. You're the lifeblood of your towns, the heartbeat of your high streets, the hardest working, most committed retailers I know. You make a HUGE difference to culture and society. You rock.

--Meryl Halls, managing director of the Booksellers Association, celebrating Independent Bookshop Week

Someday, I'd like to spend Independent Bookshop Week on a tour of booksellers in the U.K. and Ireland. As it happens, we're currently in the midst of IBW 2024 (June 15-22) and I'm not there, so once again I must celebrate vicariously.

Launched in 2006, IBW "aims to highlight the vital role independent bookshops play in their communities, and to encourage consumers to shop for their summer reads with their local independent." More than 700 independent bookshops are registered to participate. Hachette UK is the headline sponsor, with support from Gardners and Nielsen BookData.

At Bert's Books, Swindon

Among the annual IBW highlights is the BA's invitation to a well-known poet to write a bespoke poem, then perform the work in their local bookshop. This year's poem is from George Mpanga (aka George the Poet), who performed it at New Beacon Bookshop in London.

Another highlight of IBW is the announcement of the annual Indie Book Awards winners. Indie booksellers vote on the submitted titles to create the shortlist, then a panel of judges decides the four category winners:

Fiction: Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang
Nonfiction: The Golden Mole and Other Vanishing Treasure by Katherine Rundell, illustrated by Talya Baldwin
Children's Fiction: Safiyyah's War by Hiba Noor Khan
Picture Book: The Dress in the Window by Robert Tregoning, illustrated by Pippa Curnick

The Nielson BookData blog celebrated IBW with a post comparing independent bookstore bestsellers versus the wider market, noting: "The variety in titles featured even just at the top of the indie chart, and the differences to the overall market, highlight how important bookshops are in championing books beyond the overall bestsellers. And what better time than Independent Bookshop Week to go discover your next favorite read or hidden gem!"

Of course the most important IBW players are the booksellers themselves. In lieu of an in-person tour this year, I had to settle for scanning #IndependentBookshopWeek social media posts. Here are some highlights:

Simply Books, Bramhall: "It's officially Independent Bookshop Week! We were rushed off our feet in the shop on day one, and look forward to a fun rest of the week!"

The Book Shop, Bridport: "We are all set for Independent Bookshop Week!"

Westbourne Bookshop, Westbourne: "Today marks the start of Indie Bookshop Week! Thanks for always showing us so much love and supporting small businesses. Y'all are the best. Looking forward to another fun filled Saturday."

Maldon Books, Maldon: "We love celebrating this special week with you and independent bookshops everywhere!... Lots of love to our fellow bookshops and booksellers, and to @booksaremybag and the BA for such a brilliant campaign. Have a wonderful week."

The Ginger Cat Children's Bookshop, Bridge of Weir, Scotland: "The bunting is up and we're ready to go! We couldn't run the bookshop without our wonderfully loyal customers, thank you for choosing to shop local and for supporting our little bookshop."

Lindum Books, Lincoln: "This #IndieBookshopWeek be more #TheBookshopWoman. Stock up at your local indie bookshop, then settle down for a cosy read...."

The Book Nook, Stewarton, Scotland: "Preparations are well underway at The Book Nook for our mini book festival running throughout Independent Bookshop Week. We will be welcoming 8 wonderful authors to our events this week and some special guests too. All attendees at our events will be taking home one of these goodie bags, including a voucher for a £5 National Book Token and a £10 off voucher--a gift from The Mill House!"

Our Bookshop in Tring: "Shout out to a fellow indie #TheMargateBookshop. They opened about the same time as us, and they are thriving in the beautiful seaside town."

The Reading Room, Melrose, Scotland: "A week to celebrate independent bookshops and to show your support! I wanted to say a very big thank you to all our customers and supporters of The Reading Room--we couldn't do this without you!"

St. Helens Book Stop, St. Helens: "Indie Bookshop Week officially begun over the weekend and what a great start it's been! To celebrate, we'll be creating a brand new display every day so pop in and have a look what we have in store for you!"

The Halesworth Bookshop, Halesworth: "While out on my travels to Framlingham, and as it's #indiebookshopweek2024 I called in at two super duper indie bookshops: @ottieandthebea @framlingham_bookshop. Happy Independent Bookshop Week Indies. A pleasure to visit you."

The Bookshop, East Grinstead: "The morning started with Helen on Radio Sussex explaining what Indie Book Week is all about--and now there's lots of 'stuff' going on at the shop--freebies, giveaways, beautiful bookshop editions with sprayed edges and/or signed by the author!"

Lucky Hare Books, Ampthill, which had previously announced it would open June 15 ("the perfect date as it coincides with the start of Independent Bookshop week"), posted on Saturday: "Wow! Wow! Wow! What a day!!!! We have been BLOWN AWAY by the love and support we received from everyone--we really can't thank you enough. It has been magical, uplifting and INCREDIBLY busy--despite the rain. Truly a dream come true. We have more photos to come but for now will leave you with this one of two exhausted but very happy booksellers! Cheers!"