For some insight from a different direction

The bookselling world both is and isn't that big. There are lots of us out there and we cover a lot of bases. Yet, at the same time, it can easily(and happily) become a game of 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon.

In the world of book blogs there are dozens upon dozens I could recommend. Doing different things, taking different angles, talking in ways that are humorous, serious and both at the same time.

One I return to, again and again, is the blog run by Daniel at Boswell and Books

He covers so much territory in a way that is refreshingly honest and real.

Little Brown Mushroom

It's important to us to bring in as many oddball products as we can. Odd alone, of course, is not enough. So we're very happy to say that we have, in stock, copies of Alec Soth and Brad Zellar's latest project "Ohio." Odd and high-quality.

To say these local boys are doing well is quite the understatement.

http://littlebrownmushroom.wordpress.com/

The price is $18. We also have 2nd edition copies of their book "House of Coates".

Can't wait to see what comes next from this duo.

milk-to-the-weed and Katrina Vandenberg and more

Katrina Vandenberg will be reading here at 7 p.m. on Tuesday June 5th with her friend Michael Downs. Downs' collection "The Greatest Show" won Louisiana State University Press' Yellow Shoe Fiction Prize.

Katrina's second collection of poems "The Alphabet Not Unlike the World" is a wonder in terms of its design, structure and writing.

Here is a quick one titled "Detroit."

So here we are--white tablecloth and a window,
the sweat of our water glasses, shy twirl of noodles

against a spoon. His body, ten years later, now
thickened into a stranger's. I hear, in the heart

of my old hometown, Detroit, some buildings
and blocks have been abandoned so long, wildness

is coming back to the city. I hear men
have begun to stalk pheasants again in the vines.

Milkweed Editions has also been putting up some great stuff on their blog lately. You can read about Deni Béchard, which you should, and his two cool new books. And you can read about the art behind Amy Leach's book(she reads here 7/18 at 7 p.m.)which is amazing. And you can read about the Milkweed staff and their bike plans for the summer.

Please do join us for Katrina's event.