Reading, Writing, and Remembering
What we've been reading, upcoming writing workshops, and a new lecture series!
Hello Readers, Writers, and Lifelong Learners!
It’s been a little over a month since my last post, and though I said I wouldn’t post on a schedule, a month seems to be the longest amount of time I’ll let go by before I feel the urge to post again. Maybe it’s because I miss writing to you, or maybe I just have so much to share, I can’t wait any longer. Whatever the reason, I hope that you find these infrequent posts to be a welcome respite from your regularly scheduled programs.
So, what’s been going on in the shop? Well, I’ve been on a reordering frenzy these past couple of months. As you may know, or not, I hand-pick every book that comes into my shop, which means it takes a long time for me to put together my orders. Some are chosen through book reviews I’ve read in various publications, some I’ve found while perusing publisher catalogues, but all are chosen because I have an interest either in the story they tell, the knowledge they share, or the ideas they explore, which tells me that someone else may have an interest in them as well, no matter how odd or random the book may be.
Though I tell everyone who comes into the shop of late not to mind the slim pickins (being the beginning of the year and all) they always say the shop looks full to them, which makes me wonder where I’m going to put all these books I’m ordering. Well, actually, I plan to expand my shelving on the far wall. If I can get that shelving expansion (all the way up to the ceiling), I’ll definitely get the rolling ladder as well. So, something to look forward to, in addition, of course, to all the books I’m ordering.
Speaking of ordering, I have some exciting news for my francophile friends. I’m partnering with the Albertine bookstore in NYC to create a “French corner” in the shop. One of the things I wanted to do when I opened was to offer books in different languages, and I think this is as good a place to start as any. The Albertine bookstore is located inside the Payne Whitney mansion and is part of The French Institute for Culture and Education. It’s a beautiful bookstore, and honestly, it’s one of the inspirations for the design and feel of my own bookstore. If you’ve never been, you should definitely visit and be sure to go up to the second floor to check out the amazing ceiling mural, which is another design element I’m hoping to imitate (not the actual design, but I do want to paint a mural on the ceiling).
Since it’s been so long (and since my reader’s support group idea didn’t gain any traction), I’ve decided I’ll just touch on what I’ve been reading here, then write a lengthier post about those books which I’d like to explore more deeply later.
I’m actively reading (I say actively because there are many books I am inactively reading as well), In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens by Alice Walker, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad (a National Book Award Winner), The Living and the Dead by Zadie Smith, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, and James by Percival Everett (an adaptation of TAHF told from Jim’s point of view which previously won the National Book Award and, most recently, the Pulitzer Prize). I highly recommend reading these last two books together.
As the year progresses, you’ll notice a lot of classics and award winners on my reading lists. That’s because those are two categories I’ve always wanted to delve into, which is why I have large sections for both in my shop. I’m sure you’ve noticed the Classics sections, but have you noticed the Award Winners’? We currently have Nobel Prize, National Book Award, Booker Prize, and Hugo Award books, and we’re in the process of adding Pulitzer to the list. I try to include winners from all categories over the last decade, but will change it up to include older (and newer) titles over time.
I also recently finished Nella Larsen’s Quicksand—a book I’d never heard anything about, but which turned out to be as rich and engrossing as any classic I had heard of—Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (another National Book Award Winner), The Greatest Sentence Ever Written by Walter Isaacson, and Trad Wife by Saratoga Schaefer.
All of these books are available in the shop and can also be ordered online through our Bookshop page. *The number of books available in the shop is limited, but it’s just as good for us if you order online through Bookshop.
Speaking of Saratoga Schaefer, guess who’s teaching our next writing workshop in just over a week?! Saratoga, who is not only a master of horror and suspense, but who is also a prolific writer, will teach us how to “kill” those stories that are holding us back, and how to “resurrect” those that continue to call to us from beyond the narrative grave in their first Botanica Books writing workshop, How to Kill Your Darlings (And then Resurrect Them). As always, space is limited, so be sure to save your spot as soon as possible.
We’ve talked about reading and writing, but what about remembering? Well, okay. I’m VERY excited to announce that Botanica Books is partnering with Bibulous Dessert Bar to offer what I hope will become a new lecture event series, Lectures & Libations! In this new lecture series, professors and experts from various fields are invited to give a 45-minute lecture (followed by 15 minutes of Q&A) to an adult audience of the incurably curious and those self-described lifelong learners who may not want or have the time/money to sign up for a semester-long class. During the lecture, attendees can purchase cocktails, mocktails, and coffee, as well as small bites and desserts while supplies last.
Our first lecturer is six-time world memory champion and author, Nelson Dellis! In his talk, Everyday Genius: How to Remember More in an Age That’s Outsourcing Thinking, Nelson will share science-backed techniques anyone can use to improve memory, learning, and mental clarity through live demonstrations and simple exercises. Learn how memory actually works, why it’s a trainable skill (not a talent), and how reclaiming it can help you think more clearly, learn faster, and stay mentally sharp in an AI-driven world. Attendees will have the option to purchase a copy of Nelson’s newest book, Everyday Genius: Hacks to Boost Your Memory, Focus, Problem Solving, and Much More, upon registration or at the event.
That’s it for now, Friends. I hope you are all staying warm during this incredibly cold winter. I’m looking forward to spring and opening the patio, which both readers and writers will be invited to enjoy whenever the shop is open.
Here’s a cute picture of Stevie I took the other day. It made me think of that old proverb: “A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush.” which I’m not sure I agree with, but I do love having my bird in my hand, so…
