Through stories, histories, ideas, and images, books connect us to people, places, and events distant from us in time and space. They also connect us to other books as references, homages, and arguments reveal the conversation that has been going on for centuries in the written word.
Once again, we’ll be offering a bunch of bookish exclusive items on Independent Bookstore Day. Here’s what you’ll be able to get at PSB only on Saturday, April 29th. There will be limited supplies of all of these items and once they’re gone, they’re gone, so get here early.
The Sandmeyer Reaction by Michael Chabon
We used to know exactly what it meant to be a bookstore in Cambridge, MA. We stocked books, ordered books, talked about books, and hosted book events. We had responsibilities, we had an identity, and even though very little is easy about bookselling, we knew how to be a bookstore. But things changed. Regardless of your political opinions, we are now living in a different and more tumultuous world.
The votes are in and counted and we can now announce the 2016 Porter Square Books of the Year!
The adult winner is Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly. Here is Sarah's original staff pick for the book and here is her very convincing post on why the book deserves this award.
Bears are powerful. Most of us know better than to mess with a bear.
In E.K. Johnston's Exit, Pursued by a Bear, young women are powerful too.
I loved Kelly Barnhill's middle grade fantasy The Witch's Boy. When I heard she had a new novel, I was dying to get my hands on it but I was also worried it wouldn't be as good as The Witch's Boy, which amazed me.
Yesterday we had a request for recommended books on feminism for middle grade readers. (Thanks, Camille!) It turned out that we had tons of ideas, but they all came from the YA section. Now that we've had some more time to think about it, we've put together a collection -- broad, but not exhaustive -- of resources for readers who embrace feminism, but aren't quite ready for bell hooks, Simone de Beauvoir, or even Here We Are, a new anthology for teen readers.
2016 was a tough year for a lot of people, and 2017 is shaping up to be a lot more of the same.
So. How does one weather a hard season? With fortitude, knowledge, and understanding -- three things that Rejected Princesses has in spades.
I was pleased when Josh informed me that 10:04 had secured its place in the finals for the adult Porter Square Book of the Year, but also a little surprised.
I am perpetually late to the book party.
Due to a long stretch in my life during which I had no idea how to properly live, I forgot that books were fun and reading could be pleasurable and a thing I enjoyed doing. I blame it on high school.
