Bookseller Notes From Behind the Counter

"Your ego can become an obstacle to your work.

If you start believing in your greatness,

it is the death of your creativity."

~ Marina Abramovic

Working in an independent bookstore can create an air of romance that sometimes makes customers forget what decade they are in. It's an incredible compliment that people come to our area for the charm, only to be surprised by our modern amenities. We've got high-speed internet in them hills! I think, "Do you take credit cards?" might be my favorite question at the cash register though.

Two decades ago, I was offended:

Me: Do we take credit cards? What kind of a business do you think this is? Do you think we just hung out a shingle and hope for the best every day? We're professionals! Of course we take credit cards! All of them!

Out loud: Yes we do. All of them.

After doing this for a decade, my ego evolved into a protector:

Me: Do we take credit cards? Not for that $2.00 card, bub. Just take it at this point, because it's already costing the store money talking about it.

Out loud: Yes we do. All of them.

After doing this for a few years, my ego is pushed completely out of the way, and my defenses have calmed:

Me: Yes we do. All of them.

Outloud: Yes we do. All of them.

I think in the psychology world this is called something like, "regulation of the self." because my inner thoughts now match what I actually say. To independent booksellers everywhere, it's our version of, "fake it 'til you make it." Naturally, in my fantasy world, I say, "I'm so sorry. We're cash only." But that's only because I understand how to read the invoice from the credit card companies better now. ;)

A new question lately has been, "Do you sell digital gift cards?" And the answer is now, "Yes!" If you want to send someone a gift card at the very last minute, they won't know you weren't planning it the whole time! They'll get an email from us saying, "Someone loves you and gave you money for books!" - or something along those lines. Click here to learn more about our digital gift card offerings.

Some other questions we are asked regularly:

Do you take Apple Pay? Yes. (in the store)

Do you have a website? Yes.

Do you accept Paypal? Yes. (on the website)

Do you ship? Yes. Anywhere in the US for 99¢ for orders over $50.

Do you have any books here? Have you read all of these books? What is your favorite book? To all of which I now answer simply, yes.

Staff Reviews This Week From Maris:

Table for Two by Amor Towles

Every time I start an Amor Towles book, I underestimate it.

The Lincoln Highway: can it really be that interesting if they are essentially going backward? YES, and then SOME.
Rules of Civility: I have read the"1920s competition to get the wealthy man book" a million times, and this will be just like all the others. WRONG. It was SO much more than that.
Short stories? NOPE. Not for me. I’m in it for the long haul. I want nothing short when it comes to my books. FALSE.

Table for Two changed everything for me in the short story realm,and storytelling realm in general. Amor Towles is an author unlike any other. He can make the minute gargantuan. He takes the simplest of subjects, like waiting in line or have a flight canceled, and makes it the most thrilling subject matter of all time. There is even a celebratory appearance by one of the main characters from Rules of Civility and her adventures in 1930s Hollywood. At the end of the day, he is the true Jedi Master of storytelling, a wordsmith unlike any other, and as a reader, I am beyond grateful for him, his writing, and the stories he tells. Table for Two is not to be missed!

Same as it Ever Was by Claire Lombardo

A preorder not to be missed! Wow… just WOW. What an emotional powerhouse of a novel! Claire Lombardo's Same As It Ever Was is a compelling portrayal of the complexities of womanhood, delving deep into the roles of daughter, wife, mother, and friend with raw honesty and exquisite detail. This is a story that will linger in its readers' minds long after the final page, fully capturing the essence of human emotion and connection. You can't help but feel like a fly on the wall, totally and completely immersed in Julia and her family's lives, witnessing the ups, the downs, the good times, and the bad, experiencing their lives as if they were your own. Lombardo's storytelling prowess shines, making this more than just a book: it's an unforgettable journey through the depths of the female experience. Preorder your copy today! It hits our shelves on June 18th, and it is without a doubt one of the best books of the summer, which is saying something with how many fantastic books are coming out this year!

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

From the author of We Begin at the End, this is yet another preorder that needs to be ordered TODAY!

An emotional rollercoaster, All the Colors of the Dark is an enthralling story that will capture your soul and refuse to let go. With unforgettable characters, the story starts when a young boy named Patch (thus named for his having only one eye and his love of all things pirates) sees a man trying to force a young girl into his car. Patch intervenes and ends up getting taken by the man instead. When the police give up hope of finding him, his best friend Scout is convinced that he is still out there and makes it her life's dedication to finding her best friend. A year later, she does just that; she finds and rescues Patch, but his captor escapes. After a year in the dark, Patch is convinced that he was not alone, that there was another girl locked away in the darkness with him. That thought kicks off a story that is so incredible it’s hard to put it into words that do it justice.

Part thriller, part love story, Whitaker crafts a haunting tale of obsession, loss, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness. To say I am excited about this book is an understatement (I’m practically jumping up and down as I write this review because I’m so excited about it). I know I keep saying it, but with 2024 being such an out-of-this-world year for books, this is one not to be missed and may very well be one of the top books of the year! 2024 is the year that just keeps on gifting us all the life-changing reads!

Two new local author offerings:

Thanks for all of your votes!

The winner of our March Madness Book Tournament was:

Hot, Hot, Hot!

You wanted it? You got it! Our new McLean and Eakin apparel is now shipping directly to your home! Click here and get something for Mother's Day, Father's Day, and every day in between! (And remember to treat yourself to some of this cozy book love too!)

Upcoming Reasons to Buy a Book:

This store-favorite is now coming to a screen near you! If you buy the book now, you can read it before the Apple TV release on May 8! Click for book.

Start Planning Your Summer!

Found on the Shelf:

Flip-a-gator by Sara Ball

Maybe you remember Myth-Match?! This is the same idea, but for a younger crowd. With strictly reptiles, and thick, sturdy pages, we love it! Your little ones will too. Click for larger images.

307 East Lake Street

Petoskey, MI 49770

231-347-1180

books@mcleanandeakin.com

Open 10am-7pm Monday-Saturday

and 11am-5pm on Sunday

Have a book emergency outside of our regular hours?

Email us and we'll see what we can do!

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