Literature Lust: Love Letter for Readers and Writers
December 15, 2019 | #2
Adventures at the Book Store:

Yesterday, two Saturdays before Christmas, my husband and I went to Barnes and Noble. The store was packed! The check-out line snaked around three roped-off guide-lanes, and then slithered down along the boxed Christmas card display and into Bargain Books area.

That's good news! Reading is NOT dead, as evidenced by the crowds at B&N with stacks of books in their arms. (In my mind, books or bookstore gift cards, are still the best present possible!)

More good news : This year, Barnes and Noble, the largest remaining bookstore chain in the United States, was saved from bankruptcy. The hedge fund, Elliott Advisors bought B&N for $638 million dollars. James Daunt, the man who revitalized Waterstone book stores in England, will resuscitate the B&N brand. (More on the men who are changing the world of books in an upcoming letter.)

Does this happen to you when you go into a bookstore?

Every book beckons. Everything looks good. You go in for one book and end up with six. You know what I mean?

Within five minutes of walking into Barnes and Noble, I discovered dozens of books I'd like to read. Here are just a few of them:

The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding
by Jennifer Robson

  • A woman finds the embroidery pattern from Queen Elizabeth's wedding gown in her grandmother's belongings.

The Winter Soldier
by Daniel Mason, the author of The Piano Tuner
  • a medical student during WWI learns "brutal, makeshift medicine" from a woman he falls in love with.

A Short Philosophy of Birds :
 by Philippe DuBois and Elise Rousseau
  • 22 short lessons inspired by the secret lives of birds
This is not some canned message written for the masses. This is a personal thank-you note. I want you to know how much I appreciate your willingness to talk about good literature and great books with me. I can't wait for 2020 and our discussions on current reads and issues in the literary world. Drop me a note about anything you'd like to see featured in our newsletter, or make a comment about something posted here.

I hope you get some great books for Christmas and that you have time to snuggle up and enjoy a great read.

Happy Holidays!


With warmest words and wishes,
Melissa

Doubting Santa:

Did you know that in 1899, 130 years ago, a poem was written about how Santa is really a fat, lazy guy who lets his wife do all the work?

It was written by Katherine Lee Bates, the same woman who wrote "America, the Beautiful."

If you're interested, you can read "Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride" here. I thought history buffs and feminists might appreciate it.

If you want a more modern take, you might smile at " Doubting Santa: Mrs. Claus is Doing the Work and Not Getting the Credit."
Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audi-
Really? It's a "thing?"

According to August Birch, there is a "huge resurgence of print fans now that photos of books (and SHELFIES, yes, photos of bookshelves) are such a hot thing on
Instagram! "-
Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action,Real so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"
What do
Dr. Suess, Stephen King, and J.K. Rowling
have in common?
Rejection. Rejection. And Rejection.
These best-selling authors, and many other world-renowned writers, sold MILLIONS of copies of their books...in spite of agents and publishers who rejected their ideas.

The wacky, wonderful world of words:

Know these words?

The first was completely new to me:

Ayurvedic

The next two I had met before, but just haven't had occasion to use:

Quotidian

Florid

“ The person who deserves most pity is a lonesome one on a rainy day who doesn’t know how to read.”

– Benjamin Franklin
At Barnes and Noble, there was a display that asked people to write down the name of a book that changed their life.

I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours!

It was the beginning of the greatest Christmas ever. Little food. No presents. But there was a snowman in their basement.
– Markus Zusak, The Book Thief
(My all-time favorite book.)

LiteratureLust.com