Open for Shipped Orders!
Our physical store is closed, but you can still get many books shipped to you directly from our warehouse. Here's how:  
1. Only order titles with an inventory status of "Available at the Warehouse" 
2. Select the " UPS/USPS Ground Shipping" option
3. Pay with a credit card

We are happy to fulfill other orders, but will not be able to process them until at least May 4. Other options: try  Indiebound.org  or  Bookshop.org - keep it indie!
Shelf Stable: April 17
"' Isn't the writing of good prose an emotional excitement?' 'Yes, of course it is. At least, when you get the thing dead right and know it's dead right, there's no excitement like it. It's marvelous. It makes you feel like God on the Seventh Day – for a bit, anyhow.'" – Dorothy L. Sayers
Hello friends,

One of the biggest things that made me anxious about this whole shelter-in-place thing was my inevitable tendency to compare my to-do list with others'. That's especially bad when it comes to creative pursuits.  At last!  I thought.  An opportunity to write without having to bow to the rigid demands of my normal schedule! Instead of having to juggle writing with three other jobs I only have to schedule it between long bouts of nothing!  Of course that thought was quickly followed by something like creative paralysis. What if I couldn't write (while in the midst of a terrible situation that feasts on my already-present depression and over-active empathy)? What if someone else wrote more than me? 
 
That's all silly, of course, and I'm trying to treat it as such. I'm trying to just write, and I'm sure plenty of you are as well. It’s not easy, so don’t let my attempts at optimism be another comparison point that makes you roll your eyes and grit your teeth. I only strive for Little-Engine-That-Could territory because the alternative is, well, it’s not great, Bob. I wrestle with my mental health and even on the best of days depression is a thing that is constantly creeping into the corner of my eye. You’ve probably noticed this by now, but we haven’t exactly been in “best of days” territory lately. It’s scary, it’s challenging, and it can really get in the way of creativity.
 
It’s hard to write when the walls are closing in.
 
But like I said, there’s hope mixed in there somewhere. Dorothy Sayers (who you might know from her prolific mystery writing, but was also a brilliant essayist) made a point I always come back to in her essay “The Image of God”. Essentially, if God is a Creator like we see right off the bat in Genesis, then when we create it moves us closer to God, since creation is a godly thing to do. I know that in the midst of a Global Freakin’ Pandemic it can seem like God is distant (I don’t believe that to be the case but sometimes Depression sure does!), so I’m trying to do my part to close some of that distance. I’m trying to create and find joy in that, because books at their best are a place of hope, and there’s enough bad going on without me letting writing-related anxiety win.
 
Stay safe and sane out there; it’s easier said than done but we got this!
 
-Caleb @ PSB
Don't miss our next virtual event!
Jennifer Finney Boylan
with Jodi Picoult
Good Boy: My Life in Seven Dogs: Memoir

Our events manager Leila was lucky enough to have front row seats to hear Jennifer Finney Boylan talk about her new memoir, Good Boy , at a conference early this year, and immediately knew we had to host her! We are so excited that we were able to convert this store event to a virtual event , taking place on Friday, April 24th at 7pm, right on your computer screen. And Jennifer will be joined in conversation by no less than Jodi Picoult!!

From bestselling author of  She’s Not There ,  New York Times  opinion columnist, and human rights activist Jennifer Finney Boylan,  Good Boy: My Life in Seven Dogs , is a memoir of the transformative power of loving dogs.

Good Boy  is a universal account of a remarkable story: showing how a young boy became a middle-aged woman—accompanied at seven crucial moments of growth and transformation by seven memorable dogs. “Everything I know about love,” she writes, “I learned from dogs.” Their love enables us to pull off what seem like impossible feats: to find our way home when we are lost, to live our lives with humor and courage, and above all, to best become our true selves.

Professor  Jennifer Finney Boylan, author of more than a dozen books, is the inaugural Anna Quindlen Writer in Residence at Barnard College of Columbia University. Her column “Men & Women” appears on the op/ed page of the  New York Times  on alternate Wednesdays. She serves on the Board of Trustees of PEN America. From 2011 to 2018 she served on the Board of Directors of GLAAD and also provided counsel for the TV series  Transparent  and  I Am Cait . Her 2003 memoir,  She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders  was the first bestselling work by a transgender American. A novelist, memoirist, and short story writer, she is also a nationally known advocate for human rights. She lives in New York City, and in Belgrade Lakes, Maine, with her wife, Deedie. They have a son, Sean and a daughter, Zai.

Jodi Picoult  is the #1 bestselling author of twenty-five novels including  My Sister's Keeper ,  Nineteen Minutes ,  The Storyteller ,  Leaving Time , the acclaimed #1 bestseller,  Small Great Things , which explored the issues of power, privilege and race, and has sold more than 1.5 million copies. Picoult's most recent novel,  A SPARK OF LIGHT ., published on October 2, 2018, was her tenth consecutive instant #1 New York Times bestseller, and was praised as “Picoult at her fearless best” by the  Washington Post.

This event is free (although if you love us and want to support more virtual programming, you can contribute a few dollars!) and hosted on Crowdcast. Register at the link below!
Featured Staff Pick for Adults
The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida by Clarissa Goenawan

After finishing this book weeks ago, I'm still thinking of Miwako Sumida and friends. This story is dark and sometimes feels too real, but you can't look away.  --Sinny
To Our Dearest Bear
We've been parted from one of our closest friends, Bear, for far too long. In an effort to close the distance and keep Bear apprised of our doings, the team sent our most heartfelt missives.

PSBTV is proud to present the epic 5-part documentary mini-series event of the Spring, "Letters to Bear." If you need a smile, we're pretty sure these will do the trick.

Tune in tomorrow for the next episode in the series -- or visit our YouTube Channel and watch them back to back . (Bonus: you can binge 'em all in less time than one episode of Tiger King.)

Letters to Bear, Episode the First:
Josh & the Vinegar Herds
Digital Audio Books:
A terrific way to support local indies!
Kids' Newsletter
For all the latest on events, new books, reviews, and more for young and young-at-heart readers.
Virtual Bookseller

Looking to get some good book recommendations, personalized just for you? Check out our Virtual Bookseller! Just fill out the form with your likes and dislikes, genres and favorites, and we'll crowdsource a bunch of great picks for you with our crack team of real life booksellers. Give it a whirl!
The Power of Preorders!
Preorders are a great way to support PSB while we're not able to actually be at the store for two reasons:
  1. They bring in income now while the store is closed.
  2. We can deal with them later!
You can see all of the books from the future we're excited about here. But you can preorder more than just what we're excited for. Any book with an inventory status (who knew you'd have to get to know our online inventory statuses so well) of "Coming Soon--Available for Pre-Order Now" or "On the Horizon--Available for Pre-Order Now," is, uh, available for preorder now.
PSB TV
Miss one of our bedtime stories? Or one of the tours of our libraries in the epic YouTube series PSB: Cribs? Good news! We've made playlists on YouTube so you can catch up on all of them.




April Staff Picks
Are you missing out on our recommendations, pining for our Staff Pick display?? Our April crop of staff picks is now live on our website! We'll feature titles throughout the month, but you can browse the full list at the link below. As ever, all staff picks are 20% off - so go crazy!
Need some inspiration?
Of all the rituals and routines we’ve had to give up these past weeks, the worst for me was the closure of my yoga studio. Though it was necessary, I felt like I was losing the connection to my practice at a time when I needed it most. I didn’t trust myself to keep practicing at home, without the warm, inviting studio and the community to be found there. 

My studio,  Metrowest Yoga  , started offering twice daily classes on  Facebook Live  . I tuned in that first morning, rather skeptical, thinking there was no way it could be the same. It wasn’t, but something amazing began to happen. Alone in my own home, I wasn’t afraid to look foolish or risk falling over. And I have fallen over a few times, but I’ve also found poses I thought would never be accessible to me. The strength and confidence I felt after finding Crow Pose for the first time kept me coming back at least once, and often twice, each day. 

Whatever your fitness level, age, or level of experience (even if it’s absolutely none), yoga can be an antidote to the malaise and anxiety many of us have been feeling. It calms the mind while energizing the body, and teaches us to let go of distractions and be gentle with ourselves. Easier said than done, but that’s why it’s called yoga practice right? 

All you need at home is a bit of floor space. If you don’t have a mat, you can use a towel, woven blanket, or even the carpet. Soup cans or rolled up blankets can stand in for blocks, and a hand towel for a strap. I made a makeshift yoga studio with a space heater and miniature humidifier. What kind of space can you make for your practice with things around the house? 

Find your local studio on social media - many are offering free live classes on Instagram or Facebook (or, if you are able, you might consider buying an online pass to help support the studio). If you’re new to yoga, Yoga with Adriene offers a  free 30-Day course on YouTube . Some other great resources include  Every Body Yoga  by Jessamyn Stanley,  The Yoga Effect  by Liz Owen and Holly Lebowitz Rossi,   Yoga for Everybody  by Dianne Bondy, and the classic  Light on Yoga  by B.K.S. Iyengar. 

Wishing you all strength and peace, 
Katie @ PSB
Bedtime Stories
Caleb reads from an absolute classic, destined to bring you to the Land of Conclusions (that this book is really tremendous fun, no matter your age or bedtime): The Phantom Tollbooth !
Meet us over at our Instagram story at 8:45pm for tonight's live bedtime reading!
Support Cafe Zing baristas!
Although Cafe Zing is its own business separate from ours, we really don't see it that way: Zing workers are part of the Porter Square Books family. They keep us well supplied - very well supplied - with caffeine, kindness, and some great tunes. Sometimes they give us staff picks; sometimes we give them exact change because we've bought the same, perfect, comforting, delicious beverage twice a day five days a week for how long, now?

They're our family, and they could use a hand. If you are able, please considering donating to the Cafe Zing GoFundMe; 100% of proceeds go to baristas. What might you have spent at Zing over the past weeks if it we were in normal times? If that $10 is still in your wallet, consider putting it in their tip jar. We love you, Zing!
Featured Staff Pick For Kids
Brown Girl Ghosted by Mintie Das

Violet Choudbury sees dead people, and in particular the recently murdered queen bee of her cheerleading squad. For one of a handful of brown girls in a small Illinois town, who wants only to blend in, this is not working well. I thoroughly enjoyed this original, fun, and fast-paced story. --Robin
We Want to Hear from You!
Which book and beverage pairing would you choose?
Hot cocoa + Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Lemonade + The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
Tequila + To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Water + Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
Rum + The Rum Diary by Hunter S Thompson
Coffee + The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul by Deborah Rodriguez
Audio Book Of The Month
Deacon King Kong by James McBride

“Deacon King Kong is a quintessential New York story. Set in the Brooklyn projects in 1969, a perpetually inebriated deacon called Sportcoat aims a gun at the neighborhood’s main drug dealer in the public plaza and pulls the trigger. Incredibly well-constructed and hilarious at times, McBride’s story entwines a number of storylines that are kickstarted by this central event. The local Italian gangster, the veteran cop, the meddling churchgoers, and the drug pushers all have their own agendas, hopes, and dreams that are affected. And though Sportcoat doesn’t remember his actions and is always under the influence of gut-rot moonshine, I couldn’t help but root for him as I was reading this. His delightful ineptitude and absence of clarity made this book impossible for me to put down. If you’ve never read McBride before, this is a great introduction.”
--Stuart McCommon, Novel.
See you next time here at Shelf Stable!
We'll get out our next issue as soon as we can. In the meantime, don't forget about all the other places you can catch up with us from afar, on
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25 White St. Cambridge, MA 02140
617-491-2220