"August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time."
― Sylvia Plath
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One of my close family friends just moved from NYC to Somerville. I've known her since she was two. Her older sister was my best friend, and our families did so much together: vacations, daycare, hikes, canoe camping trips, potlucks, berry picking, pretend...the list goes on. This weekend, she and her partner moved a block away from my current apartment and while I'm looking forward to a socially-distant wave of welcome, it's going to be so hard not to hug her.
Hugs have been the hardest thing in all of this. I have a friend who is, in her words, "not a hugger." But each time I leave a socially-distant, outside conversation with her, she says, "It feels weird not to hug you; I can't wait until we can hug again." Me, too, friend.
It's not just friends, it's family, too. So many people just want to hug their family, but can't. While we may be communicating more with our loved ones via phone and video chat, platonic physical affection is lacking. One friend and I decided upon a curtsy while holding our arms out as a way of acknowledging each other while sending "air hugs." Other friends tell me they're trying so much harder to smile with their eyes now, since friends can't see their face. Our body language has become more important, the macro movements having to stand in for the micro.
Once upon a time, I taught mask work at a summer camp. In addition to honoring the mask you put on, participants weren't allowed to make noises. The challenge was to take on the physical body movements associated with the mask. I've started to think of this when I mask up to leave the house: do I need to "put on" a more expressive version of myself when I mask up? What emotions can I project, and how do I go about doing this?
How are you showing affection in this time of distancing? How will the CE (COVID Era) affect your actions in the distant future? Have you created or adopted any expressions to compensate for masks and distancing?
-Marika
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Read our reopen policies and updated hours! |
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Thanks to all our friends who've visited so far -- it's been wonderful to see everyone's face (well, the top half above the mask anyway) and we're so grateful to everyone who has been so respectful of our policies!
Updated In-Store Shopping Hours:
Tuesday-Friday: 3PM-7PM
Saturday: 9AM-6PM, with 9AM-11AM set aside for vulnerable customers
Sunday: 3PM-7PM
We really appreciate your support!
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Join our next virtual events! |
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William Darity Jr. and A. Kirsten Mullen
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Today’s black-white wealth gap originated with the unfulfilled promise of 40 acres in 1865. The payment of this debt in the 21st century is feasible—and at least 155 years overdue. In From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century, William Darity Jr. and A. Kirsten Mullen advance a general definition of reparations as a program of acknowledgment, redress, and closure. Acknowledgment constitutes the culpable party’s admission of responsibility for the atrocity; admission should include recognition of the damages inflicted upon the enslaved and their descendants and the advantages gained by the culpable party. Redress constitutes the acts of restitution; the steps taken to “heal the wound.” In this context, it means erasure of the black-white wealth gap. Closure constitutes an agreement by both the victims and the perpetrators that the account is settled. |
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Megan Collins with Megan Miranda
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Join us for a virtual event with Megan Collins, discussing her new novel Behind the Red Door in conversation with Megan Miranda! This event is free and open to all, and is hosted on Crowdcast.
The author of the “suspenseful, atmospheric, and completely riveting” (Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author) debut The Winter Sister returns with a darkly thrilling new novel.
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When Fern Douglas sees the news about Astrid Sullivan, a thirty-four-year-old missing woman from Maine, she is positive that she knows her. Fern’s husband is sure it’s because of Astrid’s famous kidnapping—and equally famous return—twenty years ago, but Fern has no memory of that, even though it happened an hour outside her New Hampshire hometown. With the help of her psychologist father, Fern digs deeper, hoping to find evidence that her connection to Astrid can help the police locate her. But when Fern discovers more about her own past than she ever bargained for, the disturbing truth will change both of their lives forever. |
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Want to show your love of Porter Square Books? Order your very own Porter Square Books T-shirt! |
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Old Hollywood: From Page to Screen |
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Hollywood Goes to War: World War II
Part I
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The United States entered World War II in late 1941 after the Japanese decided to bomb Pearl Harbor on December 7th and the Germans declared war two days later. However, even before then, Hollywood was cranking out war films; some were quickly made and forgotten and others became classics.
One of the earliest was 1939’s Confessions of a Nazi Spy – considered the first anti-Nazi film to be produced by a major studio, this film was based on articles written by former FBI agent Leon G. Turrou and starred Edward G. Robinson and Paul Lukas. Alfred Hitchcock’s second Hollywood production, Foreign Correspondent was made in 1940 and based on author Vincent Sheean’s memoir Personal History. Joel McCrea starred along with Herbert Marshall. The same year Charlie Chaplin wrote, directed, produced and starred in The Great Dictator playing both a fascist dictator and a Jewish barber. Interesting trivia: this is considered Chaplin’s first talking picture.
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A taut thriller, made in England by director Carol Reed, Night Train To Munich was based on the short story, Report on a Fugitive (1939) by author Gordon Wellesley. Margaret Lockwood and Rex Harrison starred. An early World War II production, A Yank in the R.A.F, was produced in 1941 and based on a story by Darryl F. Zanuck, the head of 20th Century Fox studios. Tyrone Power and Betty Grable co-starred. Set on the eve of America’s entry into the war, Warner Brothers’ Across the Pacific (1942) was based on articles in the Saturday Evening Post (1941) by Robert Carson. |
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And then came one of the most iconic films made during this period – Casablanca – a 1942 romantic drama based on the stage play, Everyone Comes to Rick’s (1940) by Murray Burnett and Joan Allison, with Humphrey Bogart as love-sick Rick and Ingrid Bergman as the elusive Ilsa. This film won three Oscars including Best Picture and remains to this day one of Hollywood’s most popular pictures. Interesting trivia: The entire film was shot on the Warner Brothers’ lot with only one airport exterior. Inspired by the novel Mrs. Miniver by Jan Struther, William Wyler directed the M-G-M 1942 release starring Best Actress Oscar winner Greer Garson. The same year Noel Coward’s In Which We Serve, based on the exploits of Lord Louis Mountbatten, was released to great acclaim. |
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Other films based on books produced in the early part of the 1940’s include: 1943’s Cry Havoc,based on a play (1942) by Allan R. Kenward and starred Margaret Sullavan and Joan Blondell; Since You Went Away (1944), adapted by David O. Selznick from the novel Since You Went Away: Letters to a Soldier from His Wife (1943) by Margaret Buell Wilder. The movie starred Claudette Colbert, Robert Walker and Shirley Temple; The White Cliffs of Dover (1944) from the novel The White Cliffs by Alice Duer Miller. An M-G-M production, Claudine West wrote the screenplay and Irene Dunne, Roddy McDowell, Frank Morgan and Gladys Cooper starred.
Hollywood was well represented in the Armed Forces and some actors who enlisted and fought in World War II are: James Stewart (Army Air Corps); David Niven (Royal Army); Paul Newman (U.S. Navy); Beatrice Arthur (U. S. Marine Corps Women’s Reserve); Clark Gable (U.S. Army Air Forces); Mel Brooks (U.S. Army); Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. (U. S. Navy); Burt Lancaster (U.S. Army) and Tyrone Power (U.S M. C. pilot) among many others.
--Nathan
Next Up: Hollywood Goes to War: World War II - Part II
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Visit your friends at Cafe Zing! |
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Did you know our beloved Cafe Zing is open for customers? Now you know!
Open Wednesday-Saturday, 8AM-2PM! See you and your extra-shot, biggest-size-you-have iced latte at the cafe.
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For me, craft projects happen one of two ways.
One, you spend a lovely evening with a glass of wine and a few friends, pasting random magazine clippings to the side of cardboard canisters (destined to be pencil holders) and trying not to get the glue on the cheese plate. Inevitably towards the end of the evening you're more consumed with chatting than crafting, so you throw on whatever's left on the floor - a glossy lioness from Nat Geo or a pithy, trimmed headline perfectly removed from context - and call it a night. It becomes an ode to the evening, not necessarily your best work, but something that will make you smile, guaranteed.
Two, you realize that a homemade collaged card would be the only way to express how much someone means to you, and only the most meaningful images and text will do, and is this the right spot for this giant gold urn, or should it overlay the map of the falls we hiked two summers ago?, and the next thing you know you're stressed, sticky with rubber cement, and two hours late for the aforementioned beloved someone's birthday party, but you've got the perfect card! If only you had the energy to celebrate...
There's a reason I love buddy-crafting! It's easy to get intensely involved in what you're working in when you're working alone, and sometimes you need that break from whatever else is on your mind, but when you're looking for a break in the intensity? You need a buddy. That might be challenging these days, so here are a few socially-distanced ideas for buddy crafting.
- The simplest solution is sometimes the best solution! Find a friend and choose your project, whether that's collage, coloring, painting, knitting, sewing, sock puppeting. Meet over the video platform of your choosing and enjoy companionable chatter as you create, and don't forget show and tell at the end.
- Outdoor crafting is its own pleasure. For this, you want to choose a craft that doesn't have very many moving parts so it won't flutter away in the breeze, and have your buddy bring their own materials so you're not sharing. Plunk down in a park and while away a few hours! My favorite version of this: Find whatever knicknacks have been gathering dust, a can of gold paint, and a paintbrush. Gold plate your life! Makes a great garden accent and soothing as all get out.
- Tag team the same craft! How you do this depends on the craft itself, but you could start drawing or collaging a picture and mail or scan it to a friend to finish; have your friend begin a knitting project and swap halfway through; or you could each work on different parts of the same project. For example, I am a hobbyist wheelthrower and my best friend loves weaving macrame, so at one point I made a pot that she created a macrame wall hanging device for. Bonus points: then you can give it to a third beloved mutual friend.
- Find crafting communities to buddy up your solo projects. if you're the only one in your household who likes making clay miniatures, you may want to look up some friends who you can swap ideas and pictures with. Try Pinterest, Reddit and Google and no matter how niche your craft, you'll find someone else who loves creating in the same way, and, I'm willing to bet, a ton of inspiration from other people's projects.
--Leila
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We want to hear from you! |
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Have you stopped by the store now that we're reopened?
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Not me - I'm still shopping online and staying at home.
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I haven't yet, but I'm planning to visit this summer!
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Porter Square Books is proud to partner with the Prison Book Program to help provide access to books to people in prison. Order any title off this wish list and select the "Curbside Pick Up" shipping option and we'll give to the Prison Book Program to distribute. |
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Antiracism Books: A Place to Start |
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Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline, read by Michelle St. John
A bold and brilliant new indigenous voice in contemporary literature makes her American debut with this kinetic, imaginative, and sensuous fable inspired by the traditional Canadian Métis legend of the Rogarou—a werewolf-like creature that haunts the roads and woods of native people’s communities.
“Cherie Dimaline’s latest novel packs a wallop of a story. Absolutely stunning in every way, this latest offering follows the story of Joan, whose husband has disappeared, and her courage when confronted with truths and lies. She and her husband, Victor, live in a Métis community, close and tight knit. As Joan deals with the fallout of her emotions after Victor disappears, she comes across another man, Eugene Wolff, who bears her husband’s face. He does not carry Victor’s memories and insists he has no idea who Joan’s husband is. Turning over rocks to find the truth, Joan reaches out to whomever she can in her community for help. What waits for her at the end of her quest is incredible. This novel will have you at the edge of your seat!” --Annie Carl, The Neverending Bookshop
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Digital Audio Books:
A terrific way to support local indies!
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Want book recommendations, personalized just for you?
Fill out our 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!
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Our 'get 3 paperbacks' bundle options have expanded to include Caleb, Meaghan, and Shana! Get 3 paperbacks handpicked by the bookseller that fit in with their theme. You can find all bundles. |
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EXPANDED OPTIONS:
Journals, Stationery & Crafts
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Sometimes a new notebook is what it takes to get the juices flowing!
We have now made a much wider variety of notebooks, journals, and even calendars available for order from our website, like this classic Moleskin. Now, along with items with an inventory status of "On Our Shelves Now," you can order journals, notebooks, diaries, calendars, planners, and more with an inventory status of "Available at Warehouses."
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Face Masks
Face coverings are going to be with us for a while, so we’re now offering non-medical grade cloth masks (including kid size) from a variety of makers. Right now quantities are limited, but additional styles are on the way. We’ll keep you posted! |
Book Bundle Offerings
Make your shopping easy by buying bundles, handpicked by our expert booksellers!
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Our dear friend Neil reads the first chapter of The Graveyard Book!
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Support Cafe Zing Baristas! |
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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?
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New month, new discounts! Check out what our booksellers are loving this summer. |
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Featured Staff Pick for Children |
This book feels like a warm hug. It’s beautiful, it’s sweet, and it made me smile. Just the book for when I was feeling like I needed some seam repairs and fresh stuffing myself.
--Stacey
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Featured Staff Pick for Adults |
Stephen Graham Jones draws on Blackfeet culture (and the myriad ways in which indigenous culture exists in the modern United States) to create a masterful horror novel about guilt, grief, and revenge. These characters are haunted, both figuratively and literally, by both tradition and the ways they've broken from it. And the prose is just gorgeous (and gory--this is the most beautiful book I've ever read that also made me cringe, set it aside, and sleep with the lights on. I'm wary around motorcycles now!).
--Kate
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See you next time here at Shelf Stable! |
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Did you miss an installment, or want to share with a friend? The Shelf Stable Archive has all our past issues! |
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And don't forget to subscribe to our Events Newsletter for the full line up of events coming up, and our Kids Newsletter for all the latest on events, new books, reviews, and more for young and young-at-heart readers.
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Looking for other ways to keep up with us? Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube: |
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25 White St. Cambridge, MA 02140
617-491-2220
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