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Open for Shipping, Delivery, & Curbside Pickup!
Our physical store is closed, but you can still shop online!
DUE TO THE HIGH VOLUME OF SALES & THE LIMITED NUMBER OF BOOKSELLERS THAT CAN SAFELY BE IN THE STORE WE ARE RUNNING SEVERAL DAYS BEHIND IN PROCESSING ONLINE ORDERS.
This is a wonderful problem to have and we are so thankful for your support. Please see the website for more details.
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“Yea, I shall return with the tide.”―
Khalil Gibran
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It has now been about 3-1/2 months since we closed to the public. Boy, do I miss everyone. We've turned our business upside down - our store looks like a warehouse, we're sometimes days behind in fulfilling orders, we're delivering and shipping from an empty store, or handing off packages from shelves that used to be for browsing books but have been commandeered to store paper bags filled with your purchases - but the most important difference has been that we haven't seen you. In fact, since we have severely limited the number of staff in the store at a time, we haven't even seen much of each other.
During this time you, our community, have come out in a huge way to support us online - buying in unimaginable numbers from our website, engaging with us in social media, appreciating this very newsletter - and our staff has been equally unimaginably creative and diligent: taking on jobs they never signed up to do, under conditions that are so far afield from anything we would have considered normal at the beginning of March. And all told - as things go and considering the circumstances - we've been doing pretty well.
But, you should pardon my directness, it sucks. Running an online fulfillment business is not why any of us got into bookselling, and having no interaction with customers is not the way we find satisfaction and meaning in our work. We want, we
need
, to get back into the store with customers. According to the governor, we could have opened a few weeks ago, but we just didn't feel we were ready to do it safely. After a few weeks of making plans, fiddling with our procedures and our floor plan, cleaning the piles of books off the floor, we have decided with some trepidation and enormous excitement, that
now is the time.
I will immediately admit to you that we don't know if we're doing this right - everything is so new and different for all of us that the best we can do is plan for what we think might happen and try to be prepared to deal with what actually happens, which will almost certainly be something other than what we planned for. We will always try to be thoughtful and reasonable and compassionate, but we will undoubtedly make mistakes. We will tweak and adjust and try to learn as we go along, but we will not always get it right, at least not the first time.
So we beg your indulgence as we together embark on this latest adventure. From what we've heard from you, you're as excited to get back into the store as we are, so the game is worth the candle as the saying goes. I again take the opportunity to shout out our incredible group of co-owners (aphabetically by last name), Josh, Ellen, Marika, Leila, Kate, Katie, Sarah, Todd, Robin, Dale and Stacey, my amazing co-est of co-owners, Dina, and our indefatigable staff whom I won't all name but who as a group do everything that makes Porter Square Books the place you love. We can't wait to see you.
--David
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Read our reopen procedures and policies!
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Dear Shelf Stable readers, we really feel we have gotten so close in the past months; you've been such an invaluable part of our quarantine experience and we hope you've felt the same! That's why you're the
first to know all the details of our reopening plan, which has not been publicly announced.
We've thought about, discussed, debated, planned, lifted, shoved, shelved, sanitized, repeat on this topic, and we've come up with some crucial guidelines on how to keep our employees and our community safe. A lot of that planning is made up of actions we're taking on our end, and we wanted you to know about them! But just as crucial is the cooperation of you, our customers. We know that coming back to the store right now isn't going to be the exact same experience you're used to, but we're determined to keep the safety and health of staff and customers in the front of our minds, and we gently ask that you respect our new guidelines and our booksellers. We're so grateful to be part of a community that we know will want to uphold the same values!
What We’re Doing to Keep Our Employees and Customers Safe
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We’ve moved some things around so it’s easier for things to flow in a single direction – we’ll give you a map
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We’re limiting the number of customers and employees in the store at any one time
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The furniture is gone for the time being
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Touchless hand sanitizer dispensers are available at the door and within the store
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Computers, registers and other surfaces that see lots of activity are cleaned regularly
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We’ve installed plexiglass shields in front of the registers and the information desk
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Receipts and coupons are now electronic
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We’re following applicable guidelines from CDC, Massachusetts and the City of Cambridge
What We’re Requesting of You: Some Highlights (please read the
full list
, too!)
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Ten customers will be allowed in the store at once. If a line forms outside, please observe the marks on the pavement for proper spacing.
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Masks, covering your nose and mouth, are required at all times.
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Enjoy your browsing, but please try to limit yourself to 20-30 minutes in the store and physically distance from others as much as possible.
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All pickup of online orders will still be curbside, outside the store.
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We still love dogs – but they won't be allowed in the store for the time being.
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Our restrooms will not be open to customers (sorry!)
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Most of all, please respect the health and safety of our employees and others in the store.
In-Store Shopping Hours, Starting
Tuesday, July 14:
Tuesday-Friday: 3PM-7PM
Saturday: 10AM-2PM, with 10AM-12PM set aside for vulnerable customers
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Join our next virtual events!
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Damien Echols
Angels and Archangels,
Tuesday, July 14th at 7PM
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Join us for a talk with Damien Echols, hosted on Crowdcast! This event is free and open to all.
“Angels do not belong to any one single religion, system, or dogma,” teaches Damien Echols. “They are almost pure energy—the very substance the cosmos is made of. They’re also incredibly willing to work with us if asked.”
With
Angels and Archangels,
this bestselling author presents an essential resource for understanding what angels are, how they make themselves available, and magickal practices to invoke their power to transform your life. In this lucid and information-packed guide, Damien shares his unique understanding and experience of magickal practices refined in the crucible of his wrongful death row imprisonment.
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J. Courtney Sullivan with Joanna Rakoff
Friends and Strangers,
Thursday, July 16th at 7PM
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Porter Square Books is delighted to welcome J. Courtney Sullivan in conversation with Joanna Rakoff for
Friends and Strangers!
Hosted on Crowdcast, this event is free and open to all.
An insightful, hilarious, and compulsively readable novel about a complicated friendship between two women who are at two very different stages in life, from the best-selling author of
Maine
and
Saints for All Occasions
(named one of the
Washington Post
's Ten Best Books of the Year and a
New York Times
Critics' Pick). A masterful exploration of motherhood, power dynamics, and privilege in its many forms,
Friends and Strangers
reveals how a single year can shape the course of a life.
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Mini Illustration Giveaway!
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The wonderful authors/illustrators
Ruth Chan
and
Elisha Cooper
organized #kidlitartsurprise. Through their efforts, we have received gorgeous mini illustrations (originals) by several illustrators who wanted to help support indie bookstores right now.
For every order with a hardcover kids picture book, you will receive one mini illustration (chosen at random - they're all lovely!). You can get an original by one of the following awesome creators:
You don't have to get a book illustrated by one of the contributors, though they'd surely appreciate it (several have new books! Each name above is linked to the illustrator's work on our website). Check out some of the awesome illustrations below:
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Want to show your love of Porter Square Books? Available for 2 weeks only, order your very own Porter Square Books T-shirt!
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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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Miss getting great recommendations from your favorite booksellers? Never quite got the hang of the whole online orders thing? Now you can sign up for a time slot to chat with a bookseller! Currently available on Saturday and Sunday between 10-4 pm.
Up this weekend: Meaghan on Saturday and Stacey on Sunday!
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Antiracism Books: A Place to Start
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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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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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Old Hollywood: From Page to Screen
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At Bat: Hollywood Plays Ball
Sports films
have been made in Hollywood since the era of silent films. One classic theme for such films is the triumph of an individual, or team, who prevail despite the odds. In the early days most silent sports films were about football; however, in 1898
the first known film, appropriately called
The Ball Game,
about baseball was made. The film was produced by the Edison Company and
is available to screen.
Casey at Bat
, based on Ernest Thayer’s famous poem, was made into a film in 1915 and 1927 (both are lost). Babe Ruth starred as himself in a silent film called
Headin’ Home
in 1920;
Death on the Diamond
was a 1934 comedy-mystery film starring Robert Young. It was adapted from the novel
Death on the Diamond: A Baseball Mystery Story
by author Cortland Fitzsimmons.
One of the most celebrated films about baseball was produced in 1942 by Samuel Goldwyn:
The Pride of the Yankees
starred Gary Cooper as the legendary Lou Gehrig. Based on an original story by Paul Gallico about the famed Yankee, the script was written by Jo Swerling and Herman Mankiewicz. Interesting trivia: this film was released one year after Lou Gehrig died at the age of 37.
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Yankee slugger (and former Red Sox pitcher) Babe Ruth got the Hollywood treatment in a 1948 film.
The Babe Ruth Story, was based on the book
The Babe Ruth Story by Bob Considine and Babe Ruth. Starring William Bendix, this film received negative reviews and has not aged well. Interesting trivia: Babe Ruth died three weeks after the film was released.
M-G-M produced a Technicolor musical
Take Me Out to the Ball Game, taking its title from the popular song. Written by Harry Tugend and George Wells, the movie starred Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly and Esther Williams. Another M-G-M baseball confection was
Angels in the Outfield,
a 1951 comedy
starring Paul Douglas
and Janet Leigh from
a story by author Richard Conlin. One of the most popular baseball films was
Damn Yankees
(1958), based on the Broadway hit musical by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop, which was a modern take on the Faust legend. Gwen Verdon sizzled as Lola and her dance routines were considered so risqué that they had to be toned down for mainstream America.
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The Stratton Story (1949) tells the true story of Monty Stratton, a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox who lost a leg in a hunting accident, but is able return to baseball in triumph. Screenplay written by Guy Trosper and George Wells; James Stewart and June Allyson starred.
In 1955 famed Red Sox player Jimmy Piersall wrote his memoir,
Fear Strikes Out: The Jimmy Piersall Story and in 1958 Paramount Pictures produced a film with Anthony Perkins and Karl Malden as stars. Author Mark Harris’s 1956 baseball novel,
Bang the Drum Slowly was given the Hollywood treatment in 1973 with a young Robert De Niro. The 1976 film,
The Bad News Bears, written by Bill Lancaster (son of Burt) was a huge hit and spawned two sequels and a TV series on CBS.
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The Natural was a 1984 film adapted from Bernard Malamud’s novel (1952) of the same name. The movie starred Robert Redford and an Oscar nominated Glenn Close. Actor Kevin Costner starred in two of the most successful baseball films: 1988’s
Bull Durham written by Ron Shelton based on his experiences as a minor-leaguer in Durham, NC.
Field of Dreams (1989) was based on W.P. Kinsella’s 1982 novel,
Shoeless Joe. A timeless baseball fantasy, the movie was a commercial hit with solid reviews. Author Kelly Candaele’s story about women’s professional baseball,
A League of Their Own was released in 1992 and starred Rosie O’Donnell, Geena Davis and Tom Hanks
.
Yankee Legend Number 7 Mickey Mantle died in Dallas August 1995.
The 2005 romantic comedy
Fever Pitch was based on the book by British author Nick Hornby. His book, and original 1997 film, was about the sport of soccer, but for American audiences he adapted the story to be about baseball and the celebrated, long-awaited Red Sox triumph in the 2004 World Series. Best-selling author Michael Lewis’s book
Moneyball: the Art of Winning in an Unfair Game (2003), released in 2011, and starred Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill. The movie was nominated for six Oscars and received positive critical response and good box-office.
An intriguing subject for films, baseball – American’s National Past Time - has provided Hollywood with many glorious stories of triumph and downfall, but nearly all were home-runs.
--
Nathan
Next Up - The Mysterious Mr. Poe
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A Burning
by Megha Majumdar, featuring a cast of readers
For readers of Tommy Orange, Yaa Gyasi, and Jhumpa Lahiri, an electrifying debut novel about three unforgettable characters who seek to rise--to the middle class, to political power, to fame in the movies--and find their lives entangled in the wake of a catastrophe in contemporary India.
“Majumdar’s suspenseful narrative holds a mirror up to society at large, reflecting the lies people tell themselves to rationalize sacrificing morality for personal gain. Unintended consequences from an impulsive social media post explode against a backdrop of deep economic insecurities and centuries-old prejudices. A searing debut, this novel is timely and timeless. It packs a punch way above its weight. Brilliant.”
--
Lisa Johnson, Penguin Bookshop
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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!
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Book Bundle Offerings
Make your shopping easy by buying bundles, handpicked by our expert booksellers!
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I have always tried to read books by authors from diverse backgrounds and identities as much as possible, but recently I have set myself a new reading challenge. For every book that I read from a white author, I have to follow it up with one by a BIPOC, specifically trying to seek out books by Black authors currently. I have also decided that if I buy a book by a white author, I also have to buy one by a BIPOC. This means that if I feel like I can’t afford to buy two books at once, I decide to wait or get them from the library instead. For me, making this a mental mandate (both on the reading front and the buying front) has given my reading more overt intention and helped me set more reading goals. So today, I wanted to talk a little about what I’ve been reading and also help some of you try to create new reading goals or find new ways to include diverse authors in your day-to-day reading habits. Also, don’t forget that reading books from the library also helps authors, so even if you can’t buy books right now, requesting and reading books from Black authors from the library is another great way to support them.
Some recent books by Black authors that I’ve loved:
- You Should See Me in a Crown, Leah Johnson. (this is also a staff pick this month, so get it for 20% off while it lasts!) Read if you love: Dumplin’; Love, Simon
- A Song of Wraiths and Ruins, Roseanne Brown. Read if you love: An Ember in the Ashes; Children of Blood and Bone
- A Song Below Water, Bethany C. Morrow. Read if you love: Dear Martin; Twilight
- Party of Two, Jasmine Guillory. Read if you love: The Kiss Quotient or if you’ve read Jasmine’s other books!
- The Boyfriend Project, Farrah Rochon. Read if you love: Jasmine Guillory’s books; The Right Swipe
- Take a Hint Dani Brown, Talia Hibbert. Read if you love: Red, White, and Royal Blue; The Unhoneymooners. (Also a discounted staff pick this month!)
Happy reading,
April
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Enjoy
As Fast As Words Can Fly, written by Pamela M. Tuck and read just for you by Dulé Hill!
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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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They're here! Check out our bookseller's favorite books this month, and enjoy that sweet, sweet discount.
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They say that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but you absolutely should because this cover delivers. The Belles brings forth the neverending misconception of how beauty means good, when in reality, beauty is dark and dangerous. The world that Dhonielle Clayton creates draws you in with beauty, but darkness and an unstable society is what you end up staying for. --
Sinny
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Someday soon, the impossible will happen. And in all likelihood, we won't even notice. --
John
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We want to hear from you!
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Are you excited that we're starting to reopen?
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Yes, but I'm not ready myself - I'll keep picking up/shipping my books!
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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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