Spotted While Shopping

In Waterstone's:

Pre-awareness displays for forthcoming big books. An offer of a free Ian McEwan backlist title if you pre-order Solar at the store. Another deal on the next Lee Child. This sort of stuff won't appeal to everyone but I think it is an encouraging move. Rewarding bookshop customers for actually shopping and ordering in the branches themselves is a good thing to see. Also, the book world has always been shit when it comes to making people aware of publication dates. Perhaps things are starting to change? I tried to introduce something similar at Waterstone's when I was there 10 years ago but the store operations team were having none of it. Would have been too complicated for stores to deal with, apparently.

Delighted to see The Elegance of the Hedgehog at #14 in their paperback chart.

And laughed out loud when I saw a display of books chosen by local author Chas Newkey-Burden. He is perhaps the only person who would have The Diary of Anne Frank next to a Cheryl Cole biography. Excellent stuff.

In HMV:

I bought the new Joanna Newsom 3CD set. So far it strikes me as the best Kate Bush album Kate Bush never made. She is also looking extremely hot in the booklet. Blimey.

They are selling Cadbury's Creme Eggs. That is a good thing. But they were 59p. When did that happen?

In the library:

They Is Us by Tama Janowitz was in the Quick Picks section. Hurrah!

Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips was in the Children's section. I moved it. Don't want the youngsters reading about Apollo giving Aphrodite one in the bathroom, now do we?

Picked up a leaflet about the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Apparently I can get access to it online from home for free by using my library card. I just log in here with my card number. Sweet as a nut.

And got back to find a Barclaycard statement for 1p waiting for me. Might send them cash.

Comments

[Carol]

Our joy is that the charts are now back to being local charts rather than national, hence the Elegance of the Hedgehog at No.14.

Offering backlist freebies is a hit and miss affair, as fans have it or have read it. Still a great idea though for those more recently come to the author. I loved the Ottakar's promotion where an author's first book in a series, for example, was offered at 99p, and the rest were on 3 for 2. Opened up new audiences for authors, and introduced new authors to audiences.

But Joanna Newsome? Arrggh - can't stand her voice. Still - to each their own. :)

[Carol]

And before you correct my spelling mistake:

Joanna Newsom

:)

[Chas Newkey-Burden]

Haha! It certainly was an eclectic line-up I chose!

http://www.oyvagoy.com/2010/01/31/what-have-martin-gilbert-and-cheryl-cole-got-in-common/

[Kerry]

I apologize for this shameful promotional plug. I am conducting a giveaway at my book blog and thought, as a fellow book blogger, you (or your readers) may be interested in the chance to win free books (with a wide range of choices). You may have heard of the Tournament of Books, but, if not, you can read all about it over at my place.

I hope this comment is not intrusive or unwanted. I apologize if it is.

[friend of rachel worth]

I think it sums up the book world and release dates that someone thinks it is a good idea to release all the big pre xmas books on the same day on super duper thursday. It would be like Universal or whoever saying i know what let's hold back the new bond film and release it on the same day as the next harry potter , that should get us some press

[Dan]

If it's the same initiative as Essex libraries you can also access all of the OED online as well.

Downloaded Newsom this week and am suitably impressed with Kate Bush/Joni MItchell/Laura Nyro mash up with harps.

[Marie]

I will be arrested for corrupting young minds...