Ye Olde Partners Page

*Christmas Hangover Edition*

"But the most difficult task of all
that a mortal man can embark on is to sell a book . . ."
--Stanley Unwin, The man who discovered Tolkien

LIBRIS THE BOOKSELLING ELF

Libris the Elf squirmed in the chair and looked around Santa's waiting room. It was spartan. There were two chairs and a coffee table with an array of Highlights magazines on it. The only picture on the wall was a panoramic photo of the North Pole. Libris nervously tapped his green elf shoe. The Big Guy was in his office and he wasn't going to be happy with what Libris had to say. Libris wanted to be a bookseller. Yes really, a bookseller. He recalled the last time something like this happened and it hadn't gone well. Hermey the Elf had wanted to become a dentist and it had turned into a big production. There had been talk of a movie. Meanwhile, Hermey had been ostracized by the other elves, and eventually he had had to flee the North Pole. Libris was hoping it wouldn't come to that . . .

The door to Santa's office opened and his assistant ushered him in, "Santa will see you now."

Libris crept in. Santa didn't look up from his papers and asked, "Libris, what can I do for you? And make it quick, those presents for the Laplanders aren't going to deliver themselves."

Libris took off his Phyrgian cap, kneaded its brim with both hands, and blurted out, "Santa, I want to be a bookseller!"

Kris Kringle looked up from his papers, arched an eyebrow, and shook his head.

Libris continued, "Sir, I'm just not cut out for this toy making thing. I get excited about new releases like Dean Koontz's 77 Shadow Street (9780553807714) 28.00 and W.E.B. Griffin's Covert Warriors (9780399157806) 27.95."

Santa cleared his throat, "Now look, Libris, I don't think you realize how difficult it is to be a bookseller. It makes working with me look like a walk in the park."

"But, Santa, I would be so good at it. For example, let's say that a lady after Christmas asks me about a new diet book and I would say, 'Oh yes, I've heard good things about this South Beach Wake Up Call (9781605293325) 27.99 by Arthur Agatston. Also, The Petite Advantage Diet (9780062025456) 25.99 by Jim Karas has been flying under the radar.' See."

"Humph," Santa replied.

"Sir, I would be really good at recommending titles like Richard Rhode's Hedy's Folly (9780385534383) 26.95 for readers who like quirky World War II stories."

"Hedley," Santa cut in.

"Hedley?"

Santa looked up from his desk, "You know 'Hedley.' I thought we were doing a bit here," Santa shifted in his seat and shook his head, "At any rate, Libris, why don't I transfer you from toys to new book title acquisitions, and then you'll see how easy you really had it in your old department. Ho, ho, ho!"

Odds & Sods

John Grisham's surprise blockbuster The Litigators (9780385535137) 28.95 is back in stock. You won't have to sue anyone to get this book in your store . . .
Smokin' Joe Tait's authobiography Joe Tait: It's Been a Real Ball (9781598510706) is also in stock . . .
The holiday sleeper Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site (9780811877824) 16.99 is here. It's clever, but it's still no Goodnight Keith Moon (9780956011923) 10.95 by Bruce Wooten and Clare Cross . . .

The Partners family would like to wish one and all a very Happy New Year!

Ye Olde Partners Page

*A Collection of Antiquarian Curios & Relics*

"Everybody does have a book in them,
but in most cases that's where it should stay . . ."
--Christopher Hitchens, author of Arguably (9781455502776) 30.00

CAUSE HE'S GOING THE DISTANCE, HE'S GOING FOR SPEED

So as we circle the drain a few more times before the end of the holiday season, it gives me the opportunity to update you on the arrival of our last minute bestsellers . . .

Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs (9781451648539) 35.00 -- It is shipping 12/22 from the publisher and it (obviously) won't be here until next week.

Stephen King's 11/22/63 (9781451627282) 35.00 was supposedly back in stock at the publisher on 12/20, but we'll have to wait and see if we get any actual stock from it. Caroline Kennedy's Jacqueline Kennedy (9781401324254) 60.00 might be a good stop-gap measure.

Speaking of Jack Kennedy, Chris Matthews' title Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero (9781451635089) 27.50 has lived up to its subtitle. Recently, stock has been exceedingly elusive. However, we had a big chunk come in today.

P.D. James' Death Comes To Pemberly (9780307959850) 25.95 -- Our shipment has been lost. God only knows when it will get here.

Bill O'Reilly's Killing Lincoln (9780805093070) 28.00 -- It is backordered at the publisher so it won't be here until at least next week. I would suggest James Swanson's Manhunt (9780060518509) 15.99 as an alternative.

I know that Stephen Spielberg's new movie isn't even out yet, but we've sold out of the movie tie-in for War Horse (9780545403351) 8.99 like a bajillion times already. It is back in stock. Get 'em while you can.

The Chadinator's Art of Fielding (9780316126694) 25.99 hasn't gone the traditional bestseller route. It did sell well out of the gate, didn't sell for a couple of months, and then 'Boom!' It was basically gone in one day. Again, I don't think we're going to see this one before Christmas.

First it wasn't coming back in before Christmas, then it was, then it wasn't, and now we're expecting copies of The LEGO Ideas Book (9780756686062) 24.99 in tomorrow. Whatever.

Odds & Sods

Rob Reischel's Aaron Rodgers: Leader of the Pack (9781600786457) 22.95 is back in but going fast. Also, Dr. Jim's Green Bay: A City & Its Team (9780615444642) 39.95 is back in, too . . .

Author Christopher Hitchens lost his battle with esophageal cancer and passed away last Thursday. He was 62 years old. We have copies of Hitch 22 (9780446540346) 14.99 and God Is Not Great (9780446697965) 14.99 on a publisher order . . .

I'd like to wish everyone a very happy holiday and we'll look forward to seeing you again after all of the insanity.

Ye Olde Partners Page

*A Collection of Antiquarian Curios & Relics*

"I started Early -- Took my Dog--
And visited the Sea--
The Mermaids in the Basement
Came out to look at me--"
--Emily Dickinson, 520

1) THE CHILLER'S TALE . . . You know those kids that have been pestering you for four years about Jonathan Rand's next Michigan Chiller? Well, you'll finally get them off of your back for a couple of weeks because we have received Michigan Chillers #15: Calumet Copper Creatures (9781893699663) 5.99. Also, as an added bonus, we have Jonathan Rand's new American Chiller #32: Idaho Ice Beast (9781893699311) 5.99 in stock, too. These titles make great stocking stuffers and these are probably two of the few series that teen boys will actually read. Hopefully, we won't have to wait another four years for the next Michigan Chiller . . .

2) PACK ATTACK . . . We have Dr. James Hurley's Green Bay: A City & Its Team (9780615444642) 39.95 in stock. This is a gorgeous coffee table book for the true Packers' fan. The good doctor did not cut any corners in the production of this title and it is a steal at this price. We are also expecting a reprint of future Hall of Fame receiver Donald Driver's kids title Quickie Goes to the Big Game (9780615548715) 19.95 in today. Finally, Rob Reischel's Aaron Rodgers: Leader of the Pack (9781600786457) 22.95 should be here in a few days. It was shipped from the publisher on the December 13. It made me think of this:

"Is she really going out with him?
Well, there she is. Let's ask her.
Jessica, is that Aaron's ring you're wearing?
Mmm-hmm.
Gee, it must be great cheering him on.
Is he picking you up after the game?
Uh-uh . . .
That's when I fell for the Leader of the Pack."

3) A SMORGASBORD OF FUN . . . We have a plethora of hot titles back in. Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs (9781451648539) 35.00 is in stock. By the way, Apple's founding document sold today for $1.6 million. The surprise bestseller Thinking, Fast and Slow (9780374275631) 30.00 by Daniel Kahneman is here. Speaking of legendary quarterbacks in the making, we have a few copies of Tim Tebow's Through My Eyes (9780062007285) 26.99 left in the stash. Lastly, we are still expecting the LEGO Ideas Book (9780756686062) 24.99 to be back in stock on December 16. Backorders are piling up . . .

Odds & Sods

John was kind enough to get us some signed copies of Amy Ackley's Sign Language (9780670013180) 16.99. Obviously, first come, first served. Also, we still have signed bookplates for Jan Brett's Home for Christmas (9780399256530) 17.99. For the perfect gift for the young reader, we have signed copies of Carol Crane's Christmas Tree Ship (9781585362851) 15.95 available . . .

For Cleveland sports fans, we are expecting more Joe Tait: It's Been a Real Ball (9781598510706) 15.95 on either this Friday or Monday . . .

Ye Olde Partners Page

*A Collection of Antiquarian Curios & Relics*

"I don't mind stealing bread
from the mouths of decadence
But I can't feed on the powerless
when my cup's already overfilled . . ."
--Temple of the Dog, Hunger Strike

Alternatingly Flailing and Paddling in the Stream of Consciousness

So as is my habit, I was prepping myself for my busy day by reading the latest Shelf Awareness. Much to my chagrin, I noticed in the Book Brahmin that the author had incorrectly spelled Hunter S. Thompson, not once but twice in the same article. I, too, well know the pitfalls of getting names wrong in a newsletter, but it's Hunter S. 'Freakin'' Thompson! If Mr. Thompson were still alive, I'm sure he would be at this author's door with several large calibre guns in hand. As it is, he's probably going to have to deal with Johnny Depp.

Call me converted. Kelley from Minneapolis seems to have a knack for finding good selling mid-list titles that most booksellers probably overlook. (Hey, I'm including myself in that statement.) She was right on the mark with Laura Schroff's An Invisible Thread: The True Story of an 11-Year-Old Panhandler, a Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meeting with Destiny (9781451642513) 25.00. I believe the subtitle sums it up succinctly. It could be the feel good hit of the holidays. Her other recent selection that's not a 'feel good hit' would be Caroline Moorehead's Train In Winter: An Extraordinary Story of Women, Friendship, and Resistance in Occupied France (9780061650703) 27.99. We've sold out for a second time, but we should have stock shortly. Everybody hates the Nazis.

Speaking of France, the movie The Adventures of Tintin (9780316185738) 4.99, courtesy of some guys named Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg, will be debuting December 21. Apparently its release in France broke all of their box office records. It does looks pretty cool from the trailer. I mentioned Michael Morpurgo's War Horse (9780545403351) 8.99 last week, which is also a Spielberg production. Finally, the last big movie tie-in for the year will be Stieg Larsson's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (9780307454546) 14.95. This isn't normally a movie I would be interested in, but I do like Daniel Craig so I might check it out. Also, Trent Reznor co-wrote the soundtrack and that sounds kind of intriguing. The movie cover is available in the 'premium edition' (9780307949486) 9.99 and a tradepaper edition (9780307949493) 15.95.

I've decided that my favourite title of the year is Kate Atkinson's Started Early, Took My Dog (9780316066747) 14.99. I have no idea what her novel is about, but what a wonderful, wonderful title . . .

Odds & Sods

Julie from Time^TM magazine wanted me to mention a couple of cute kid's cookbooks. Not to be confused with Sleeping Bear's alphabet series, Sesame Street's B is for Baking (9780470638866) 16.99 and SpongeBob's Kitchen Mission Cookbook (9780470639443) 16.99 would make great gifts for youngsters who yearn to cook . . .

I missed one movie tie-in book. Jonathan Foer's Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (9780547735023) 14.95 is a starring vehicle for Tom Hanks and Jesse James' ex-wife Sandra Bullock. It opens on January 20 . . .