walk through the bookstore with me

capitalism is a scam but let me sell you a book

Hey! You’re here. Thank you!

How are you? It’s wild out here. I know this time of year is lovely and wonderful blah blah blah, but here’s a permission slip to be grumpy. There is so much to be grumpy about! Reason number 3085 is that the world wants us to spend money on shit so damn bad. It’s unceasing!

Working in a small business has been eye opening in many ways, but nothing has surprised me more than the way the “holiday season” impacts our business. We would be nowhere without the boost that we hope to get every November/December in our little store. It’s simply imperative to our survival.

When you spend your money at Amazon or some other giant, nobody notices. I mean it. Absolutely no one cares. When you shop at a small business, your presence matters in every sense of the word. Your presence in the shop is noticed and appreciated. The money you spend makes a measurable and immediate impact not only on the independent bookstore or small business, but on the community as a whole. Instant gratification, baby! Serotonin hit from doing the right thing! Win win win!

This is just one more bookseller’s plea to consider supporting small bookstores whenever you can this season. It’s not an easy time to work in retail, but we love our people so deeply, and we want to keep serving you as long as we possibly can. If your life is even a little better because of the small businesses in your community, now is the time to support them!

One quick caveat though: if spending money on extra things is not in the cards for you this year, that’s okay. They want you to think that buying shit is the only way to be happy and we know, we know, that is a lie.

That said, if you do have the money to spend, I think it really matters where you spend it. Simply put, I think independent bookstores give your more for your money. Let me show you what I mean!

Let’s say you walk in to my store. A dream! Welcome! I love you! I’ll try not to come on too strong! Oops, too late for that.

First things first, I will give your dog a treat. I provide 20% better customer service to customers who bring their dogs.

Next, I’ll ask who your shopping for, and we’ll come up with a little stack together. Here’s some of what you, me, and your dog might pick up on our stroll through the store.

The concept of a Dad book is completely made up. What did I tell you about the great scam of capitalism? All Dads are not the same. Justice for Dads. But you know what? I think your Dad would really love The Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness, and the Making of Modern Sports by Michael Waters. It’s history and sports and it’s gay! Speaking of which this one would be great for your Dad and that one lesbian in your life who wears the Everyone Watches Women’s Sports shirt and won’t stop explaining how the WNBA expansion draft works. Actually come to think of it those two might get along.

This one is for anyone who has been clenching their jaw non-stop for approximately the last 48 days. Returning Home to Our Bodies by Abigail Rose Clarke is an accessible guide to how to live in these weird, cool bodies in this beautiful, terrible world. It’s for readers of Robin Wall Kimmerer and adrienne maree brown. It’s for your crunchy, earthy friends. It’s for you, you little stress bunny!

Now that we’ve returned home to our bodies on earth, let’s look to the sky! These two are for your friend who won’t stop googling if their saturn has returned. Chani Nicholas is my most trusted astrologer and her book You Were Born for This: Astrology for Self-Acceptance is essential for all of us ready to finally figure out what the heck our moon sign is. Pair this with Ash & Chess’s beautiful Queer Tarot deck and before you know it you and your bestie will be manifesting your way into your best year yet.

This one is for your loved one who is gay and tired. 2025 is not going to be an easy year for so many of us. Falling Back in Love with Being Human by Kai Cheng Thom is a tiny, tender handbook to staying here and loving our queer selves.

This one is for anyone who faked reading Braiding Sweetgrass because who has that kind of time? I’m kidding, I’ll never pretend… I haven’t reading Braiding Sweetgrass and I’m embarrassed about it okay?? But now, Robin Wall Kimmerer has given us this lovely little wonder. It’s got illustrations. One could read it in a sitting in front of the fire. It might offer a tiny bit of comfort in this burning hellscape. The older white ladies in my town love it! And I say that with all due respect because that’s about to be me.

This one is for your intimidatingly cool cousin. I got to sell books at a reading with Emma Copley Eisenberg recently at my local public library and she is extremely cool and smart. She was also so warm, kind, and generous. Housemates is about being young and queer, making art, and surviving in community. The publisher blurb calls it “a glorious celebration of queer life” and man I really need that right now.

Okay at this point, I have probably cracked too many jokes and I’m going to do the thing where I try not to hover awkwardly while you assess the unreasonable pile of books I have pulled for you and all your loved ones.

Me trying to be cool while I wait to see if you buy any of the books I recommended.

If this was even a little fun for you, try going to your local indie and asking a bookseller for help. They will be even smarter and cooler than me, and each of the books they recommend could unfold a whole new world. That’s the magic part.

Shop small. Be kind to yourself. Give your dog a treat. Give yourself a treat.

I love you.

Love,

Rosamond