"Parents should leave books lying around marked ‘forbidden’ if they want their children to read."
―
Doris Lessing
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I was both excited and nervous when we decided to open to customers in the store again. Excited, of course, to see actual human beings, to answer questions, to sell books and nervous, of course, because we couldn't be sure if the systems we set up would work, if customers would understand the safety protocols, and even still, a little, if it was safe at all. But then I had a very specific, very bookseller anxiety. Would I have any new books to recommend?
Booksellers often read books months before they come out, so we know how many copies we want to bring in the store, so we can prepare staff picks, so we can send blurbs to publishers, and so we can talk to readers about them even if they've only been out a day. But the time when I would have been reading books published in June and July was devoured by dealing with the pandemic. (I actually read my July staff pick
A Silent Fury by the certified genius Yuri Herrera in 2019!) Right now I know a lot more about great books coming out in September (and there are a lot of them) than I do about books that just came this week.
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The pandemic has asked all of us to reconsider a lot of what we used to take for granted in society and a lot of what we assume is "normal" for a society. "As soon as possible," now means something different, something slower, something more flexible, and (I would argue) something more sustainable. Maybe "new" is another one of those terms. Can we build a publishing industry that isn't obsessed with first week's sales? Can we, as booksellers, keep our shelves fresh and interesting while giving books the space and time to find their audience? Can we use our website in a way to give books a longer life? After all, books aren't sushi. They keep.
Josh
PS: But definitely buy all those great books when they come out in September!
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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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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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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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My sister has a new puppy and he is so unbearably cute I can't even handle it.
Yes, I swear, despite evidence to the contrary this is a dog, not a teddy bear, but I also can confirm that he is EXACTLY as soft and fluffy as he looks. His name is Wesley and he has his own instagram (
@the_wild_wild_wesley
) where you can go if you want to be overwhelmed by cuteness.
I've never been much of a dog person, but this makes me
want a puppy
. Then again, Mira was definitely not a fan, so I just have to stick with looking at books with
pretty
pictures
. Or maybe it's just time to
learn more
about canines in general!
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I can't wait until we're open enough to let dogs back into the store! He's already so excited about books!
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Wesley, you eat with your EYES, not your mouth.
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We've got some good recommendations for him too. Maybe he'd like a story about another
very good dog
? And--oh. Oh wait.
Where did Wesley go? And who is that mysterious masked pup?
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Uh oh. Guess he already started reading and now he's gotten some
ideas
from his name!
He's such a good and fluffy boy and officially my favorite nephew. I can't wait to see him again!
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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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Summer is in full swing, which for me has always meant it's time to head for the hills. Whether it's hiking, running, mountain biking, birdwatching, or just enjoying the fresh air and sunshine, this is usually the season to get out and go. Things are a little different this summer, so here are a few books that will make you FEEL like you're experiencing the great outdoors, even when you're safe and comfy at home. And as a little bonus nature for you, I've matched the covers to the backgrounds of some of my own adventures.
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In the gorgeous memoir
Spirit Run
, Noé Álvarez runs an Indigenous marathon from Canada to Guatemala, a run sometimes called "the longest prayer in the world." It's a running book, but also a spiritual journey and an exploration of identity and ancestry. It gave me a new perspective on both the act of running and the continent we live on.
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If you're a climber or mountaineer:
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In
Mountains of the Mind
, Robert Macfarlane explores the human history of mountains and the psychology behind our need to climb--even when the danger and discomfort are extreme. I was in the middle of this (totally fascinating) book while I did my first winter mountaineering accent of a 12,000-foot peak in April. It involved some of the most terrifying moments of my life, and… like Macfarlane and his childhood idol, Mallory… I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
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I'll happy recommend Terry Tempest Williams all day every day. Well, I'm from Salt Lake, and
Refuge
is in some ways a paean to the Utah landscape. But it's also a book about the strength of relationships--between mothers and daughters, humanity and nature, loss and hope. And it's a book about a bird refuge, which Tempest-Williams describes with both great love and acute observational skills.
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If you just miss being outdoors:
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A former PSB staff pick, this is the perfect book for the natural history enthusiast--or anyone who needs an escape into nature right now. It covers a broad range of interests, taking you back in time, deep beneath the sea, into microbiomes and to the cosmos. (And look how well it matches my tent! I was so excited to get a photo that actually shows it hanging
BETWEEN THE ROCKS AND STARS
.)
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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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The folk revival of the 1950s and 60s didn't just stem from Pete Seeger or Peter, Paul, and Mary. It was built on the back of one of the most famous folk singers of the day who I'd never heard of Odetta. In this thorough biography tells her story, which is fascinating and unfortunately familiar.
--Meaghan
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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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