Shelf Stable: September 2nd |
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“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”
― Cicero
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"Hey Caleb, write a Shelf Stable letter!" yelled Josh, from across the store.
And so, dear reader, that is exactly what I did.
As weird as it has been, adjusting to being open in this "new normal" (social distance, constant masks, enough hand sanitizer to sink the Titanic, you know the drill) it's been great being back in the store and seeing people again, especially my lovely co-workers. That said, there's a new normal there too, and it's as strange as everything else. So much of our conversations, especially with the people I don't see as regularly, default to this awkward check-in of "so what have you been doing during...all this?" It's an odd prerequisite to small talk that inevitably brings the temptation for comparison with it. I was chatting with Ellen, one of the co-owners, this week and telling her about how I'd finished editing a manuscript and am preparing to start sending it to agents. It's a big accomplishment, yeah, but it's really one of my few milestones since the Before Times. Ellen (who runs and rows, and does infinitely more getting-up-off-the-couch than me) responded with a comparison point, "Geez, that's a lot more than I can say."
I've talked in this space before about comparison, how it's sooooo easy to resort to, and how I'm really trying to avoid it, especially during these unprecedented times, which are already A Lot for my mental and emotional health to juggle. It's easier said than done though, and Ellen's comments got me thinking about how I've been down on myself about my recent reading list, which has consisted of a lot of "comfort food" (comics, fantasy, and any Star Wars book I can get my hands on). The last week or two anytime someone has asked me if I've read anything good I'm quick to bat the question away, in spite of the fact that I'm reading just as much (if not more) than usual.
Here's the part where I tell you that I've been incredibly stupid.
As a bookseller and a reader, one of my great joys is seeing other people read, so I can't stand it when people belittle books. Read what you want to read, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Comics are books, children's literature is viable and worthwhile, the thing you like is okay to like, and boys can read books starring girls (and vice versa, etc, etc). I love that books are passports to other worlds, and can give us the chance to go new places, meet new people, and encounter new ideas. So stop limiting that! I don't like limits when I'm recommending books to others, so I'm going to recommit to not limiting myself when I just want to read something cozy. I might re-read Twilight when the new book comes out and that is totally fine.
Let the people eat cake! In today's wild times, if you cut into the cake it'll probably be a book, and that's a perfectly acceptable kind of dessert too.
Stop comparing, but don't ever stop reading.
-Caleb
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Porter Square Books will be closed on Labor Day, Monday September 7th for a much need break and a chance for the staff to have a socially distant gathering. We will not be answering phone calls, sending emails, or processing orders. Orders placed over the weekend might take an extra day or so to complete. There will also be be no Shelf Stable that day. Thank you all for keeping us so busy over the Summer! |
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Read our reopen policies and updated hours! |
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Thanks to all our friends who've visited so far -- it's been wonderful to see everyone's face (well, the top half above the mask anyway) and we're so grateful to everyone who has been so respectful of our policies!
Updated In-Store Shopping Hours:
Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday-Friday: 3PM-7PM
Saturday: 9AM-6PM, with 9AM-11AM set aside for vulnerable customers
Sunday: 3PM-7PM
Curbside Pick Up: Daily, 3PM-7PM
We really appreciate your support!
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Join our next virtual events! |
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Two staff picks, two events, one evening! Join us for a double feature on Wednesday, 9/2 at 6 pm and 7 pm - all books 20% off. |
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Wednesday, September 2 at 6:00PM
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Porter Square Books is delighted to partner with WBUR CitySpace to bring you a virtual event with Yaa Gyasi, author of the new novel Transcendent Kingdom! Gyasi will be joined in conversation by WBUR arts engagement producer, Arielle Gray. This event is hosted by WBUR CitySpace, and is free to attend, but advance registration is requested.
Why Meaghan Staff Picked It: "It's nothing new to say that a book is the book we need right now, but Transcendent Kingdom is the book we need right now. Narrator Gifty is both eloquently observant and clinical as she recounts the struggle of her Ghanaian immigrant family to survive in America while being Black, while being poor, while facing addiction and depression and tragedy. But she still finds hope."
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Ariel Sabar with Mark Goodacre, Veritas
Wednesday, September 2 at 7:00PM
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Join Porter Square Books for a virtual talk with Ariel Sabar, the author of Veritas, joined in conversation by Dr. Mark Goodacre! From National Book Critics Circle Award-winning author Ariel Sabar, Veritas is the gripping true story of a sensational religious forgery and the scandal that shook Harvard. This event takes place on Crowdcast, and is free and open to all.
Why Sarah Staff Picked It: "A journalist reveals how a con artist played on a researcher's passion for discovery -- and a dose of academic politics -- to sell the world on the Gospel of Jesus' Wife."
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Want to show your love of Porter Square Books? Order your very own Porter Square Books T-shirt! |
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Old Hollywood: From Page to Screen |
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A Tribute to Olivia de Havilland |
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It’s not surprising that there was so much press coverage when actress Dame Olivia de Havilland died on July 26th. Not only did she have a remarkable career in Hollywood, but since she was the last remaining actor from Hollywood’s fabled Golden Age her passing symbolized the end of that extraordinary era.
Her death was prominently reported by The New York Times, The Boston Globe, all the network and cable stations, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, et al. What set Olivia de Havilland apart from many other actors was her ability to inhabit a role – she was a chameleon, who became the character she portrayed. This is obvious when looking at the range of roles in her long career. She was such a nuanced actor, always understated and unmannered. Have you ever seen anyone imitate Dame Olivia? Bette Davies, yes. Katharine Hepburn, yes. But never Olivia de Havilland.
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Born in Tokyo to British parents, Olivia Mary de Havilland spent her childhood and teenage years in Saratoga, California. She made her professional debut as Hermia in famed director Max Reinhardt’s Hollywood Bowl production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In 1935 she signed a seven-year contract with Warner Brothers and made the film version with Reinhardt directing; her co-stars included James Cagney as Bottom and Mickey Rooney as Puck.
Teaming her with matinée idol Errol Flynn for 1935’s Captain Blood (1922 book by Rafael Sabatini), Warners created one best loved movie teams that went on to co-star in eight pictures together. In 1936 they made The Charge of the Light Brigade based on the 1854 epic poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson and adapted by Michel Jacoby and Rowland Leigh. Next came the role that shot de Havilland to stardom – Maid Marian in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) with Flynn playing the title role. This Technicolor swashbuckler was based on the life of the legendary Saxon knight and written by Norman Reilly Raine, Seton I. Miller and Rowland Leigh. Four’s A Crowd (1938) was a fluffy romantic comedy from a story by author Wallace Sullivan and co-starred Rosalind Russell and Patric Knowles.
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Warner’s then paired them in the western Dodge City (1939) written by Robert Buckner and based on his story. Like Robin Hood, this film was a huge hit. Next came The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939) based on the stage play, Elizabeth the Queen (1930) by Sherwood Anderson. Robert Buckner wrote the screenplay for Santa Fe Trail based on his story; this was another hit for the de Havilland/Flynn team. They Died with Their Boots On (1941) was the next in line for the duo. An original screenplay, Flynn played a highly fictionalized version of General George Armstrong Custer. Their last pairing was in Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943) a World War II movie fundraiser with a slim plot and starring a cavalcade of Warner Brothers’ stars: Bette Davis, Flynn, de Havilland, Ida Lupino, John Garfield and Ann Sheridan among others.
Errol Flynn died on October 14, 1959.
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Under contract to Warner's some of the other memorable films de Havilland made were: Anthony Adverse (1936) from the novel (1933) by Hervey Allen; Hold Back the Dawn (1941) book (1939) by Ketti Frings; The Strawberry Blonde (1941) based on the play (1933) by James Hagen costarring Rita Hayworth; In This Our Life (1942) based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel (1941) by Ellen Glasgow.
In 1943 Olivia de Havilland took Warner’s to court after she was suspended for refusing to work in subpar films. Warner’s automatically extended her contract. She sued and won the case in what became known as the De Havilland decision, which established that a studio could not arbitrarily extend the duration of an actor’s contract even if they had been put on suspension. This was a huge victory for Hollywood actors and she was hailed as a hero.
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As a free agent in 1946, she made To Each His Own, a World War I drama that showcased her emotional range. For this she won her first Best Actress Oscar. Two years later she starred in The Snake Pit (1948) from the 1946 book by Mary Jane Ward. A harrowing tale of mental illness, she again was nominated for an Oscar. But her crowning achievement with near perfect acting is The Heiress (1949) based on Washington Square (1880) by Henry James. In this movie she goes from shy wallflower to a strong woman with conviction – it is a stellar performance and again she won the Best Actress Oscar.
Three of her later films are worth mentioning: In 1952 she starred opposite Richard Burton in an adaption of Daphne du Maurier’s atmospheric novel, My Cousin Rachel. Ten years later in 1962 she starred in Light in the Piazza from the novel (1960) of the same name by Elizabeth Spencer. An M-G-M production, the film was shot in Italy and the United Kingdom. In 1964 she stepped in for an “ailing” Joan Crawford and took the role of cousin Miriam to Bette Davis’s Charlotte in Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte adapted from the short story by Henry Farrell. The movie was a smash hit and garnered seven Oscar nominations.
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Lastly, although The Adventures of Robin Hood made Olivia de Havilland a star at age 22 what catapulted her to super stardom was her portrayal of Melanie Wilkes in Gone With the Wind (1939), based on the bestseller (1936) by Margaret Mitchell. With this part she solidified her Hollywood bona fides and will forever be remembered for this sympathetic role – one that she fought hard for, as she new no one could play Melanie better than she.
With her classy timeless elegance, demure, but in many ways resolute personality and with a long well lived life, Dame Olivia de Havilland died peacefully at her home in Paris.
Next Up: The Movie Musicals
Nathan
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Leafless Salad
It's a season of plenty: cucumbers, tomatoes, plums, peaches, peppers, squash, corn... These fruits and vegetables won't taste nearly as good when you buy them in five months, so, if you're like me, you're gorging yourself on the bounty. I often find when I hit the end of August that I still want salads but I don't want to purchase greens, not when there's so many other delectable options. Hence the leafless salad! It's easy, and you don't need to turn on the stove on those hot days.
Slice up any of the following:
Onion and/or garlic
tomato and/or corn, plum, and/or peach
cucumber and/or any sort of pickles
pepper, zucchini, and/or summer squash
string beans and/or peas
fresh herbs: basil or mint or fennel or, if you don't have fresh herbs, zatar.
Other good additions include olives and jalapenos.
Once you've sliced your fruit/veg, you can optionally add a fat: cheese, nuts, or seeds, or protein: quinoa or beans.
Then, you need to dress it. I recommend any kind of vinegar you have mixed with olive oil, lemon, salt, and pepper. Remember: you can use the vinegar in any pickle jar, so if you have one gherkin left, use that vinegar rather than wasting it. If you have bottled dressing, this will also work.
Toss, and enjoy! You can even use this recipe if you're scraping the bottom of what you have in the house. Frozen veggies (peas, carrots, corn, string beans), two types of canned beans, and dressing will work in a pinch, but it's worth getting something good at farmers' market or your own backyard if you can.
-Marika
(Picture courtesy of Josh's garden in Maine.)
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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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Antiracism Books: A Place to Start |
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Our bookseller bundles have expanded again! For the kiddos Stacey will send you three middle grade (ages 8-12) paperbacks. They'll be quirky or heartwarming or maybe creepy or maybe esoteric or maybe all of the above! But whatever they are they'll be great books. Kate will send you 3 paperbacks from all over the store. Type a word or phrase in the order comments and Kate will pick out three paperbacks for you. Kate reads widely, but you may especially like her picks if you enjoy slightly-off-kilter fiction, works in translation, poetry, and little books about big landscapes.
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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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When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole, read by Susan Dalian & Jay Aaseng
Rear Window meets Get Out in this gripping thriller from a critically acclaimed and New York Times Notable author, in which the gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood takes on a sinister new meaning…
“Cole’s thriller exposes the underbelly of gentrification and prosperity, taking a searing look at systemic racism. When a pharmaceutical firm plans to move its headquarters to a historically Black Brooklyn neighborhood, an influx of rich white people displace Black residents from their homes and their roots. Timely, groundbreaking, and thought-provoking, When No One Is Watching is essential reading for the #BlackLivesMatter movement.”
--Alyssa Raymond, Copper Dog Books
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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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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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Additional Book Bundle Offerings
Make your shopping easy by buying bundles, handpicked by our expert booksellers!
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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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New month, new discounts! Check out what our booksellers are loving this summer. |
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Featured Staff Pick for Children |
Such a fun story celebrating the beauty and power of imagination and sharing.
-Stacey
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Featured Staff Pick for Adults |
Some days, all I want is to curl up with comics, like I did with Calvin and Hobbes as a child. This collection of the new Nancy is exactly what I've been craving: addictive and funny.
-Marika
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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 to 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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25 White St. Cambridge, MA 02140
617-491-2220
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