"Your Penguins are in the Back"

Imagine walking into one of your favourite bookstores and hearing those words?

That's what Richard Bachmann, proprietor of A Different Drummer told me yesterday, when I popped into his store. And I must say, I was very pleased to hear those words! That's because I had recently ordered more copies of my first illustrated book, Fifty Little Penguins (I'll explain why in another post, at another time). If you want to purchase a hard-to-find book, look no further than A Different Drummer for all your eclectic book needs.

I was in Burlington yesterday to visit my mother, and to allow her to treat me to lunch, in celebration of my upcoming birthday. A visit to Burlington is not complete without time spent exploring in A Different Drummer. Especially when you get delightful surprises like being invited to dig through their pile of advance readers' editions of new books, and pick whatever you want! So I snatched an upcoming biography of Jane Jacobs, as well as a collection of stories written by an author whom I had never heard of. I just liked the title of the book! The Unfinished Novel and Other Stories by Valerie Martin.

Sigh... and yes...I broke down and bought two more new books...I really have got to stop! But Barbara Vine's The Minotaur, and Brenda Rickman Vantrease's The Illuninator! Mom was not immune either, though! She purchased Sarah Waters' The Night Watch, and another book whose title escapes me at the moment. (Let's face it; I was more obsessed with my own acquisitions!)

As we drove off with our book swag, my mother posed the question:
"Why doesn't somebody write a novel with the title The Unfinished Navel?"

Why, indeed?

Comments

[Amy]

Oh, I didn't know Valerie Martin had something new coming out...her last novel, Property, was outstanding.

[R J Keefe]

"The Minotaur" is a great read.

[patricia]

Oh I concur, RJ! I remember you recommending the book to me, so when I saw it in the bookstore, I had to get it. I'm already one third into the story, and it's simply amazing. Can't put it down.

[Rebecca]

*drool* Who do you have to bribe to be able to browse through their advanced reader's editions? And do you think a batch of chocolate haystacks will do the trick? :-)