Happy Independent Bookstore Day!!

 

Would You Want to Run a Bookstore on Vacation?

Let's just say I'm ready to visit Wigtown, Scotland for a week and run a bookstore while on vacation! Sure, I've worked at three different bookstores during my life, so I have an idea of what to expect while working at a bookstore. BUT calling the shots for the week, would be pretty cool and fun.

Wigtown, Scotland has an annual ten day book festival. Wigtown also has approximately 14-17 bookstores and a population of 850 to 900 people. Wow, that's a lot of bookstores for a town with so few people!

Checkout the above video on YouTube about three sisters from Ohio who spend a week running The Open Book in Wigtown for a week and why they chose to do so.

The Beautiful No by Sheri Salata

 

During the height of the pandemic, there were a lot of online/virtual events. The University of Iowa hosted a virtual event titled, Virtual Book Club with Sheri Salata, in November of 2020. I am an alumna of the University of Iowa and also an avid read (of course), so I attended this 45-minute virtual event and enjoyed watching it immensely at the time.

Sheri Salata is a University of Iowa alumna (80BBA) and she also worked as an executive producer for the Oprah Winfrey Show for a number of years. Before attending the Virtual Book Club with Sheri Salata, I'd never heard of Sheri Salata, but after the event I knew I wanted to read her nonfiction book, The Beautiful No.

Despite having The Beautiful No by Sheri Salata on my reading wishlist for almost 6 years, it wasn't until this year that I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Beautiful No, which is nicely narrated by the author. In fact, I finished listening to this book yesterday.

The Beautiful No by Sheri Salata is a work of nonfiction... In fact, it's a memoir. I remember being excited to read The Beautiful No after watching the Virtual Book Club with Sheri Salata. It seemed like Salata's book was the right combination of memoir and also inspirational and self-help book. Yes, The Beautiful No is a memoir. Each chapter is a vignette pertaining to an aspect of Sheri Salata's life, which is well done. 

Yes, Sheri Salata's life story is inspirational, especially her transformation after the Oprah Winfrey Show ended and how she went about transforming her life. BUT, I wouldn't classify The Beautiful No as both a self-help book and memoir like I had envisioned it would be. There are many gems that Sheri Salata shares throughout her book one could use as a guidepost in transforming one's own life. BUT again this books isn't a self-help book, only a memoir. It is an inspirational book though and also gives food for thought on how to improve one's life.

Below is a 45 second book trailer for The Beautiful No by Sheri Salata, which I discovered on YouTube. I'm sharing the book trailer instead of quoting the publisher's written summary of this book.

I am giving The Beautiful No by Sheri Salata a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!!

Book Humor!!

 

Top Ten Tuesday - Books With Specific Flowers in the Title

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Top Ten Tuesday was originally created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Below are ten books with a specific flower in the title. The books are listed in no particular order of importance.

1. Sky of Red Poppies by Zohreh Ghahremani

2. Briar Rose by Robert Coover
3. Black Dahlia & White Rose by Joyce Carol Oates

4. The Violets of March by Sarah Jio

5. Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin
6. White Rose, Black Forest by Eoin Dempsey

7. The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean
8. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel by Deborah Moggach

9. The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis

10. 17 Carnations by Andrew Morton

Have you read any of the above books? Which book do you think I should I read first?

Life As An Independent Bookstore Owner!!

 

I really enjoyed watching this video on YouTube featuring a couple who purchased an independent bookstore in Washington state. It's sort of behind the scenes look at their lives as business owners and their personal lives.

New to Me Little Free Libraries in Vallejo, California!

 

Yesterday, my husband and I visited Mare Island in Vallejo, California for the afternoon. During our visit to Vallejo, we found two new to us Little Free Libraries towards the end of the afternoon as we began making our way home.

I left a total of five books at two different Little Free Libraries in Vallejo, but only brought one book home with me.

Both Little Free Libraries are cute!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Bookish Quote of the Day!!!

 

Penguin Random House Audio Publishing - Maker's Magic - Enter to Win A Prize Pack of Your Choice!

Yesterday, I was on Facebook checking out my Facebook memories and also my Facebook feed. 

During my time spent scrolling on my Facebook feed, I discovered that Penguin Random House Audio Publishing was offering a very cool giveaway called, Maker's Magic!

According to the Penguin Random House Audio Publishing website, Maker's Magic is:

Crafting and audiobooks go together like a needle and thread. Enter to win a crafting kit of your choice (knit, crochet, or embroider), complete with wireless headphones and a romantic audiobook from Penguin Random House Audio.

No purchase necessary to enter this giveaway. It is open to US residents, 18+ and runs through April 22, 2026.

And, yes, for inquiring minds, I did sign up for this giveaway! I'm a knitter (and crochet newbie too!!). I love to knit simple projects while listening to audiobooks. I am hoping to win the knitting giveaway. 

Good luck to you if you decide to enter one of this giveaway.

Click on link above to learn more about Maker's Magic and also to enter the giveaway.