Our friends at Melville House forwarded us this great trailer for Jean-Christophe Valtat's widely praised (see NPR, Paste, and Bookforum) and audacious new novel, Aurorarama. We like it so much we felt compelled to share it with you.

Oh, and hey, the book's pretty great, too.

Happy Books II (Positive Mental Attitude)

KPR wrote a short post on 'happy books' a couple of weeks back, leaving me with a kind of challenge, that being just to name a couple. Being an avid reader of tales mostly involving poverty, woe, and soul rending existential disquiet, it's tough to track down something upbeat outside of maybe a Henry Miller book in my personal library, and his mode of happiness is a little more insane than what I think falls in the realm of just plain old normal 'happy.'

So here's the best I could do:


Schertenleib's A Happy Man, published in Melville House's immediately recognizable New Novella series is, quite possibly the happiest books I've read in my life. Not in a cheesy life affirming my-name-is-Sark-and-I-love-to-nap kind of way, the lyrical prose is warm and charming as the book details the life of a man named 'This' and his deep affection for the world around him, despite being surrounded by a literal world of discontent. I recommend the book not only based on the hope that it might inspire a sort of good feeling inside some sad reader out there, but just the idea that there exists a compelling story of a person who cannot seem to recognize sadness as an option is a point of curiosity as well. PMA.

Book Expo America...Green Apple in the Big Apple

B.E.A....

I’m sure you have all noticed that we haven’t posted for almost a week now. Part of the reason is that a few of us were at the Book Expo of America in New York this past week. Well I’m back & so I thought I might tell you a little of what I saw back east…

The first day is always remainder buying day, this involves jumping from hotel to hotel & to showrooms…many of which aren’t always close together. We saw a lot of books & there will be some great remainder deals coming to you in the next month or so (to go along with the already great titles in the store currently) so be sure to check out the tables.

Day 2 was pretty much the same with Kevin Ryan attending meeting & education seminars while I hit the last of the remainder companies. That night Sparks arrived & it was off to the Melville House party (picture to the left is the Manhattan bridge on the Brooklyn side from the steps of the Melville House Bookstore) who publish the very popular Bonsai on our Staff Favorites.

From there on out is was time to see Book Expo in all its glory…row after row of booth after booth of publisher after publisher. It’s a long day with a lot to see, & though it was different than the last couple years it was worth the time.

I just got back yesterday & am very tired so I apologize for there not being too much content here worth reading...