Banned Books - Another Frontier Breached?

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Yes, that is a picture of Barnes and Noble on our website.

Like many of you, we have watched with horror the sharp uptick in book challenges and bannings that have been hitting school and public libraries around the country.  At Skylark we’ve responded with the following actions:

  1. We’ve highlighted and celebrated challenged/banned books within the shop; 

  2. We’ve sold many copies of the 2021 most contested title Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe in support of eir recent appearance at the Unbound Book Festival; 

  3. We’ve launched our challenged/banned books subscription, which includes a donated portion to EyeSeeMe to provide free challenged/banned books. 

But now there’s a new worry.

A few days ago two Virginia Republicans requested a restraining order that would prevent Barnes & Noble from selling two books–Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe and A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas-– to minors (in addition to libraries loaning them), based on an obscure Virginia law granting standing to any citizen to ask a court to address whether a book is obscene.  

Obscenity is not protected by the First Amendment, and the U.S. Department of Justice offers a useful summary of obscenity law.  And we should point out that this case appears to rest on a law specific to Virginia.  

However, the purpose of this post is not to debate the legal merits of this particular case. We really wanted to raise awareness that people who are intent on removing books from readers’ hands have discovered an additional tactic to employ - one that (unlike school challenges) is designed to impact on what private businesses like bookstores are able to sell. For that reason it feels like yet another dangerous frontier is being breached.

At Skylark Bookshop we support a parent’s right to discuss with their own child what is best for them, including whether a book is appropriate for them to read.  We do not support any attempts by some people to determine for all children what is and isn’t appropriate for them to read.

What do you think? What actions will you take?

Local Author Night is BACK, baby!

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It’s been a long time coming, but we’re excited to announce that we’re finally planning to reintroduce Skylark’s local author night!

We’ve always done our best to support our amazing local community of writers, but lord knows it’s not been easy during the pandemic. We always wanted the shop to be a place where people could share and discuss their work, and so we’re pleased to welcome back local writers to the Skylark stage to read their work-in-progress in front of a friendly (and smart) crowd.

The first of what will be a regular evening event will take place on Thursday, June 23, starting at 6:30 p.m. Come by and support some of Columbia’s finest writers as they present their work to the world.

If you’d like to be considered for a spot, please drop us a line. Spots are limited but fear not - there will be many more opportunities ahead!

Announcing May's Skylarking Bookclub Pick: TRUE BIZ by Sara Nović!

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We’re really excited to announce (a little late!) that May’s Skylarking Bookclub pick is the completely brilliant True Biz by Sara Nović. Named as one of the Most Anticipated Books of 2022 by more publications than we can list, it’s a tender, gripping novel that explores language, community, and political awakening. We promise you, you won’t have read anything quite like it before.

We’ll be meeting to discuss this wonderful book at 6:30 on Thursday, May 26. As usual, it costs nothing to attend - we just ask that you purchase your copy of the book from us.

The students at the River Valley School for the Deaf just want to hook up, pass their history finals, and have politicians, doctors, and their parents stop telling them what to do with their bodies. This revelatory novel plunges readers into the halls of a residential school for the deaf, where they’ll meet Charlie, a rebellious transfer student who’s never met another deaf person before; Austin, the school’s golden boy, whose world is rocked when his baby sister is born hearing; and February, the hearing headmistress, a CODA (child of deaf adult(s)) who is fighting to keep her school open and her marriage intact, but might not be able to do both. As a series of crises both personal and political threaten to unravel each of them, Charlie, Austin, and February find their lives inextricable from one another—and changed forever.

This is a story of sign language and lip-reading, disability and civil rights, isolation and injustice, first love and loss, and, above all, great persistence, daring, and joy. Absorbing and assured, idiosyncratic and relatable, this is an unforgettable journey into the Deaf community and a universal celebration of human connection.

Sara Nović holds an MFA from Columbia University, where she studied fiction and literary translation. Her first novel, Girl at War, won the American Library Association’s Alex Award, and was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. She is an instructor of Deaf studies and creative writing, and lives in Philadelphia with her family.

Mask Protocols - Please Read!

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As we have written before, we have been monitoring the health situation throughout the pandemic. We have done our best to evaluate the available data and analysis in good faith; we have taken the wishes of our staff and our customers into account; and we have tried to do our part to keep our community healthy. You probably noticed we were on the fast end of adopting precautions and on the slower end of lifting them. We know that some folks feel that we have kept our mask requirement in place for too long. That’s a reasonable opinion, for sure, but we make no apologies for our caution. We care about each and every one of you. We love Skylark, but we love our community more.

But, like we say, we’ve been paying attention. At the last couple of staff meetings we’ve discussed the question of masking in the shop at some length, and, in the light of recent improvements in the overall picture, we have agreed upon our next steps. As of today, May 4, we will no longer be requiring masks to be worn in the shop. Instead we are moving to a Masks Encouraged status.

A couple of important points to note:

1. In order to give people who are at greater risk the comfort and protection they deserve, we will continue require masks for the first hour of every day.

2. If a customer enters the shop wearing a mask, all Skylark staff will immediately put on their masks.

We will continue our protocols of cleaning and airing out the shop, and request that anyone with COVID symptoms shop online or come back to the shop when feeling healthy. (We are always happy to ship!)

Needless to say, we continue to be a state of flux and we will continue to monitor the situation closely. Rest assured that we are ready to reverse this policy if things deteriorate.

Be well, folks!

Alex and Carrie

Getting the Banned Back Together: the Skylark Banned Books Subscription!

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Stories about book challenges and bannings have made startling headlines in the news lately:  A Tennessee school district bans Art Spiegleman’s Maus; a Missouri district challenges Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye.  Although book challenges and bannings have occurred throughout history, 2021 marked an unprecedented year in sheer numbers.  The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom recorded 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials, resulting in 1,597 individual book challenges or removals.  These figures, however, represent only a tiny fraction of book challenges.  Surveys report that a sobering 82-97% of book challenges aren’t ever officially reported.

At Skylark Bookshop we unequivocally support challenged and banned books and the freedom to read.  We support American Library Association President’s Patricia “Patty” Wong’s statement:

Diverse books create a better lens through which all children can see themselves in library collections.  And yet these very titles–the ones addressing cultural invisibility and cultivating understanding–are the ones that are the most frequently challenged.

Recognizing that many of our customers also support the freedom to read, Skylark Bookshop is proud to offer a Challenged/Banned Books subscription.  Here are the details:

  • Price:  We are offering both a 6-month and 12-month subscription. The 6 months subscription costs $150,00; the 12-month, $275.00. This price includes tax, mailing and packaging and we will donate 10% of all proceeds of these subscriptions to the banned books program run by our friends at EyeSeeMe bookstore in St. Louis which provides free banned books to students and families (see below).

  • Recommended readers: We’re recommending that ages 13+ participate, but parents/guardians, of course, can make the final decision with their child.

  • Format: We’re going with paperback copies.

  • Publication date: Challenging or banning books is nothing new, so we’ll be offering a fascinating mix of older and newer titles. To kick off the subscription, we’re excited to announce Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe as the first month’s title.  Maia was a featured speaker at this year’s Unbound Book Festival, and this title is the top most challenged title of 2021. Every copy we mail out will be signed! 

  • Education: Not only is it important to read these books, it’s also valuable to know the reasons as to why they’ve been challenged or banned.  Therefore, we’ll include a short paragraph with each title about its challenged or banned history

  • Substitutions: Since we’re planning out this special subscription for an entire year, we’re requesting no title substitutions, please.  Additionally, it’s going to be fun for all subscribers to read the same book.  And if you’ve already read the book, you might consider rereading it to gain additional perspective.  Alternatively, feel free to pass along your copy to a friend or family member. 

  • Other ideas: Depending on interest, we are considering hosting a book club gathering about one or more of the titles.  We’d also encourage you to read the book with a friend, with your family, or with a group at your church, school, etc.. There are lots of possibilities!  

Please give us a call at 573.777.6990 or shoot us an email to begin this special subscription.

March's Skylarking Book Club pick is THE SYMPATHIZER!

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We’ve had a wonderful time selecting titles for the Skylarking Book Club so far. There are many different criteria we think about when choosing the books, and with each passing month we’re learning more about what the lovely folks who show up at the book club enjoy. It is, in some ways, an agonizing decision because there are so many extraordinary books that we’d love to discuss. For every title that we settle on, there are dozens more that we have considered and regretfully passed on.

 Sometimes, though, the titles pick themselves. After two years of pandemic-ravaged programming, April sees the return of the Unbound Book Festival, live and in person – and, excitingly, downtown for the first time. This year’s keynote speaker is the brilliant Viet Thanh Nguyen. Viet will be in conversation with award-winning poet Patrick Rosal at the Missouri Theatre on Friday, April 22, and in honor of what I know is going to be a memorable night, we will be discussing his debut novel, The Sympathizer, at March’s Skylarking Book Club.

 The book’s unnamed narrator is a half-French, half-Vietnamese army captain who is working both for the American forces and spying for the Viet Cong. After the fall of Saigon, he escapes to America (just) and sets about re-establishing a new life in the States. Still, though, he finds himself torn between two worlds. While he tries to carve out a new existence among his fellow political refugees in Los Angeles, he is unable to leave his old life behind – he continues to act as a double-agent for the communist regime back in Vietnam. So yes, it’s about a spy, but – as a glowing review in the New Yorker observed – calling this a spy novel is about as helpful as calling Crime and Punishment a police procedural. It’s so much more than that. To call a book “genre-defying” is something of a cliché these days, but The Sympathizer really does deserve the name. In addition to being a taut and fiendishly clever spy story, it’s also a sweeping epic of love and friendship, an exploration of nationality and loyalty, and a blistering absurdist satire – all wrapped up in spellbinding prose that some have compared to Graham Greene and Saul Bellow. Oh, and it’s funny as hell.

 The novel starts with an admission. “I am a spy, a sleeper, a spook, a man of two faces. Perhaps not surprisingly, I am also a man of two minds.” He is the Sympathizer of the title, in every sense of the word. In a polarized society where people prefer simple, binary categorizations, the clarity of black and white, the narrator can see both sides to every story. He is constitutionally unable to be as dogmatic or as loyal as he or his superiors would like. This is his gift, but also his burden. It certainly makes life more complicated, and he often finds himself in an ethical and political limbo as a result, wrestling with complex moral issues while the rest of the world ploughs unthinkingly on. 

 The novel is restless, forever shifting focus, taking us across the world and back again, from war zones to re-education camps and movie sets (the narrator lands a job as a consultant on the set of a film about the recently-ended war, which gives Nguyen the opportunity to gleefully skewer American tone-deafness to their role in the catastrophe.) Indeed, Nguyen is highly critical not only of American actions during the war in Vietnam but also of the country’s subsequent attempts to rewrite the history of what actually went on there. The book offers a perspective on the era that, until its publication, was not often presented in America. For that reason alone, it would have been an important book, and one worthy of your time. That it is also fabulously entertaining makes it utterly unmissable. 

 For these glories, The Sympathizer was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2016.

 We’ll be meeting to discuss this marvelous novel at Skylark Bookshop on Thursday, March 24, at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome, and there is no cost to attend – we just ask that you purchase your copy of the book from Skylark. We look forward to seeing you there – and then to hearing Viet Thanh Nguyen himself speak at Unbound just under a month later, on April 22. (And there are still some free tickets to that event remaining: click here to reserve yours.)

MFAQs

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From Carrie…

Our website has a FAQ section, but the FAQs are not the MOST frequently asked questions. So I thought I would take a moment to answer those . . .

Do you have kids books?

Yes, and though kids LOVE stairs, our kids section is on the main floor. Your stroller thanks us. Head around the stairs to find books for all ages - chewable and on. And let's be completely honest. You don't have to pretend you are shopping for a gift. We are all kids at heart.

Can I bring in my drink?

Yes! Just don't throw it at the books. And if you do spill, please let us know. But really, don't spill. If you forget how long your arms are (we all have our moments), just leave it up at the counter and grab it on your way out!

Where should we eat lunch?

We have almost as many opinions about the food around here as we do the books. Be prepared for a conversation. We are probably also hungry, so remind us to take a lunch break when we get REALLY excited about answering this question.

What is upstairs?

Okay, if you mean just up the stairs - mostly Non-Fiction. Cookbooks (and look, we are hungry again), Poetry (A LOT), History, Biography, Travel, Nature, Science, Philosophy, and much much more.

If you mean up the next stairs - go check it out. The "treehouse" (someday we will decorate it) is a cozy and quiet place to peruse your selections and decide what to land on.

If you mean above us, our COMO Magazine friendly neighbors are a lovely and rowdy bunch. We are pretty sure that noise is a chair race. They also laugh a lot. Must be the book they bought last week, but we won't tell them to get back to work.

Can you tell me if you have a book?

Yes. But, you have to tell us what book you are wondering about. Even if you just give us clues. Help us out, y'all.

Are your books in any sort of order?

Ummmmmm. Yes. Pretty intensely. Muchly. Many orders and ordering and sortings. Look up to see genre headers and most sections are alphabetical by author (last name, folks).

Can you order a book you don't have?

Usually! We put in orders every weekday morning and adding your requests is not a big deal AT ALL. It is one of the things we love to do. It usually only takes a few business days. Less if everyone out there is efficient, more if it is coming from someone tricky. We can let you know.

Do you just read all day?

No. Well, not here. At home, probably. We read A LOT. But you know, we work at work.

What is your favorite book?

100% guaranteed way to fluster a bookseller. Like one?!?!?!?

How do you pick the books here?

Carefully. It is a whole thing. We spend weeks each season going through all of what is coming out and make thoughtful selections based on a million factors. We also get to read a lot of books early and decide if they are worth sharing with you. Which leads into . . .

What are you reading right now?

Well . . . probably something that won't be out for 4-6 months, which is just plain cruel to talk about. Teasing, really. Also, some of us have several books going at once, and it is hard to remember what they are. Method 2 of flustering a bookseller . . . ask for the title and author of the book they have on the nightstand. (Again, "THE" book? Like, one??!?!?!?)

Can you make a recommendation?

Yes. Did you see us rub our hands together and jump a little in excitement? Get ready for a conversation that is even more fun than where you should have lunch.

Skylark Reading Spas - now in couples and luxury editions!

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It’s true. Our Skylark reading spas have proven such a hit that by popular request we’re expanding your options… just, wouldn’t you know it, in time for Valentine’s Day. You’re totally welcome.

The Standard Spa: $100.00

With a Skylark Reading Spa you get to spend a delicious hour or two at our Columbia store, for some luxurious literary pampering. One of our team of booksellers will learn all about your favorite reads by having you complete an informal online survey, and will then suggest a range of possible titles for you to choose from, specifically chosen to suit your tastes. What makes this so much fun? As part of the Reading Spa, you have $100 to spend on any books you like. In other words: totally guilt-free shopping. Bring. It. On.

The Reading Spa includes $100 to spend on books, some of our amazing Tazos chocolate, and a Skylark mug.

** VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL **

The Couples’ Spa: Double the Fun!: $175.00

Just like the regular reading spa, only for two. You get: $175 to spend on books (you decided how to split it!); two Skylark mugs; two bits of chocolate; and a small Skylark tote.

The Super Luxury Spa: $250.00

Oh, the pampering. This package gets the lucky recipient $200.00 to spend on books, a mug, chocolate, AND an incredibly soft and comfortable Skylark hoodie AND one of our very swanky large-size Skylark totes to carry it all away in.

Seriously, we are talking the best kind of gift for the book-lover in your life. Give us a call at (573) 777 6900 or drop us a line, and we’ll get you taken care of! For more information about how it all works, go here.

Notes from Carrie: Exultation.

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I joke that working retail during the holidays is similar to labor. One forgets the depth of the chaos and exhaustion and dives into the joys every time with excitement . . . . and plans. We see our families less, we sleep less, we eat less . . . but the mores are so enriching that we don't look back. One of the beautiful things about these busy days, one of the best "mores," is observing and soaking in the beauty of the Skylark community.

This season I have been struck by the extraordinary compassion, openness, and closeness carried into our shop. All that our households and communities have gone through has brought something extraordinarily beautiful into our daily human interactions.

During our previous holiday seasons, we would often see the family herd pour through the door, followed by a quick scatter. Everyone in need of a breath, some space, some solitude. These days, however, we see the herd sticking together. Everyone wants a vote. Everyone wants to share their thoughts. No one is sulking by the door (though really, you have to work HARD to sulk in a bookshop folks so these people earn some credit), no one is napping in the comfy chairs upstairs as they wait it out (though naps are totally legit and we adore it when someone knows their loved one is going to take that long and calmly settles in). These days, families and friends blob together from one genre to another. They are talking books and they are talking life. They are asking difficult questions of one another, answering them willingly, and it makes me a bit teary. Bonds are closer y'all.

"I need something sweet for my daughter," is now "I know how much pressure her job puts on her right now, and I'd like something lighter she can escape into." "Do you have something that is encouraging," is now "My Uncle lost his wife, and he is hoping for a book that helps him tap into and process his grief." I just want to hug all of you, or hand you a warm mug of tea and some slippers. But, really the way we do that is by setting a book into your hands and saying "This book is as such, and might be perfect because of these things." You are giving us such wide open doorways to send the paged packages into. I don't know if we have ever had such consistent feelings of really knowing what you all are asking for . . . which means we are tapping into some really heartfelt recommendations. We are invested.

And it isn't just as you shop for other people. We are watching you take care of yourselves. Buying that dang subscription for yourself. Bringing a friend to choose a book to truly discuss together as you both read. In house book clubs. Long distance reading bonding. Honoring your current reading needs. Figuring out the world and how to process it. Figuring out how to exist in the now - or to move forward - or to come to terms with the past.

And what really gets me in adoration mode - you are bonding with strangers over books with such openness, because you realize that we are all part of this massive flock. Did you know that a group of Skylarks is called an Exaltation? Perfect, right?

We can't even begin to count the number of you regulars that walk through our doors and heave a huge sigh of relief (we get it, it is our place of peace too). In our first year I felt giddy each time someone walked in for the first time and let out that little gasp of wonder. Now I tally these sighs of peace into my soul.

So really, I just wanted to say ROCK ON Skylarkians. I'm so freaking proud of each and every one of you. And I adore you, right up through our high ceilings and into this big and tricky world we are living in.

Get a Free Audiobook! Two Ways!

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We love audiobooks at Skylark. It allows us to read even more than we already do - in the car, while we’re walking the dog, or when we’re cooking.

You have probably heard us talk about our friends at libro.fm, who offer the very best audiobook experience and service available, and in a way that benefits independent bookstores, rather than, well, you know. The other guy.

The other great thing about libro.fm is that they love giving away audiobooks.

To celebrate Small Business Saturday, libro are offering a free audiobook to anyone who spends more than $15 at Skylark between last Wednesday (November 24) and tomorrow (November 30.) All you have to do is to send them a copy of your receipt. And the choice of titles is stunning. More details here.

And if you haven’t tried audiobooks before, or have used a different audiobook provider, then libro are also offering a free audiobook for anyone who signs up for a membership - so if you were contemplating giving it a try, now would be the time. All you need to do is use the code CHOOSEINDIE when you check out.

Give it a try! Happy listening!

Just added! Brene Brown launch event on December 2!

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NEWSFLASH! We’re excited to announce a one-of-a-kind online event on December 2 with none other than the great Brené Brown, who will be launching her new book, Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience.

You can find more details about this unique event here.

In Atlas of the Heart, Brené Brown takes us on a journey through eighty-seven of the emotions and experiences that define what it means to be human. As she maps the necessary skills and an actionable framework for meaningful connection, she gives us the language and tools to access a universe of new choices and second chances—a universe where we can share and steward the stories of our bravest and most heartbreaking moments with one another in a way that builds connection.

Tickets to this event are available here. A hard cover first edition of the book is included with the price of the ticket. You can choose whether to have the book mailed to you or if you would to pick it up in store. We will email you the link to watch about 48 hours ahead of the event itself.

Katherine May discusses THE ELECTRICITY OF EVERY LIVING THING

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If you missed last night’s online talk between Alex and Katherine May about Katherine’s wonderful new book, The Electricity of Every Living Thing, don’t worry! We recorded it, and the link is below. It was a great conversation, ranging from walking the coast of south west England to autism diagnoses and who they are for to wild mushrooms to why Americans don’t like Marmite to why it’s OK to admit that, sometimes, parenting can be a bit crappy. Oh, and some killer book recommendations along the way. Enjoy!

Time Change for Eli Saslow event on Thursday to 6:00 p.m. CST!

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For those of you looking forward to tomorrow evening’s discussion with Pulitzer Prize winner Eli Saslow about his stunning new book, Voices from the Pandemic, please note that due to unforeseen circumstances we have had to move this event forward by one hour, to 6:00 p.m. CST.

Here is the (free!) link to register.

The Covid-19 pandemic was a world-shattering event, affecting everyone in the nation. From its first ominous stirrings, renowned journalist Eli Saslow began interviewing a cross-section of Americans, capturing their experiences in real time: An exhausted and anguished EMT risking his life in New York City; a grocery store owner feeding his neighborhood for free in locked-down New Orleans; an overwhelmed coroner in Georgia; a Maryland restaurateur forced to close his family business after forty-six years; an Arizona teacher wrestling with her fears and her obligations to her students; rural citizens adamant that the whole thing is a hoax, and retail workers attacked for asking people to wear masks; patients struggling to breathe and doctors desperately trying to save them.

Through Saslow's masterful, empathetic interviewing, we are given a kaleidoscopic picture of a people dealing with the unimaginable. These deeply personal accounts make for cathartic reading, as we see Americans at their worst, and at their resilient best.

OF WOMEN AND SALT Book Club!

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Last Thursday we were thrilled to celebrate the inaugural Skylarking bookclub! Friends old and new gathered in the shop (fully masked, of course) to discuss Gabriela Garcia’s stunning debut novel, Of Women and Salt. Conversation was lively from the start as we chatted about the book and planned what questions we would ask the author when she called in. It was wonderful to be back in the shop after dark, talking books. Heaven knows it’s been a long time coming. (For a list of future events - and there are lots coming up! - click here.)

Gabriela was totally charming and answered everyone’s questions with thoughtfulness and candor. It was a great opportunity (after so many months!) to get answers directly from the author, and provided some new and unique perspectives on the book we had all enjoyed so much. The half hour we spent with her on screen flew by.

Afterwards we asked for feedback about how we could improve on future events and received some very helpful suggestions which we will put in place for this month’s event, which takes place on Thursday, October 28. The chosen book is The Hive, by Melissa Scholes Young. It’s a crackling family saga set in Missouri (Cape Girardeau, to be precise) which will give us all plenty to talk about. Come and join us! All we ask is that you buy your copy of the book from us - either in person or online. See you then??

October is the new December.

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Carrie writes…

I've been spending significant time ordering books (and stuff) as we amp up stock for the holiday season. We are seriously excited about some absolutely stellar Fall/Winter titles, and hoping that you enjoy the quirky sidelines as much as we do.

But . . . let's have a serious talk.

Last year we talked about things moving slowly, reprints getting delayed, paper shortages, and low stock availability. This year it isn't any better. When we say the supply chain is broken, we mean random links are shattered all over the place.

You might notice that your favorite barista can't give you a lid for that. Maybe your soda is in a red solo cup. We've been waiting for a reprint on that bestseller everyone is talking about. Life is complicated y'all.

I have had a solid wall of email blasts from my reps and the publishers every day for weeks now. We are being told to order for the rest of the year now, don't expect to reorder, good luck guessing what book goes viral, BUY IT ALL AND CROSS YOUR FINGERS. It isn't wishy washy. It is extremely clear. And I'm trying folks. I am ordering big. The other day the staff informed me that a wall of boxes had arrived and "oh my word"?!?! They spent two days tag teaming the opening, sorting, receiving, and shelving just to see our magical UPS guy bring more. He brings us more every. single. day.

Some of the titles we order in for you are taking a bit longer. Some are coming in quickly and you haven't noticed anything different at all. You might notice our ETA estimates are getting a bit vague. We can usually tell when something will arrive in 2-3 business days . . . what we can't tell anymore is about the ones that used to take 5-6 business days. Some of those magically show up in two days, others take a month.

It isn't an Indie issue (you will find the same issues globally, the Indies are just the ones really being honest with you about it). It isn't a bookshop specific issue (shortages are not just in paper anymore). It is all just rather complicated.

So why am I telling you all of this? Well, mostly because we like you to know what is going on. We still want to order your books in for you. We still want to help you find the perfect gifts. What we are hoping is that you will be a bit patient with the universe as it all plays out.

Let us work our magic and help you find the perfect book for your uncle instead of being sure that the one you heard about on the radio is the ONLY perfect book. (It is sort of our job to know about the other perfect books… and we like to think we are pretty dang good at it.) Pretend your timeline is missing a few weeks (or months) and you really need to get your holiday shopping done now. The sooner you get started, the more selection you are going to have access to . . . and the more likely we can order in that obscure book about drones that knit fuzzy sweaters and solve murders.

Also, never forget about the magic of our other options. Book subscriptions are amazing. The Skylark Reading Spa is one of our favorite things. Audio book subscriptions are perfect for the commuter in your family . . . or the kid who never seems to take out their earbuds. And, of course, old-fashioned gift certificates never go out of style.

Also-also . . . thanks for helping us continue to survive this strange universe. We are pretty stubborn and keep trying to innovate, but none of that matters without you hopping along on this journey with us. Your support means the world . . . as in it means Skylark exists in this world.

Okay. It is time for me to go put in another order. Maybe I'll get a dozen extra of that one . . . it looks cute.

Now We Are Three.

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Three years ago, today, we opened our doors for the first time! It was a glorious day. We met dear friends and complete strangers (some of whom have now become dear friends) and sold a ton of books.

Of course, it has not been entirely smooth sailing since then. About half of the shop’s existence has now been under the shadow of the pandemic. And we would like to extend our deepest thanks to every one of you who has shopped here and supported us throughout this extraordinarily challenging time. Independent bookstores, especially new ones, were closing at a rate of one per week throughout 2020, and the *only* reason that we survived was because of you. So here we are, on our third birthday, a little battered, a little beaten, extremely tired – but immensely grateful.

Skylark is a small business, a local business. We live here. We know you. We hire your friends and neighbors. We treat them like family. Hell, we treat most of you like family. And (unlike Jeff Bezos) we pay our taxes. And we sell the best damn books. Seriously. When we began this adventure it was all about the community we wanted to build within these walls. Thank you all for allowing us to continue this work. It is such a privilege and joy to serve you in this way.

(And come by on Saturday to help us celebrate in person! We'll have giveaways, raffles, discounts... and we'll be revealing the 2021 Skylark T-shirt!!!)

Exclusive Paula Hawkins Live Event and Signed First Editions!

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So. Much. News.

Just in case you missed it, we wanted to let you know that, in conjunction with a handful of other wonderful independent bookstores, Skylark will be co-hosting an exclusive online event to celebrate the publication of A SLOW FIRE BURNING, the newest sensational page-turner from #1 New York Times best-selling author Paula Hawkins, she of the mega-selling THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN.

The event will take place on Wednesday, September 8. Mark your calendars!

To register for this event, which gets you a signed first edition of Paula’s brilliant book, click here.

Excitingly, Paula will be interviewed at this event by Columbia’s very own Laura McHugh, who knows a thing or two about crafting taut and suspenseful novels!

Space is limited to this event so we strongly suggest you book early to avoid disappointment.

With the same propulsion that captivated millions of readers worldwide in The Girl on the Train and Into the Water, Paula Hawkins unfurls a gripping, twisting story of deceit, murder, and revenge.

When a young man is found gruesomely murdered in a London houseboat, it triggers questions about three women who knew him. Laura is the troubled one-night-stand last seen in the victim's home. Carla is his grief-stricken aunt, already mourning the recent death of yet another family member. And Miriam is the nosy neighbor clearly keeping secrets from the police. Three women with separate connections to the victim. Three women who are - for different reasons - simmering with resentment. Who are, whether they know it or not, burning to right the wrongs done to them. When it comes to revenge, even good people might be capable of terrible deeds. How far might any one of them go to find peace? How long can secrets smolder before they explode into flame?

Please note that this event takes place at noon as Paula is in the UK and so our usual evening events would be well past her bedtime! However, if you are unable to attend in person, your registration will allow you to watch a recording after the event.

Paula Hawkins is the author of the #1 New York Times-bestselling novels Into the Water and The Girl on the Train. An international #1 bestseller, The Girl on the Train has sold 23 million copies worldwide and has been adapted into a major motion picture. Hawkins was born in Zimbabwe and now lives in London.

Here’s that link to purchase your signed first edition once again.

On the Subject of Book Clubs... We Proudly Present the Book Club Buffet!!

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The response to our recently-announced Skylarking Book Club has been overwhelming! We’ve sold out of OF WOMEN AND SALT multiples times over and are ordering more every day to keep up with the demand. We can’t wait for our inaugural get-together on September 30!

If you are already in a book club (and many of you are, we are know) we wanted to let you know about an amazing online event on September 14 that we are proud to present with our friends at Valley Bookseller which has been designed specifically with book clubs in mind. If your book club ever struggles to find great titles to read and discuss, then we have the solution! On September 14 at 7:00 p.m., we are proud to present 32 (yes, you read that right, thirty-two) fabulous authors, each of whom have written wonderful books perfect for book clubs. Each author will each give a brief presentation about their books and why they're so great for book clubs. It will be fast-faced, entertaining and hugely fun! The cost is $10 to attend this virtual event, but you receive a $10 online gift code to spend at Skylark, so it's basically free. If you're unable to watch at the time of transmission, fear not - you can watch whenever you like, and can even pick and choose which authors you want to hear from.

Click here to purchase your ticket to this unique event.

When you purchase this item you will receive:

(a) The code to access the event (we will send this to you nearer the time); and

(b) An online gft code worth $10 which you can apply to any Skylark purchase on the website (not just titles feautured in the Buffet)

(c) Contact information for the participating authors so you can invite them to speak with your book club.

A list of the participating authors follows:

Announcing the Inaugural Skylark Book Club!

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Well, we’re only about 18 months later than scheduled. Thanks, pandemic. Still, better late than never, we say.

As we told you a few weeks ago, we’ve been planning to launch our own book club for our customers for some time now, and the time is finally here to let you know all about it.

The Skylarking Book Club will take place on the last Thursday of every month, at 6:30 or thereabouts. Each month we will choose a fabulous newly released title - both fiction and nonfiction, depending on how the mood takes us - and we will gather in the shop to talk about the book, drink a little wine, and generally engage in the kind of book talk that made us want to open the bookshop in the first place.

So (drumroll please) we are excited to announce our inaugural selection: it is OF WOMEN AND SALT, by Gabriela Garcia. The discussion will take place in the shop at 6:30 on Thursday, September 30. (We wanted to give you plenty of time to read the book.)

It will cost nothing to attend - all we ask is that you purchase your copy of the book from us - either online, via email, in person, or over the phone at (573) 777 6990. All purchases of the book will receive a 15% discount up until September 30. (If you are buying online, you’ll need to enter the discount code “BC921” on the checkout page.)

This timely, electrifying debut novel - one of the most hotly anticipated titles of the year - traces a lineage of mothers and daughters across the Cuban diaspora. Spanning five generations and four countries—from 19th-century Cuba to contemporary Miami and Mexico—Garcia’s prismatic debut follows Latinas of fierce pride and longing, all irrevocably linked by the inheritance of trauma, and by the writings and stories passed between them.

Garcia—a former star student of Roxane Gay at Purdue’s MFA program in creative writing, and the recipient of a Rona Jaffe Award—taps into some of our most pressing issues. She writes, “As the multi-racial, multi-ethnic daughter of immigrants from Cuba and Mexico, I know firsthand that identities are chosen and assigned, fluid and confining. I’d never read a novel that spoke to the complexities of my own experience—I wanted to write one that dismantled the notion that there is a single Latinx or immigrant experience and that turned a lens on how privilege, colorism, and immigration inequality shape communities over decades.”

This novel is fabulous - but don’t take our word for it. OF WOMEN AND SALT has earned remarkable early praise. O, The Oprah Magazine raves, “A meditation on motherhood, displacement, and cultural identity . . . this stunningly accomplished first novel is both epic and intimate”; Elle chimes in, “A vast account of family, culture, politics, and the traumas inflicted by all, this gorgeous debut heralds the arrival of a literary star”; Harper’s Bazaar adds, “Garcia’s debut novel promises to be a sweeping tour de force about addiction, displacement, and the legacy of trauma"; Ms. magazine states, “This remarkable debut shines a brilliant light on the broken immigration system and legacy of trauma for the people who endure it"; and the Washington Post deems Garcia’s debut “A mesmerizing patchwork of determination, courage and survival.”

If all this wasn’t enough, we’re very please to announce that Gabriela Garcia will be attending the book club via Zoom to participate in the discussion! So you’ll be able to ask her questions directly.

We look forward to seeing you there. Here’s the link to purchase, one more time.

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Gabriela Garcia is the recipient of a Rona Jaffe Foundation Writer's Award and a Steinbeck Fellowship from San Jose State University. Her fiction and poems have appeared in Best American Poetry, Tin House, Zyzzyva, Iowa Review, and elsewhere. She is the daughter of immigrants from Mexico and Cuba and grew up in Miami; she currently lives in Oakland, CA. She previously worked in music, magazines, technology, and feminist and migrant justice organizing. OF WOMEN AND SALT is her first novel.