However, there was a combination of qualities I did recognize . . .
"The Seeker: The most straightforward of any of our customer types, the seekers want a book. A specific book: only this book will do. Prominent sub-types . . . NPR listeners: Heard it on NPR. (it’s usually a good book, but we’re not stocking it yet — and on top of that, I’ve been stuck at work while you’re listening to the radio; if you can’t remember the title I won’t be able to come up with it.)."
And also this category (again these are his words): "Yeah, I get it, the cover of the book is red. Can you recall even one word in the title? Or the author’s first name? Or if it’s fiction or non-fiction? Color, while vivid in your own memory, is in fact the least helpful detail you can give us about any book."
The thing is though, here at Little Shop of Stories? We LOVE you NPR listeners who are charged up and excited about a new book. You help us stay on top of what's getting promoted out there, because (as this blogger points out), we're often stuck in the bookstore while NPR is playing, and unfortunately the great people at NPR still haven't learned to email us a couple weeks before a book goes on air, so we can order it and have it in for you right as you hear about it. So, even if we end up not having what you wanted right when you heard about it, as is sometimes the case, we're grateful to you for letting us know, and for coming to us for something really cool. (Because those NPR people have pretty good taste, right?)



So, while, yes, sometimes bookselling can have its challenges, we here at Little Shop of Stories say, "Feel free to bring your book uncertainty in with you! We will enjoy helping you solve your dilemma, and if we can't do it, we'll definitely have something equally great to recommend."
(We may ask though, if you do hear about something good on NPR, you try to get at least one word in the title, or a scrap of the author's name to help us out.) :)
--Terra
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