'Tis the season. I work in a bookstore, and we are getting busier by the day. I'm racing around like a madwoman (s'truth: I had sweat trickling down my back today) answering phones, pulling books, placing them on hold, helping people in the store (by the bye...
Now, I had another lady waiting for me. Her daughter, also 13, ADORES Harry Potter. Holding up Taylor's 'Shadowmancer,' she said, "Is this good?"
What was I supposed to say? I opted for the truth, though I gentled it a bit. "I rarely discourage one from buying a book... but I found this unreadable." I told her why I didn't like it (feeling guilty... sorry, G.P. Taylor!), and said I'd be happy to recommend other books for her. "Please!" she said.
"Okay," I took a deep breath. "I'm probably going to give you more suggestions than you want." So, I started chatting up a few books.
I started with Coopers' 'Dark is Rising' sequence, moved on to Shannon Hale's 'The Goose Girl'... and at this point, my first customer had come back over. "Do you mind if I listen in?"
Customer #2 and I both assured her that was fine (she ended up buying 'The Goose Girl' -which is brilliant and wonderful and so gorgeously written, it makes me weepy that I may never be that good). Customer #2 was ultimately, as I had feared, overwhelmed. "I think I need to bring my daughter back and have her talk to you." I told her the hours I worked, and that was no good; I'm gone before school is out. "You need to work after-school hours!" she admonished.
And that made me think. I should so be a consultant. Make me a book consultant for the 11-16 or so set. Give me one shift a week to just read. I'd read anything and everything were that the case. I'll set up special appointments... and hey, screw the company payroll. Slip me a twenty, and I'll give you half an hour of book talk and rec's.
Never going to happen. It would be fun, though.