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| Book Bin owner Alli Gilley with one of their more popular items. |
Another Thanksgiving in the bag. How was yours? Fantastic, I hope. Ours was filled with so many great moments, I can't begin to count them all. At one point our kitchen was practically vibrating with conversation, coffee flowing, opinions and observations flying. We all piled in the CX-9 — six of us, the third row of seats, used at last! — and went out to Buffalo Grove to visit my parents. And the two fiancés were in conversation with my mother, and one slid her chair in, to be a little closer, and seeing that small gesture made me very happy.
And that was before the holiday dinner itself. Two dozen guests, hours of eating and drinking and talking and laughing. The clean-up was ... if not a breeze, then at least nearly finished by the time we all staggered off to bed.
Of course one holiday down means another looms. Two really. Hanukkah and Christmas; for some mixed families, both. And with them the challenge, if not the curse, of gift-giving. Maybe I can help. I realized that this past year the blog added hundreds of new readers — thank you Charlie Meyerson, thank you Eric Zorn — who might not have been around last year, when "Every Goddamn Day," the book loosely based on this blog was published by the University of Chicago Press. You might not realize that The Economist called it one of six books you must read to really understand Chicago. You can read the enthusiastic review in Newcity here.
So I'm writing this today to suggest a holiday gift for that special person on your list — or yourself. If you buy it from the Book Bin in Northbrook, they'll shoot me an email and I'll bike over and sign and inscribe it, a nice small town touch that will set your gift apart from the generic impersonal crap. Plus you get to help out one of the best independent bookstores in the Chicago area. The Book Bin will mail it out for only five bucks and even gift wrap it for free if you like. The book was a popular holiday gift last year — the Book Bin sold more than 100 — and in case you've got a bookish sort, or a Chicago fan, you're looking to check off your list ahead of time while giving a present that is certain to please that special someone, please consider calling the Book Bin at 847-498-4999 to place your order. You can also order it online from the Book Bin here.
Of course one holiday down means another looms. Two really. Hanukkah and Christmas; for some mixed families, both. And with them the challenge, if not the curse, of gift-giving. Maybe I can help. I realized that this past year the blog added hundreds of new readers — thank you Charlie Meyerson, thank you Eric Zorn — who might not have been around last year, when "Every Goddamn Day," the book loosely based on this blog was published by the University of Chicago Press. You might not realize that The Economist called it one of six books you must read to really understand Chicago. You can read the enthusiastic review in Newcity here.
So I'm writing this today to suggest a holiday gift for that special person on your list — or yourself. If you buy it from the Book Bin in Northbrook, they'll shoot me an email and I'll bike over and sign and inscribe it, a nice small town touch that will set your gift apart from the generic impersonal crap. Plus you get to help out one of the best independent bookstores in the Chicago area. The Book Bin will mail it out for only five bucks and even gift wrap it for free if you like. The book was a popular holiday gift last year — the Book Bin sold more than 100 — and in case you've got a bookish sort, or a Chicago fan, you're looking to check off your list ahead of time while giving a present that is certain to please that special someone, please consider calling the Book Bin at 847-498-4999 to place your order. You can also order it online from the Book Bin here.
Cool! Already ordered one for me online a week or so ago when I rejoined the blog ( I think I was one of the earliest but then it disappeared from my feed for over a year and- so sorry- didn't notice till a friend asked if I had read a recent one! So Im baaaack.And heard about the book. And ordered one from Amazon. But nowwwwww- I'll call to get a couple signed and mailed from the Book Bin. Thinking of two family members who would enjoy. Thanks for the info!!!
ReplyDeleteDon't know if you are aware, buying books from Amazon puts bookstores like the Book Bin in jeopardy. Amazon does care about books. To them it's just a way to get you to buy all the other stuff they have to offer. Go ahead and buy that other stuff, but buy your books from an actual bookstore. Booksellers know books and they know how to treat book readers.
ReplyDelete6:13 Anonymous: I think you meant to say, "Amazon doesn't care about books."
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Thanks for the reminder. Just ordered a couple of copies from my local independent bookstore to be included in the holiday boxes for the grown kids and their families.
ReplyDeleteAlready bought two copies, plus my niece gave me one for my 70th birthday, so I did my part.
ReplyDeleteIn other news, my sister had a relatively small gathering for Thanksgiving. One of the problems has always been, as the nieces and nephews get older, they take off either to warmer climates during the 4 day break, or go to their in-laws. Christmas is the big day. Anyway, my oldest nephew - now in his early 40’s- and I were talking current events, and before we even got to the former president, his mom reminded us that we’re in a conservative household. To which my nephew took minor umbrage, to which she reminded him that his parents owned the place. No politics! So there! Millions of other things to talk about, so it turned out to be a pleasant day inside and outside.
We’ve always been aware that we’ve been roughly divided half and half in our political leanings since 2016, deliberately avoiding the subject at get-togethers. Until yesterday. Whoops!
Oh hell, there’s always Facebook. Not for me, but I get word from time to time about who said who about what. As the oldest living amongst the extended family, I’ve chosen to ignore social media in order to rise above it all. Okay…I had enough frustration trying to open a simple email account, why go through all that effort again for something that stands a chance of lowering my opinion of the only people I’m close to anymore. I can just call my other sister and she’ll give me all the dirt. :D
Thank for the thanks, Neil!
ReplyDeleteWhy I don't buy from Amazon: Amazon started years ago selling books. The reason their books were cheaper was that Amazon made the publishers take a smaller cut and the publishers in turn pushed the writers to take a smaller cut. So everyone in the business of writing and publishing loses while Amazon wins. I buy from a wonderful on line book site called Bookshop.org. They donate a portion of their profits to independent bookstores. You can chose the bookstore if you like. Makes me feel as if I'm doing a little part to help writers.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite book-peddler. Right on, Neil, write on while riding on.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you're as lucky as I was, you'll get to meet the author. Even while he was recovering from the Covid. Thank you NS. So much gratitude for what you do.
ReplyDeleteI just ordered it from the Book Bin. I am in Evanston; biking might or might not be a challenge but we can work something out!
ReplyDeleteI am a huge fan of yours! While volunteering here at The Sparrow’s Nest in Mundelein, sorting the books, I happened upon yours. I snatched it up with a death grip and can’t wait until I finish The House of Mirth so I can begin.
ReplyDeleteMy cousin lived in Northbrook for almost fifty years, Mr. S, but she passed away a few years ago, so I don't get up there anymore whenever I'm in town. We usually stay in Evanston. If I bribed you with lunch, would you sign my copy of EGD?
ReplyDeleteMy wife gave it to me on our 30th anniversary, last December. It's a gem. As a Chicago native and lifelong Chicago history buff, I thought I knew a good deal about the town where I spent half my life. How wrong I was.
Sure, that would be fun. That was the beauty of the vignette-a-day format. It forces me to go searching for stories I didn't know were there.
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