Book Club Gathers Tomorrow — It’s the Truth

I am not going to fib you. The River City Books fiction book club will meet at 7 p.m., tomorrow (Tuesday, July 1), in the store’s downstairs meeting area. The book to be read is The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett.
As always, the club is free and open to the public. New members [...]

Excuse Us!

River City Books manager Jon Lee asked me to make an announcement that may or may not come into play: On Monday, June 30, the store will conduct its annual review of inventory. The checking will begin well before the store is scheduled to open and the hope is that when the clock strikes 10 [...]

Carlin’s Books Still Here To Make Us Laugh

Such sad news about George Carlin’s passing. I really enjoyed listening to his routine. He seemed like a humble, good guy, too. Best known for his “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television,” Carlin was a fine writer who used his skills as a concise assembler of words to craft several milk-out-the-nostrils-funny books.
A summary [...]

Someone Say Something About A Summer Sale?

My sources at River City Books have informed me of some news you’re going to want to hear: The store is having a huge four-day sale. From today, Monday, June 23, through Thursday, June 26 they’ll take:
• 30 percent off all bargain books
• 30 percent off all clothing
• 20 percent off all regularly priced books
• [...]

Free, Free! Everyone Likes Things That are Free

I’ve been writing quite a bit about books for kids of late because it’s that time of the year when students on break have a lot of time on their hands. Summer’s about soccer, dancing, softball, baseball, and running around town with friends. It’s also a season when there is time to read books just [...]

More Popular Than the Bible?

Well, no. I asked the question but I already knew the answer: Harry Potter sales are out of this world, but they aren’t that far out of this world.
As a press report noted the other day J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series has now sold more than 400 million copies worldwide. According to the Guinness Book [...]

Step Right Up and Have a Laugh

Is there a more popular book-writing funny man going today than David Sedaris? I can’t think of one. And, as you know, I am something of an authority when it comes to laughers. Unfortunately, however, the laughing is usually directed at me.
But, alas, back to Mr. Sedaris. He has a new collection of essays available [...]

Even More Music On Sale

I mentioned recently that the old neighborhood bookstore has a table dedicated to music CDs that are on sale for up to 25 percent off. While I was in the store over the weekend, I noticed it’s become more difficult to see the top of that table.
In order to make room for the ever-expanding selection [...]

Bargain for the Weekend

I love being downtown when it’s hopping, and it sure was this weekend, with an influx of visitors in town for Carleton College’s commencement. I slipped through the crowds and into my favorite haunt where I saw something almost as exciting as a graduation: bargains, bargains, bargains. The one I picked out looks like a [...]

Sun Can Stay Away

Rainy days aren’t so sad when you have a great book to read. At least that’s my feeling. Of course, it’s even better when that great book costs just one-fourth of the cover price.
Such a scenario is entirely doable, dear readers, because down at the old neighborhood bookstore they have a section devoted to staff-selected [...]