The Bookseller Goes to College

SKY at college, IN THE LIBRARY.

Sky writes…

You know how the saying goes - you can take a girl out of a bookshop, but—

No, wait. That doesn’t really work.

Well, you can take the bookseller out of a girl, but—

No. That’s not possible either.

The more time I spend at college away from Skylark, the more I realize how close I am to the bookshop. One of my favorite places to read on campus is tucked away on the top floor of the library, in an armchair by the window . . . There aren’t skylights, but when it rains, sometimes it feels exactly the same as our armchairs upstairs, both surrounded by nonfiction and the smell of books.

I walked into the cafeteria to have lunch with friends a few days ago, and they left with books I had been saving for them. It made me stop and think - I don’t just read for myself anymore. I love what I read, and I will always read for myself, but I read for others now too. I read for the bookshop and all of you who visit us. I read for my friends and one of my favorite professors who all trade book recommendations with me every time I need to just calm down and not think for a bit.

And this is the real reason you can’t take a girl out of a bookshop. Because a bookshop isn’t really a place, it’s a community. And if you take a girl out of a community, she’ll just build a whole new one up around her.

Subscriptions Just How You Want Them!

From Beth…

The other day I picked up a call from Reggie, a homebound man in his 80s, who is a voracious reader needing books delivered.  After chatting for a while, we decided on a subscription that we customized perfectly for him.  

First, since Reggie doesn’t use a computer, we sent him a modified reading survey via snail mail that he completed and returned to us via a stamped envelope that we provided.  Second, we adjusted the monthly book delivery upward to several titles a month due to his rapid book consumption. Finally, we made a note to accommodate Reggie by calling a few times in a row if he didn’t answer initially.  

We are excited to help Reggie with his passion for reading!  And we would be honored to help other homebound friends or relatives with subscriptions that meet their needs, too.  Would your loved one appreciate a subscription of large-print books?  Let us know.  Would your loved one enjoy reading shorter titles?  Let us know.  Is one book a month too many, or, like Reggie, is one book insufficient?  Let us know.

And perhaps you, reader, are homebound and are wanting to bring more books into your life.

In short, at Skylark Bookshop we are eager to develop the most tailored reading experience for you or your homebound friend or relative.  Please feel free to drop us a line if you’d like to make this happen.

The Unbound Book Festival 2023 keynote speakers!

We are so excited that the Unbound Book Festival has announced that next year's keynote speakers at the festival will be Ross Gay and Patrick Rosal!

Ross and Pat are two of the most acclaimed and exciting poets of their generation. They are also best friends.

They will be appearing together - sans moderator - at the Missouri Theatre on Friday, April 21, to kick off next year's festival. It's safe to say that this will be an Unbound keynote like no other. Ross and Pat will bring their extraordinary talents to the stage for an evening of joy, delight, poetry, music, wisdom, and friendship (and maybe some basketball.)

Pat came to the very first Unbound Book Festival back 2016 and redefined for many who saw him what a poetry reading could look like. Ross’s first book of essays, The Book of Delights, has been a bestseller in the store since it came out in 2019, and we are also having a grand old time selling his new collection of essays, Inciting Joy. If you’ve read either of Ross’s books, you may remember that he writes quite a lot about his friend Pat.

Yes, it’s this Pat.

We have loads of Ross’s and Pat’s books for sale in the shop, so you have a chance to read their work before they come to Columbia in April next year. Come in and stock up, and then keep watching for information on tickets early in the new year!

Skylark Bestsellers for the week ending November 5!

Bookseller Paradise in St. Louis! (Really)

We miss Skylark when we are gone. We have also missed in person bookselling conferences. When Alex & I first talked about opening a bookshop, we drove for 12 hours to our first ever Winter Institute and vowed to make THE decision on the drive home. Heartland (the Midwest and Great Lakes conference), Winter Institute (American Booksellers and International), and Spring Road Trip (Midwest only) are a huge part of the roots and fuel behind our passion. Gathering hundreds of Booksellers, Publishers, Authors, and other industry professionals is epicly nerdy and we always try to make the most of it.

Conferences can be broken down into a few major things . . . things we thought we would share with all of you. Because in the end, that is what it is all about. Bringing bookish dreams to all of you.

Place.

Every conference is in a different place. We get out of our shops into a new space to let our brains take on a new perspective. We visit other shops. We learn their stories. We look at what works and why and wonder what changes we should or could make back home. And we miss home. Every single time we walk into Skylark we love it more. But we also know that walking away every so often helps keep it that way. It honestly takes effort not to stop at the shop immediately instead of going home first and we pretty much force ourselves to go home and empty our suitcases and save the shop for the next morning. 

People.

The people behind the bookselling industry have a relationship like no other. We help one another with pretty much anything and everything. We never stop seeking more knowledge, more ideas, more more. Independent booksellers don’t view one another as competition. We are a whole. Every success is to be celebrated. Every dream is a foundation. Alex was recognized for making bookish impacts and it was beautiful. Our friend Kris from Left Bank Books in St. Louis was recognized for her significant contributions to bookselling (and the universe at large) and it was inspiring. We met booksellers who had only been booksellers for a few weeks, booksellers who are icons, booksellers who have ties to multiple bookshops because they can’t stop being booksellers, no matter where they land.

The publishers and reps are generous and invested and just as excited about the books as the rest of us. They spend time at their booths, talking to us as we riffle through their displays. They make recommendations for us, and for you. Books that aren’t out yet and books we might have missed from before. This is where we discover some of our biggest sellers. Unique titles that are not on any bestseller list, but are on ours. They introduce us to authors, spoil us with small dinner gatherings, and generally share in our excitement.

Speaking of authors. The authors speak to us, dine with us, mingle and nerd out with us. We make plans for events, book clubs, and again . . . share the nerdy excitement of published (or soon to be published) pages.

Books.
BECAUSE BOOKS, y’all.

Because.

Today we celebrate our fourth birthday.

It’s been an adventure beyond our wildest imaginings. We’ve experienced highs that we wouldn’t have imagined, and a few lows as well (thanks, COVID.) But we’re still here, all thanks to you.

Every year on our birthday we create a new Skylark T-Shirt. On the back of each one we play with our “Because Books” saying.

In 2019 (the picture of our shopfront) it was "Because Local”.

In 2020 (the wonky bird and BYLARK SKOOKSHOP) it was “Because 2020.”

In 2021 (the bird on a syringe) it was “Because Science.”

This year, as we inch back toward normality, we wanted to recognize our community that has supported us so wonderfully throughout the last four years. And so we dedicate this year’s design to each and every one of you. For every shirt that we sell today, we’ll donate $5.00 to our wonderful local nonprofit, True North, who provide essential support services to victims of domestic and sexual violence.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We hope to see you today and celebrate in person!.

Are you a teacher? Then read on...!

This post is for educators of all types. from kindergarten classrooms to graduate seminars!

We know that your summers are short, we know that you're already thinking about the upcoming school year, and we know that you welcome any and all assistance. We get you and we've got you.

We're now pleased to have a description of all of our educator perks located in one convenient area. Here is where you'll find out about our everyday educator's discount, wish lists, subscriptions, bulk purchases, and book fairs.

Check out our updated and consolidated details, and reach out to us at outreach@skylarkbookshop.com so that we can best support you. Don't see something you need? Please feel free to get in touch with your idea.

Where's Who?

Skylark is excited to welcome a super secretive and special guest to Columbia during the month of July.

Waldo is visiting to help us run our Find Waldo Local event. In fact, 26 Waldos will be hiding in local businesses in Columbia. The question for you is, can you find all the Waldos?

Skylark Bookshop is your Find Waldo Headquarters all July, so drop by and pick up a passport from us or another participating location or print your own here! Participating businesses can be identified by a Waldo Decal on business doors/windows. They are also listed with addresses in the passport.

And Waldo didn’t just bring himself to Columbia . . . He brought gifts! The first 125 people to find at least 10 Waldos can claim a temporary tattoo and a $1 off coupon good for Waldo titles at Skylark Bookshop.

We are also hosting a party for Waldo at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 4th. If you turn in a passport with 20 stamps/signatures at the party, you will be entered into a prize drawing including Waldo goodies and some spectacular treasures from several of the participating businesses. If you find all 26 Waldos and are able to “spot the difference” with the one special Waldo, you will receive an extra goodie at the party to celebrate your extraordinary sleuthing skills.

All are welcome to participate in this event - adults, kids, and everyone in between. Spend a fun filled day of adventure, or spread the search through the whole month while you visit Waldo at these fantastic local businesses.  Done with summer reading and looking for some fun? This might be what you’re looking for! Just want to get out and about? You are welcome to join us! 

The hunt for Waldo is on!

Sweet Summer Story Time and Workshop!

Another fun event to tell you about! We are adding new events all the time - please do check our events page regularly to make sure you don’t miss out!

On Saturday, June 25 at 10:00 a.m., we’re pleased to host Art Teacher Abbey from Artful Seeds for storytime and an art workshop! Abbey will be reading the book, Oh Look, A Cake! by J.C. McKee and then teaching artists how to make their own mixed-media cakes. Paint, snip and collage a colorful cake artwork to take home. This event is great for all ages, but best for ages 3-10.

The cost of the workshop is $15.00 per child. Cash or Venmo accepted at the door.

For the month of June, Artful Seeds is donating a portion of proceeds to Daniel Boone Regional Library. A portion of this workshop goes straight to DBRL. Supporting your local library is a piece of cake!

Announcing our Teen Book Club!

It’s Pride month and school is out! We wanted to celebrate both these things by starting a brand new book club, especially for teen readers. We looked through our shelves and pulled down All Out, a collection of stories about queer teens. Fitting for a book club for teens during pride month, no?

We will be meeting on Wednesday the 29th of June at 6:30 p.m. - the day before our regular Skylarking Bookclub. It’s completely free to attend – we just ask that you purchase your copy of the book from us, whether in person or online.

The session is for teen readers and will be led by the younger Skylark staff! It will be a relaxed and welcoming environment where you’ll be able to chat and share your views with no judgement. It’s going to be a really interesting conversation, and also a lot of fun.

 Here’s what Kirkus Reviews (a notoriously tough reviewer) had to say about the book: “Readers searching for positive, nuanced, and authentic queer representation—or just a darn good selection of stories—need look no further than this superb collection.”

Seventeen of the best young adult authors across the queer spectrum have come together to create a collection of beautifully written diverse historical fiction for teens. From a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood set in war-torn 1870s Mexico featuring a transgender soldier, to two girls falling in love while mourning the death of Kurt Cobain, forbidden love in a sixteenth-century Spanish convent or an asexual girl discovering her identity amid the 1970s roller-disco scene, All Out tells a diverse range of stories across cultures, time periods and identities, shedding light on an area of history often ignored or forgotten.

The book features stories by Malinda Lo, Elliot Wake, Anna-Marie McLemore, Shaun David Hutchinson, Mackenzi Lee, Kody Keplinger, Kate Scelsa, Nilah Magruder, Alex Sanchez, Natalie C. Parker,  Dahlia Adler, Sara Farizan, Scott Tracey and Robin Talley, Tess Sharpe, and introducing Tehkor Kay Mejia.

Banned Books - Another Frontier Breached?

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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

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!

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.

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!

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!