"Let's pretend it's not a million degrees. Hope everyone survived the heat this weekend. Remember to stay hydrated and not to over exert yourself... read a book instead. Love, Spiral."

Saying that "it's time for us to admit that two stores are too much for us to handle," Aaron Lippelt and Mary Gibbons are putting Pilsen Community Books, in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, up for sale and aim to concentrate on the Dial Bookshop, which they opened in the Loop in November 2017.

In an open letter, they emphasized that "this doesn't mean the end of PCB! That's why we're writing to you today. We're looking for an aspiring bookseller who would like to purchase the store. We have a fully stocked. fully functional bookstore with a great customer base--it could be as easy as simply handing the keys over to a new owner. If you or anyone you know is interested, send us an e-mail! Serious inquiries only, please."

Lippelt and Gibbons opened Pilsen Community Books in February 2016. The 1,500-square-foot store sells new and used books, and a selection of merchandise, including T-shirts, totes, literary posters and gift cards.

The Dial Bookshop opened on the second floor of the landmark Fine Arts Building on South Michigan Ave. in space formerly occupied by Selected Works Used Books & Sheet Music. The building has a storied artistic and literary history: the transcendentalist literary magazine The Dial, edited by Margaret Fuller, was founded in the building in 1840. The Dial Bookshop has strong sales of fine arts and architecture.

Turtle Creek Books in downtown Beloit, Wisc., will be closing its bricks-and-mortar location in order to move its offerings online. The Daily News reported that "the space has been occupied by Barnes & Noble College, which is currently leased to Beloit College." The college is contracting with an exclusively online bookseller to provide textbooks for students and faculty.

In a statement, Beloit College said that when it "first moved its bookstore downtown in 2000, it was part of an effort to rejuvenate downtown Beloit. The work of the whole community has brought this to fruition. Downtown Beloit has never been stronger, which makes now the perfect time to see this space repurposed into something that will further benefit the entire community. This decision comes after many years of consideration and evaluating many different options for our bookstore. We are thankful for our 20-year partnership with Barnes & Noble College. And per the contract, Barnes & Noble was given a one-year advance notice about the cancellation."

Downtown Beloit Association executive director Shauna El Amin said the DBA "looks forward to working with the property owner to promote the space for future business ventures. Downtown Beloit has few vacancies and we are confident this space can attract a unique concept that will fit in well with the character of the area."

Gary Trim died on June 30. His lifelong career was in publishing, first at Chas. Levy Co., then as sales manager at the University of Chicago Press. In 1981, he founded Trim Associates to represent academic publishers to bookstores throughout the Midwest and to national chains and wholesalers.

Because of Gary's profound love of jazz, memorial donations to Youth Education Programs of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, 111 N. Wells Street, Suite 501, Chicago, Ill. 60610 or online are appreciated.

Last Thursday, the second part of the American Booksellers Association's Summer 2019 Kids' Next List was delivered to nearly half a million of the country's best book readers, going to 448,517 customers of 137 participating bookstores. The next Kids' Next List will be published in September.

The e-newsletter, powered by Shelf Awareness, features summer Kids' Next List titles, with bookseller quotes and "buy now" buttons that lead directly to the purchase page for the title on the sending store's website. The newsletter, which is branded with each store's logo, also includes an interview (from Bookselling This Week) with the author whose book was chosen by booksellers as the number-one Kids' Next List pick, in this case Margaret Rogerson, author of Sorcery of Thorns (Margaret K. McElderry Books).

For a sample of the newsletter, see this one from Wonderland Bookshop of Greensboro, N.C.

"Whether you're going on vacation or taking a stay-cation, make sure to stop by and pick up a book--the key to traveling across the globe and beyond," Story on the Square, McDonough, Ga., posted on Facebook along with a photo of its sidewalk chalkboard, which offered helpful bookish road signs to such places as Westeros, Narnia, Hogwarts and Mordor.

Congratulations to Bridgeside Books, Waterbury, Vt., which celebrated its 10th anniversary last Thursday with giveaways, festivities, a birthday cake and even a bookshop-loving cat.

On Friday, owner Hiata DeFeo expressed a "huge THANK YOU to all our friends, family, supporters, customers, and community who helped us celebrate 10 YEARS yesterday! What an amazing turnout! Thank you for all the kind thoughts, messages, words of love + encouragement, flowers, and ongoing support of this little shop on the corner of 29 Stowe Street. I love sharing Bridgeside Books with everyone! Thank you + Much Love!"

Recently, DeFeo had posted on Facebook: "As the store turns 10 in 2019, I have found myself reflecting on this past decade with gratitude, awe, thankfulness, and love for the Waterbury community that has embraced me and my dream. I never imagined that the shop would grow up into the amazing space it is today!

"My mission when I opened Bridgeside Books was to offer a local experience of books, create a community gathering space through events, and offer stellar customer service. I knew it would be a challenge in the world of e-readers, on-line retailers, and big box store competition. I am thrilled that my little dream shop has lasted and grown into a local destination.

"I have always loved to read and sharing my passion for books is the most amazing job I could have created for myself--that others enjoy coming to the shop, chatting about their most recent read, and recommending their favorites is one of the best parts of the bookstore. I am most proud that the kids in our community have grown up with a local bookshop, and will hopefully take that love and support of indie bookstores with them out into the world. Thank you, fellow readers, for your support!"

The Frankfurt Book Fair New York has selected Malina by Ingeborg Bachmann, translated by Philip Boehm (New Directions, $16.95, 9780811228725) as its July Book of the Month.

The organization described the book this way: "In Malina, originally published in German in 1971, Ingeborg Bachmann invites the reader into a world stretched to the very limits of language. An unnamed narrator, a writer in Vienna, is torn between two men: viewed through the tilting prism of obsession, she travels further into her own madness, anxiety, and genius. Malina explores love, 'deathstyles,' the roots of fascism, and passion."

Malina is the only novel by Ingeborg Bachmann (1926–1973), whose poems, plays and stories are considered major works of 20th century German writing.

Philip Boehm is an American playwright, theater director and translator.

Jessica Gilo has joined the Monacelli Group, which includes the Monacelli Press and Monacelli Studio, as marketing and publicity director. She was formerly the assistant marketing director, Culinary & Lifestyle, at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Trini's Big Leap by Alexander de Wit and Beth Kephart with illustrations by William Sulit (Penny Candy Books).

Today:
Good Morning America: Bella Thorne, author of The Life of a Wannabe Mogul: Mental Disarray (Rare Bird Books, $25, 9781644280560).

Today Show: Kelly Corrigan, author of Tell Me More: Stories About the 12 Hardest Things I'm Learning to Say (Random House, $16, 9780399588396).

Fresh Air: Haider Warraich, author of State of the Heart: Exploring the History, Science, and Future of Cardiac Disease (St. Martin's Press, $29.99, 9781250169709).

Tomorrow:
Good Morning America: Laurie Gelman, author of You've Been Volunteered: A Class Mom Novel (Holt, $26, 9781250301857).

Dr. Oz: Shanna Hogan, author of Secrets of a Marine's Wife: A True Story of Marriage, Obsession, and Murder (St. Martin's Press, $28.99, 9781250127303).

Naveen Andrews (The English Patient, Lost) will star in The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, based on the 2014 novel by Gabrielle Zevin. The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Zevin adapted her own screenplay, and her frequent collaborator Hans Canosa will direct. Canosa told THR it was a priority to stay true to the novel and cast an actor of South Asian descent in the lead role.

Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh has won the 2019 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award, the Bookseller reported. At a ceremony at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Cavanagh received £3,000 (about $3,750) and a handmade, engraved beer barrel provided by Theakston Old Peculier.

In addition, James Patterson won the Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award. Organizers called him "as passionate about reading as he is about writing and is a huge supporter of independent bookstores and libraries."

In her first book, Overdressed, journalist Elizabeth L. Cline took a hard look at the fast-fashion industry and its high (often hidden) costs for consumers, clothing factory workers and the environment. Seven years later, she's back to share further insights on shopping sustainably--and how it can lead to looking better and saving money. The Conscious Closet, Cline's second book, is a smart, practical successor to Overdressed and a helpful primer on ethical fashion.

Cline begins with a "conscious-closet cleanout," urging readers to purge their closets and send their old clothes where they'll do some good. She sings the praises of clothing swaps and resale sites, and reminds readers to do their research before dropping their bags of castoffs into a bin or at a thrift store. Cline herself loves the thrill of both buying and selling secondhand items, though she admits it's not for everyone. But she does believe all shoppers can dispose of unwanted items in an ethical, responsible manner.

Once the closet cleanout is done, Cline moves on to "The Art of Less," which, not surprisingly, lays out strategies for buying fewer pieces and shopping more mindfully. "Everyone should be at least a little bit of a freak for fabric," she says, taking the time to lay out the origins, vital properties and drawbacks of seven key materials. She also covers other facets of garment quality, such as construction, fit and even warranty, providing a "quality cheat sheet" for readers to use on their own.

The next section, in a counterintuitive twist, is "The Art of More." This is where Cline indulges both her inner bargain hunter and her deep delight in bold statement pieces. She explores wardrobe rental services such as Rent the Runway and consignment sites like ThredUP, and reminds readers of the potential delights of good old-fashioned thrifting. She then turns her attention to truly sustainable fashion and its related habits: washing clothes less often and more gently, maintaining garments with basic skills (or calling in the pros), and supporting brands that make their clothes ethically and--crucially--pay their workers a living wage. Each section features a q&a or two with fashion industry professionals who speak about buying quality garments, giving old clothes a second life or taking a stand against sweatshops.

Practical, informative and fun, The Conscious Closet provides a plethora of helpful tips, sustainable brands to check out, and solid advice on not only shopping more ethically, but buying higher-quality clothes that will last. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams

Shelf Talker: Elizabeth L. Cline's second book is a fun, informative guide to sustainable fashion and more mindful shopping.