WORD's current location in Jersey City

WORD Bookstore in Jersey City, N.J., will move from its original home at 123 Newark Avenue to a new space off of Hamilton Park early next year. Store owner Christine Onorati plans to start whittling down the store's inventory after the holiday shopping season and hopes to be open for business in Hamilton Park by the end of February 2022.

Onorati reported that she's signed a "good, long lease" with a "wonderful landlord" who is well known in Jersey City for supporting his small business tenants. At around 1,200 square feet, the store's future home is less than half the size of the current space, which will allow Onorati and her team to be "a little leaner" and a "little more curated." She's found over the years that especially in urban areas with high rents, "smaller can be better."

For about six years, Onorati noted, WORD Jersey City had a cafe, which was perhaps the biggest reason that she initially went for such a large space. After years of trying, however, the cafe never quite took off the way Onorati had hoped. The goal was to get "non-bookstore people in" to buy food and drink, but WORD J.C. ended up "selling food and drink to existing bookstore customers."

After considering options like leasing the cafe to a third party, she decided to shut down the cafe about two years ago. Once the cafe was closed, Onorati looked at other options, like subletting part of the bookstore, but it all seemed like too much of a headache. Around January 2021, she put out feelers inquiring about any available spaces.

Onorati said the neighborhood WORD is moving into is full of families, a little quieter than Newark Avenue, and has some beloved small businesses, like a children's store and an ice cream shop. She described Hamilton Park as the "Prospect Park of Jersey City," adding that the new space is literally on the park. Neighborhood residents are already excited about an independent bookstore opening in the area, and Onorati said she and her team are looking forward to the move.

Book World in Janesville, Wis., will close in March 2022 after 35 years in business. In a Facebook post, owner Rene Purnell noted: "It comes with a heavy heart to announce that Book World will be closing. We have been serving our community now for 35 years. We've grown very close to a lot of our customers, many of you have become very dear friends and we really appreciate all the support over the years! This will come as no surprise, but it has been very difficult trying to compete with Amazon. Mix this with an insane amount of shoplifting over the years, and all the complications Covid has put on stores and the strain it has put on the supply chain, it's just too much for a little locally owned bookstore to handle."

For fans of bookshop cat Oscar, Purnell added: "To Oscar's fan club: Oscar has been set up with a loving home, and he will be moving there by the end of next week. Be sure to stop in and give him some love before then!"

"It's been a struggle," Purnell told the Beloit Daily News. "You used to be able to tell people if a (special ordered) book would be here tomorrow. You still need to be able to tell customers that, but you simply can't now. The shippers don't know when they can get books to you. They don't have boxes to ship the books in. Between that and shortages on ink and manpower, I think worldwide it's just being chalked up as a 'book shortage'.... The manga and graphic novels just haven't come. They're not printing. Some shippers say they don't know if titles will show up at all in time for holiday sales, or if instead, it'll be more like the summer of 2022. We just don't know. How do you run a business that way?"

Longtime customers and local authors have started calling Purnell to wish her well as she winds down operations, the Daily News wrote, noting that many of the calls were tearful.

"We're super sad about all the regulars that have patronized us over the years who we've built personal relationships with," Purnell said. "That's kept us alive. We're all human beings with feelings. With our regulars, we've shared weddings, funerals, all kinds of social interactions. That's what really breaks my heart."

Amazon plans to open three new operations facilities in Alabama and celebrated the launch of a million-square-foot non-sortable fulfillment center in Huntsville. The other facilities include a delivery station in Birmingham opening this month; and, in 2022, a receiving center in Montgomery, as well as another million-square-foot XL fulfillment center to be located in Huntsville.

Brian Huseman, v-p of public policy at Amazon, said, "Our success would not be possible without our great employees and we are grateful for the enthusiasm and strong state and local support we have received since first launching operations in 2020. We look forward to continued investment as we innovate and grow to better serve our customers across the state."

Limestone County Commission chairman Collin Daly said: "We would like to thank Amazon for believing in us, selecting our county for their second fulfilment center, and we look forward to being a part of their success in the future."

John Saumarez Smith

British bookseller John Saumarez Smith, "whose shop in Mayfair was the haunt of literary aristocrats and spies," died November 15, the Times of London reported. He was 78. During the 43 years he ran the Heywood Hill bookshop, Saumarez Smith "commanded loyalty from the hundreds of clients who relied upon his recommendations, and it led to him being considered by publishers and collectors alike to be the greatest, and perhaps last, of the 'gentleman booksellers.' "

Heywood Hill "was, and still is, tiny, groaning with tables of books and with shelves covering every available space. In Saumarez Smith's day it was akin to an overcrowded drawing room which was, it was said, 'like an eight-hour cocktail party without any drink,' " the Times wrote. "This sensation was enhanced by the now uncommon mingling of new titles with second-hand and antiquarian stock, which led to many unexpected discoveries on the shelves. Yet it was by no means a frivolous operation--Saumarez Smith was capable of moving 500 copies of a book by favored authors, such as Paddy Leigh Fermor or James Lees-Milne, simply by word of mouth. Such were his powers of persuasion that some booksellers could tell if a collector was a client of Heywood Hill merely by looking at the titles in their library."

Nancy Mitford worked in the shop during the Second World War, and Evelyn Waugh once called Heywood Hill "a center for all that was left of fashionable and intellectual London," the Times wrote. Literary aristocrats and spies mingled, particularly because Leconfield House, then the headquarters of MI5, was nearby. David Cornwell (aka John le Carré) was a customer, and was "browsing in the shop one day when someone came in who he wanted to avoid. Saumarez Smith helped him flee, sending him into the basement and then leading him up into the private courtyard at the rear. Le Carré recreated this scene in the BBC TV version of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, with George Smiley doing the escape through the Mayfair bookshop."

A significant proportion of Heywood Hill's revenue also came from Americans, many of whom spent small fortunes on antiquarian and gardening books. 

Saumarez Smith resigned from Heywood Hill at age 65. In 2008, he was given a desk at Maggs Brothers, the antiquarian booksellers in Berkeley Square, which he used to produce his catalogues until 2015, when he moved to John Sandoe, the rival booksellers in Chelsea. In 2018, because of mobility problems, Saumarez Smith "moved to the Charterhouse almshouse in Smithfield, where he still kept in touch with his vast range of friends and colleagues in the book world," the Times noted.

Looking back on his career, he once said, "Bookselling is extremely hard work, and I have certainly put off as many as I have taken on to work in the shop. You have to be like the proverbial swan unruffled and skimming along on the surface, but paddling like crazy below. It's not easy to be agreeable to customers all day long."

Otto Penzler (l.), Mysterious Press publisher and owner of New York City's Mysterious Bookshop, and novelist Gregory Galloway, author of Just Thieves (Melville House), met at House of Books in Kent, Conn., recently for a discussion of "What Makes a Noir Novel?" Both Penzler and Galloway live nearby. It was the final event at House of Books' temporary location; the store has now returned to its renovated original space at 10 North Main St.

Andy Weinberger

Congratulations to Readers' Books, Sonoma, Calif., which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this coming Saturday, November 27. The all-day event will feature 30% off all sales, commemorative T shirts, caps and totes, and raffles for 20 book-themed Gift Bundles.

The store was founded in 1991 by Andy Weinberger, author of the Amos Parisman mysteries, and the late Lilla Weinberger. The store offers a mix of new and used books for readers of all ages, focusing on literature, children's books, and cookbooks.

At Macmillan Children's Publishing Group:

Kristen Luby has been promoted to senior marketing manager, from marketing manager, on the school and library marketing team.

Morgan Kane has been promoted to associate director, publicity from assistant director, publicity.

Nicole Schaeffer has joined the company as senior marketing manager. previously, she was assistant marketing manager at Abrams.

Megan McDonald has joined the company as marketing assistant. Previously, she was an intern.

Genius Camp: The Smartest Kid in the Universe Book 2 by Chris Grabenstein (Random House Books for Young Readers).

Today:
Good Morning America: Diana Gabaldon, author of Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone: A Novel (Outlander Book 9) (Delacorte Press, $36, 9781101885680).

Drew Barrymore Show: Anita Kopacz, author of Shallow Waters: A Novel (Atria/Black Privilege Publishing, $26, 9781982179663).

The Talk: Scott Conant, author of Peace, Love, and Pasta: Simple and Elegant Recipes from a Chef's Home Kitchen (Abrams, $35, 9781419747366).

Late Night with Seth Meyers: Rep. Adam Schiff, author of Midnight in Washington: How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still Could (Random House, $30, 9780593231524).

Tomorrow:
Tamron Hall: Alan Cumming, author of Baggage: Tales from a Fully Packed Life (Dey Street, $27.99, 9780062435781).

Ellen: Casey Wilson, author of The Wreckage of My Presence: Essays (Harper, $26.99, 9780062960580).

Endemol Shine North America optioned Where I Come From: Life Lessons From a Latino Chef, the 2019 memoir by Aarón Sánchez, one of the judges of Fox's MasterChef and MasterChef Junior. Deadline reported that the "Banijay-backed production company is developing potential scripted projects with Sánchez," with North America chief content officer Sharon Levy leading development efforts alongside Flavio Morales and Lisa Fahrenholt.

"It's more important than ever to tell genuine stories of what it's like growing up bicultural in America," said Sánchez. "We want to share the nuances that are unique to Mexican-American culture and honor those roots, while also hoping audiences from different backgrounds connect to the similarities we share--the struggles, the celebrations, the food, the comedy, the survival instincts... the relentless pursuit of happiness. I came up at a time when food was making its way into pop-culture and cooking in restaurants was our primary form of creative expression, so having this opportunity to develop in the scripted space is something I'm really looking forward to. And I couldn't be more excited to do it with my Endemol Shine family."

Levy added: "America knows and loves Aarón from MasterChef and his myriad culinary accomplishments, but most people don't know the amazing journey and the obstacles that he and his mother overcame to become pioneers of Mexican-American cuisine in this country. He has truly lived the American dream and we are excited to now be developing his unique story into a dramatic TV series and exploring additional opportunities with Aarón."

The Alliance of Radical Booksellers named Ellen Clifford's book The War on Disabled People: Capitalism, Welfare and the Making of a Human Catastrophe winner of the 2021 Bread and Roses Award for Radical Publishing. 

Speaking for the judges, Karen Shook said the winning title is "a hugely revelatory account of the one-quarter of U.K. society whose struggle for justice is literally a matter of life and death, and of the determined, defiant disabled activists whose resistance holds important lessons for everyone on the Left."

Calling it "an absolute honor" to win the prize, Clifford said: "The Bread and Roses Award is the only award I have ever aspired to win because it validates exactly what I aspire to do--which is to use writing to explore ideas that can make the world a better place. I am grateful that the Award and that Radical Booksellers exist."

LibraryReads, the nationwide library staff-picks list, offers the top 10 December titles public library staff across the country love:

Top Pick
The Ballerinas: A Novel by Rachel Kapelke-Dale (St. Martin's Press, $27.99, 9781250274236). "Delphine is returning to Paris to choreograph her own ballet. Here she meets up with her lifelong friends and fellow dancers Margaux and Lindsay. This absorbing and thrilling character-driven novel explores the world of ballet and its mysteries and secrets. Give to fans of Luster, Trust Exercise, and My Dark Vanessa." --Terri Smith, Cornelia Library, Mt. Airy, Ga.

Beasts of a Little Land: A Novel by Juhea Kim (Ecco, $27.99, 9780063093577). "Hauntingly tragic and beautifully tender, the story of Jade Ahn is interwoven with the fate of Korea in the early 20th century. Jade is apprenticed to a courtesan at a young age, and her friendships there form an unbreakable bond that leads them through multiple tragedies and loves. Recommended for fans of Min Jin Lee and Amy Tan." --Joy Matteson, Downers Grove Public Library, Downers Grove, Ill.

Bright Burning Things: A Novel by Lisa Harding (HarperVia, $26.99, 9780063097148). "A searing portrait of addiction and recovery, told in the voice of Sonya, a former actress, raging alcoholic, and mother to four-year-old Tommy. When she almost sets the house on fire, her father forces her to rehab, if not for her sake, then for Tommy's. Sonya travels the difficult road to reintegrate into society and reclaim her beloved son. For fans of Shuggie Bain and All Fall Down." --Lisa Burris, Bear Public Library, Bear, Del.

The Cat Who Saved Books: A Novel by Sosuke Natsukawa, trans. by Louise Heal Kawai (HarperVia, $24.99, 9780063095724). "A used bookstore, a grieving teen with an appreciation of reading, and a talking cat! What more could you ask of a fantasy? Throw in a mission to free lost and damaged books and a bit of readers' advisory, and you have a thoughtful exploration of the truths behind the pleasures of reading. For fans of author Roselle Lim and The Little Paris Bookshop." --Lucy Lockley, St. Charles City-County Library, St. Peters, Mo.

A History of Wild Places: A Novel by Shea Ernshaw (Atria, $27, 9781982164805). "Travis has a gift: when he touches something, he experiences the memories associated with it. His path to find a missing author leads him to a remote commune [called Pastoral]. Then he too disappears. When one of the residents of that commune finds his truck years later, he realizes that the darkness they fled may already be in Pastoral. For fans of Saint X and The Girls." --Deborah Smith, Weber County Library, Roy, Utah

The Love Con by Seressia Glass (Berkley, $16, ‎ 9780593199053). "Engineer Kenya is a finalist on the reality show Cosplay or No Way, but to win she needs pal Cam to pretend he's her boyfriend. This is a fun friends-to-lovers, fake dating romance that will best suit folks into cosplay, cons, or geeky pursuits. For fans of Jen Deluca and Sara Desai." --Alezandra Troiani, Sno-Isle Libraries, Marysville, Wash.

Murder Under Her Skin: A Pentecost and Parker Mystery by Stephen Spotswood (Doubleday, $27, 9780385547123). "These fun throwback hard-boiled mysteries feature two female sleuths in the post-war 1940s--Lillian Pentecost, an unorthodox Brooklyn detective, and her unlikely partner, circus runaway Will Parker. Their second case involves a murder at Will's former circus, and is perfect for readers of Rex Stout and Agatha Christie." --Patti Cheney, Pima County Public Library, Tucson, Ariz.

My Darling Husband: A Novel by Kimberly Belle (Park Row, $28.99, ‎ 9780778312116). "Atlanta restaurateur Cam Lasky seemingly has it all, until a fire at his eatery and a terrifying home invasion threaten to destroy all he holds dear. With multiple perspectives adding to the mystery, this is another clever, fast-paced thriller from Belle. For readers of Lisa Gardner and Chevy Stevens." --Jayme Oldham, Highland Park Public Library, Highland Park, Ill.

The Replacement Wife: A Novel by Darby Kane (Morrow, $16.99, 9780063117808). "Elisa's best friend, fiancée to her brother-in-law Josh, has disappeared and no one else seems worried. Elisa is suspicious of Josh, especially since he already has one dead wife. Will anyone believe her before it's too late? For readers of The Girl on the Train and other unreliable-narrator thrillers." --Chris Markley, Kingsport Public Library, Kingsport, Tenn.

True Crime Story by Joseph Knox (Sourcebooks Landmark, $16.99, 9781728245867). "What happened to Zoe Nolan? She walked out of her dorm room and hasn't been seen since. Knox weaves together interviews, emails, and police reports into an immersive missing persons case that will leave readers gasping for breath up until the last page. For fans of The Word Is Murder and the Six Stories series." --Carol Ann Tack, Merrick Library, Merrick, N.Y.

Daphne Palasi Andreades's titular Brown Girls live in "the dregs of Queens." They are Jamaican, Dominican, Pakistani, Filipino, Chinese. They are ambitious and bold and sometimes afraid of what the world might hold for them. They tell their story, in Andreades's debut novel, with wit and candor and a blazingly original collective voice.

Andreades begins her novel when the girls are young: navigating the hallways of elementary and middle school, walking the neighborhood together. In brief chapters with titles like "Family Parties" and "Your Own Kind," she takes readers through the girls' collective journey to young adulthood. Some of them leave Queens for prestigious high schools in Manhattan, making the trek on the train to a different life, a different world, every weekday for years. They fight with their mothers about all the usual things: clothes, boys, school, which careers they should (or can) choose. They start to see the emerging differences between those who leave--or long to--and those who stay.

Andreades follows her characters through college, graduate school, additional training for their careers as nurses, teachers, bookkeepers, PR executives, professors. She sensitively explores the rifts that arise between the girls who build lives in the neighborhood--out of choice or necessity--and the girls who manage to get out. They may move to California, Chicago, Berlin, Beijing, but they always come back to Queens eventually, for holidays or for good. They call one another, meet up for a drink after dinner, catch up on each other's lives, while never saying the things they really mean to say. They are grown women, caught between the world they came from and the wider one they must deal with their own, forever pulled between the present and the past.

In some ways, Andreades's characters are of course particular: brown girls from immigrant families who hail from all over the globe, living at the back end of Queens in the early years of the 21st century. In some ways their stories are absolutely their own: Nadira, Kim, Zainab, Trish, fighting for their individuality in a world that tries to meld them together. But their voices also are the voice of anyone who has ever grown up and tried to leave home: anyone who struggles with gratitude and frustration, anger and love, for the place and the people they came from.

Told with crackling prose and vivid detail, with humor so sharp it cuts, Brown Girls is a tribute to a neighborhood most people forget, and a group of young women determined to make their mark on an indifferent world. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams

Shelf Talker: Daphne Palasi Andreades tells the story of an immigrant Queens neighborhood in her fiercely original debut novel.