In February this year we had to move premises. Our very old bookshop building was going on the market and would probably be purchased by a developer. We have moved a block closer to the centre of town, left most of the enormous furniture behind and squeezed all our stock into a space half the size. The new shop is cosier, warmer and has a more intimate feel. This has been great for multiple conversations that draw people in to listening to opinions about books and sharing recommendations. This is my sixteenth year running Muirs Bookshop and there has never been a dull moment. Just when we become complacent the economy, or the weather, or plague, or more weather throws something at us to keep us on our toes. The best part of the job is the books, of course. The breadth and depth of what is on offer from publishers never ceases to enthral and amaze us. And it still feels like Christmas everyday as boxes arrive. Recently I’ve just finished reading Amor Towles’ Table for Two, which didn’t disappoint, even though it was mostly short stories. They were just brilliant. Now I’m reading Lionel Shriver’s Mania. This book would be hilarious if she wasn’t so scarily on point with a lot of what is happening today.
My current staff include a young woman, Anna, who has worked with me for about 8 years now. She began working in the cafe in the old building, but was an avid reader who moved down to the bookshop when a position became available. She reads crime, literary fiction and follows trends in cookbooks, so is really helpful when making the selection for our cooking section. My other staff member is a retired reporter from The Gisborne Herald. Mark knows a lot about the arts, music, classics and reads, mostly, non-fiction. Between the three of us we have a wide range of genres that we can recommend to customers.
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