So, We Bought a Book Shop

Today we're talking about the inspiring nature of human-created art and beauty. What is the value in it, apart from the end product? And what do we rob ourselves of when we lean on AI in our creative ventures? Books We Read Recently Old Soul by Susan Barker Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

We went to Italy! Nooks is busier than ever! And thoughts on an economy that isn's solely financial...how can we run a bookshop where finances are obviously important but where relationships don't become transactional? Books Mentioned: Beloved by Toni Morrison The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim Difficult Loves by Italo Calvino Art Work by Sally Mann Dear Writer by Maggie Smith The Creative Act  by Rick Rubin Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt Tom's Crossing by Mark Danielewski (still) House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski Whalefall by Daniel Kraus Angel Down by Daniel Kraus Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Maile's starting to feel a gap between the good things going on at the shop and how those good things are impacting her. In short, she's not feeling permeated by the good that's happening there. So what's missing? What do we do in our lives when there are good things going on but those good things are taking us away from our family or other things we love? Books Mentioned: Beloved by Toni Morrison Year of the Monkey by Patti Smith Country of the Blind by Andrew Leland Counterweights by Shannan Miller Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt Buckeye by Patrick Ryan Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Well, it happened. For the first time, we were called out online this week for not being sincere in our desire to welcome everyone. It was bound to happen, but it still hurts. We address that and talk about why we carry the books we carry and why we have the events we do. And if you ever question anything about Nooks or feel like we're being insincere or misguided, we would love to have a conversation with you about it. Shawn also finally finished reading a bestselling book that has wildly varying reviews and gives his take on it. And Maile talks about why she needs light books these days. Books Mentioned: Habits of the Sea by Shea Earnshaw Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt Theo of Golden by Allen Levi Tom's Crossing by Mark Danielewski Beloved by Toni Morrison Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Today we're talking about how it feels to actually stop and take a breath. For the last two years we've been working through challenges, both imposed and voluntarily taken on. And now we're thinking about our first two years at Nooks and what the next steps might be.  We also talk about the novel idea that maybe, someday, this shop could be financially successful and support us as a family. What does that look like for Nooks?  Books Mentioned: The Bookshop by Evan Friss Theo of Golden by Tom's Crossing by Mark Danielewski The Keeper by Tana French (NEW!) The Searcher by Tana French The Hunter by Tana French A House to Call Home by Christie Purifoy Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

"I had no idea this shop would break me open the way that it has." Today, we're exploring this statement that Maile made this week, why she feels this way, and how Nooks is meeting people's need to belong. We also discuss the seemingly random nature of "taste," how so many of us end up liking (or hating) books that other people feel completely differently about.  Find out more about Elsewhere Bread! Books Mentioned: Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke The Silk Worm by Robert Galbraith Every Moment Holy Vol II: Death, Grief and Hope: by Douglas McKelvey and Ned Bustard Every Moment Holy: Rites of Passage by Douglas McKelvey and Ned Bustard Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann A House to Call Home by Christie Purifoy Tom's Crossing by Mark Z. Danielewski The Bookshop by Evan Friss Theo of Golden by Allen Levi Counterweights by Shannan Martin Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Today we're recording the podcast in our new space! After nearly doubling the size of our bookshop, we're feeling rather exhausted...which you can tell by the sound of our voices. But we're also incredibly excited to share the new space with you and catch you up on all the other goings on at Nooks. We also hearken back to our conversation in Episode 022 with Evan Friss, the author of The Book Shop. Books Mentioned: The Bookshop by Evan Friss Marce Catlett by Wendell Berry Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith The Silk Worm by Robert Galbraith Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann The Experiment by Rebecca Stead Flashlight by Susan Choi Wendell Berry: Port William Novels and Stories: The Civil War to World War II Wendell Berry: Port William Novels and Stories: The Postwar Years Tom's Crossing by Mark Danielewski Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book #1) by JK Rowling Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Today we're recording live from the bookshop and some surprise guests stop by! We also share an announcement about the next really exciting thing happening at Nooks (hint: expansion). Plus, Maile finished a long, long book, and we share what we've been reading... Books Mentioned: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann The Country of the Blind by Andrew LeLand A House to Call Home by Christie Purifoy Tom's Crossing by Mark Danielewski Memory Wall by Anthony Doerr Flashlight by Susan Choi Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

How does a writer decide to take a risk when it comes to using an out-of-the-box form or idea? And when they do, how does their agent, editor, and publisher respond? Today Shawn and Cade catch up with Daniel Kraus, author of many books including Whalefall and Angel Down. He's also worked with one of our favorite directors, Guillermo del Toro, on the book and movie, The Shape of Water. Whalefall takes place inside a whale's stomach. Angel Down is a book made up of one sentence. We talk about fathers and sons and how that relationship plays out in his novels. "If your dad's life is a road, then you have to branch off from that road." Also, how writing this book taught him something about himself.  With a shoutout to the bookshop Exile! Books Mentioned: Whalefall by Daniel Kraus Angel Down by Daniel Kraus The Shape of Water by Daniel Kraus The Brothers K by David James Duncan Blood Sugar by Daniel Kraus The Bee Sting by Paul Murray Mother Eating by Jess Hagerman Wolf at the Table by Adam Rapp Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

What is the role of the bookshop during times of political upheaval? We talk about how we try to contribute to the community around us during difficult times.  And Maile reflects on how books can help us better understand loved ones who have passed away. As she reads a book about a man who went blind, she reevaluates her relationship with her deceased dad and how a book she's reading is helping her to connect deeper with him.  Books Mentioned: The Day the Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke Tom's Crossing by Mark Danielewski The Country of the Blind by Andrew Leland Flashlight by Susan Choi This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Today we're joined by author Christie Purifoy! We start by discussing a movie that has recently had Shawn sobbing in the theatre and how art helps us process life. Which leads us to discuss how Christie's favorite books and films have domestic spaces or settings that communicate to us. We also talk about Christie's new book, how she realized it wasn't working, and why not. And we share some big news regarding Nooks.  We also introduce a new service at Nooks: our monthly book subscriptions! You can check those out HERE. Books Mentioned: A House to Call Home by Christie Purifoy Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

As humans, winter (and wintering seasons) can provide a season of much-needed rest and recuperation. But as shop owners, it can also be a bit scary when January arrived and business slows. Today we're talking about the importance of taking breaks, resting, and refortifying our souls for the busy seasons ahead.  "It was a condensed explanation, but I came to understand him to mean you could stop at, not all, but most of the moments of your life, stop for one heartbeat and, no matter what the state of your head or heart, say 'This is happiness,' because of the simple truth that you were alive to say it." Niall Williams We also introduce a new service at Nooks: our monthly book subscriptions! You can check those out HERE. Books Mentioned: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer Wintering by Katherine May Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton Something in the Woods Loves You by Jarod Anderson This is Happiness by Niall Williams Four Letters of Love by Niall Williams Time of the Child by Niall Williams History of the Rain by Niall Williams Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Today Maile and I share some game-changing, exciting news for Nooks, make a few embarrassing confessions about how judgy we can often be, and then talk about the books that are impressing us so far this year.  Books Mentioned: Every Moment Holy by Douglas McKelvey Hell Bent: How the Fear of Hell Holds Christians Back from a Spirituality of Love by Brian Recker I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman The Life of Lucy Gault by William Trevor A Month in the Country by JL Carr Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke The Scout and Barnaby Mysteries by Becca Wierwille The Correspondent by Virginia Evans The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett MiddlemanBooks.Store Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

2026, here we come! After a refreshing holiday, we're ready to head into the new year at Nooks. We talk about why this January feels different than last, what makes local bookshops different (from each other and from big box stores), and what we're looking forward to reading in the new year. How do we, as booksellers, choose the books we're going to read? Books Mentioned: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl Late Migrations by Margaret Renkl The Country of the Blind by Andrew Leland Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower Flashlight by Susan Choi Tom's Crossing by Mark Danielewski The Correspondent by Virginia Evans Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Winnie Li has given us a road trip book that delves deep into the heart of what it means to be on the road, what it means to live in a post-Covid world, and, perhaps more deeply, what it means to be American.  And we're honored that we get to have a conversation with her, ranging from how she ended up taking a Route 66 road trip to how victims of sexual assault often lose their ability to tell their side of the story. It's a deeply thoughtful conversation with a wonderful author.  Books Mentioned: What We Left Unsaid by Winnie M Li Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Maile hates Top 10's so this is not our Top 10 Books of 2025, this is each of us picking five memorable books from the year that we loved probably more than the others. But definitely not a top 10 list. Even if it looks and sounds like one. Books Mentioned: Here One Moment by Lianne Moriarty Time of the Child by Niall Williams The Bookshop by Evan Friss Erasure by Percival Everett Finding Me by Viola Davis A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr Fast Like a Girl by Mindy Pelz Monsters by Claire Dederer Heating and Cooling by Beth Ann Fennelly The Elements by John Boyne Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Claire Dederer wrote a book called, Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma, and in it she wrestles with the question, "What do we do with the art of monstrous men?" What happens when we love a particular book or painter or piece of music only to discover that the creator was actually a terrible human being? Today we bring in Andi Cumbo to wrestle through this topic with us, and we bring our own favorite monsters into the conversation. What will we do with the art we love that was created by awful people? Books mentioned during the conversation: Monsters by Claire Dederer East of Eden by John Steinbeck Lolita by Nabakov Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Today we're joined by Kaitlin Curtice, excited to talk about her new book, Everything is a Story: Reclaiming the Power of Stories to Heal and Shape Our Stories. We explore how stories impact us within Kaitlin's framework of examining stories: liminal, lethal, and loving. We invited her on to talk about her new book, but we also delve into the book Fast Like a Girl, Kaitlin's diagnosis of PCOS, and how understanding their cycles has been revolutionary for Maile and Kaitlin.  Kaitlin will be at our shop in October! We'd love for you to join us! (Details HERE.) Books mentioned during the conversation: Everything is a Story by Kaitlin Curtice Fast Like a Girl by Mindy Pells The Care of the Soul by Thomas Moore Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Today we're talking about some of the challenges our little bookshop is facing these days, and the importance of holding things loosely without embracing a mindset of scarcity. There is freedom in surrender and knowing what your purpose is. Books mentioned during the conversation: Angel Down by Daniel Kraus The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton Bigger by Ren Cedar Fuller Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Sara Billups is one of the few people Shawn has ever smoked a cigarette with. She's also the author of a new book, Nervous Systems: Spiritual Practices to Calm Anxiety in your Body, the Church, and Politics. We chat about anxiety, seeking peace, and the fascinating idea of holy indifference.   BTW...Pre-order Nervous Systems from Nooks for 20% off--simply email us at [email protected] and we'll take it from there! Books mentioned during the conversation: Nervous Systems by Sara Billups A Non-Anxious Presence by Mark Sayers Teach Us to Want by Jen Pollack Michel Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

As Maile and I prepare to celebrate our 26th anniversary, we reflect on the books that have played an outsized role in our lives--dating, marriage, the whole journey--and how our life philosophy and world view has been impacted by certain books.  Books mentioned during the conversation: Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller Watership Down by Richard Adams Watership Down (The Graphic Novel) by Richard Adams Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Ruthless Trust by Brennan Manning The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer Old Soul by Susan Barker The Elements by John Boyne Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri Good Soil by Jeff Chu Good Material by Dolly Alderton Whalefall by Daniel Kraus Angel Down by Daniel Kraus Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Today we're chatting with Laura Tremaine, long-time host of the podcast "10 Things to Tell You." Where does her profound love for Stephen King's writing come from and what makes his stories so engaging? If you don't love horror but want to read a book by King, where might you start? And why does Laura think women should read more horror? We also delve into creativity, writing, the vulnerability (and occasional pain) of friendship, and what it's like to write nonfiction about your own life. A little bit about Laura: From the 10 Things To Tell You podcast came Laura's first book Share Your Stuff. I'll Go First: 10 Questions to Take Your Friendships to the Next Level (2021). Her second book The Life Council: 10 Friends Every Woman Needs published April 2023. Laura lives in LA with her husband, Jeff, and their two children. She is passionate about 20-minute reading timers, bold lipstick, Stephen King, and chicken wings. Books mentioned during the conversation: Share Your Stuff, I'll Go First by Laura Tremaine The Life Council by Laura Tremaine Old Soul by Susan Barker 11/22/63 by Stephen King It by Stephen King The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King Misery by Stephen King Billy Summers by Stephen King The Likeness by Tana French In the Woods by Tana French Broken Harbor by Tana French The Witch Elm by Tana French The Little Friend by Donna Tartt Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Maile, our three oldest kids (Cade, Lucy, and Abra) and I try to establish what books we're going to include on our upcoming "Family Favorites" bookshelf. Join us as we attempt to winnow down our list of favorites to some kind of manageable number... Books mentioned during the conversation: The Brothers K by David James Duncan The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Doeskoevsky Paradise by Toni Morrison James by Percival Everett Erasure by Percival Everett Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver The Giver by Lois Lowry Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese East of Eden by John Steinbeck Beartown by Fredrik Backman When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak I Am the Messenger by Marcus Zusak The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas The Road by Cormac McCarthy The Dog Stars by Peter Heller Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri The Crossover by Kwame Alexander Bud Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis 11/22/63 by Stephen King To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee The Yearling by Marjorie Rawlings Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Today Maile and I are joined by our son Cade who occasionally works in the bookshop this summer while home from college. He shares the book series that changed his mind about chapter books when he was young, the first four books Shawn gave him when he was old enough for the general market, and we do a deep-dive into one of his favorite authors: Fredrik Backman (and his latest book, My Friends).  Books mentioned during the conversation: The Original Adventures of Hank the Cow Dog by John Erickson The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton Lord of the Flies by William Golding Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Beartown by Fredrik Backman Us Against You by Fredrik Backman The Winners by Fredrik Backman Anxious People by Fredrik Backman My Friends by Fredrik Backman The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner The Antidote by Karen Russell The Brothers K by David James Duncan  11/22/63 by Stephen King Dark Matter by Blake Crouch Here One Moment by Lianne Moriarty Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver This is Happiness by Niall Williams All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton Florida by Lauren Groff Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

"Book-selling has always been precarious with different challenges along the way." What happens when a historian delves into the journey of the American bookshop? You get a beautiful, indepth tale of ideas, community, and the role of the book. What was it like to browse the old corner bookstore in the 1840s? What's the story behind some of our quirkiest bookshops? And how does the history of the bookshop perhaps chart a path for today's stores? We spent time chatting with Evan Friss, author of The Bookshop, and what a conversation!  Books mentioned during the conversation: The Book Shop by Evan Friss Twist by Colum McCann Monsters by Claire Dederer The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase. 

Today we're pulling back the curtain on one of our recent events and releasing the recording of our live conversation with Jeff Chu about his new book, Good Soil. Jeff is kind, gracious, and has some really wise things to say about how farming, death, and how to interact with those we deeply disagree with.  Books mentioned during the conversation: Good Soil by Jeff Chu Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase. 

Depression. Traditional Gender Roles. Marriage and a business. Today we take a personal turn and talk about a few of the hard aspects of running a business with your spouse. What do you do when one of you needs to check out because of grief or depression or weariness or life chaos?   When it comes to running a business, how can traditional gender roles lead to burnout? And what does it take for a family to press reset on the day-to-day responsibilities that everyone bears? Books mentioned during the conversation: Fair Play by Eve Rodsky A Day at the Beach by Gary Schmidt and Ron Koertge The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt Mexikid by Pedro Martin Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase. 

Why did Maile think, after finishing The Bookshop, "Good gracious, we have it stacked against us"? Last week we went to a Fredrik Backman author event and he spoke about writing, how mental health issues have inspired his book, and his process (chaos, chaos, chaos, book!). Backman wondered if he still has the ability to keep going, and we wonder what it's like for an author to retire. We also talk about violence in literature--what's its purpose? Does it have a place in books for young people? Books mentioned during the conversation: My Friends by Fredrik Backman  Death at Wentwater Court by Carola Dunn The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander Outer Dark by Cormac McCarthy Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy The Road by Cormac McCarthy Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins The Book Shop by Evan Friss Little Sister Death by William Gay I Hate to See That Evening Sun Go Down by William Gay Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase. 

One week ago, Maile heard water coming into the book shop through the ceiling. By the time she came back with a bucket, water was pouring down and pieces of the ceiling were coming with it. Today we're talking about hitting low points during the pursuit of your dream, and what to do next.  Books mentioned during the conversation: We Do Not Part by Han Kang The Vegeterian by Han Kang Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green Little Sister Death by William Gay Finding Me by Viola Davis Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout Mexikid by Pedro Martin My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You I'm Sorry by Fredrick Backman The Bookshop by Evan Friss A Day at the Beach by Gary Schmidt by Ron Koertge The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase. 

Today, Maile and I are talking about our first year as book shop owners. How has this year changed us? Do we view books differently than we did before owning a book store?  We also chat about a book we've both read that is a beautiful example of what a book written in the 1st person can accomplish--it's quirky and haunting and unexpected. Happy one year to Nooks! Books mentioned during the conversation: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk Brothers K by David James Duncan We Do Not Part by Han Kang The Vegeterian by Han Kang Little Sister Death by William Gay Finding Me by Viola Davis Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase. 

Recently we had a customer come into the shop and tell us that if we didn't begin using this new tool, we would go out of business while other bookstores raced ahead into the future. But what's the true cost of using AI when it comes to creative endeavors? And can we still run businesses and make a living without it, or will those of us who decide against using it fall by the wayside? We also talk about the upcoming Indie Bookstore Day, the cost of not shopping local, and, as usual, the books we've recently finished or are currently reading.  Books mentioned during the conversation: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk Bossy Pants by Tina Fey The Wild Robot by Peter Brown Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston North Woods by Daniel Mason Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout Here One Moment by Leanne Moriarty Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase. 

  Today we're continuing with the theme of courage. As Maile and I approach the one year anniversary of taking over Nooks, we talk with another couple who have truly stepped out over the cliff's edge and followed their dream: Will and Emma Haughery. A few years ago they started their own furniture making company, East Otis, and today we're talking with them about leaving traditional employment, the tradeoffs that occur, and what gives them the courage to keep going.  Connect with East Otis at Instagram or their website. Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase. 

Today we're talking one of the most awarded YA authors alive: A.S. King (she won the Printz Award twice!). She takes us back to her formative years of reading and writing, the fifteen years and eight novels she wrote before being published, and how Pick the Lock is in some ways a culmination of her talent and her lived experience. A wonderful conversation with a wonderful author.  Books mentioned during the conversation: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak Howard and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing by M. T. Anderson Pick the Lock by A.S. King Switch by A.S. King Dig by A.S. King Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase. 

Today is our first-ever recording in the book shop! we're talking with author Lore Wilbert about her courageous creative journey--writing nonfiction online for decades and now pivoting to fiction. How does a reader's (or potential editor's) tastes impact the work we do? And how do we handle those not-so-positive responses? We also take a stab at identifying authors who might still be here in 50 years' time.  Finally, how can we take courage with us into our everyday lives? We're just three writers trying to keep going. Enjoy! Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard

Today we're talking about the John Green event we went to, how it inspired us to keep creating community, what Rick Rubin has to say about running a book shop, and, perhaps the toughest part, how to view the possibility that these good things we create will not last forever.  For a complete list of all the books ever mentioned on the podcast, head over to our bookshelf dedicated to this podcast at Bookshop.org! Mentioned in this episode: The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green The Book Shop by Evan Friss The Creative Act by Rick Rubin All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whittaker Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips Peace Like a River by Leif Enger Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard

Maile reflects on the vulnerable state of women and children and how occasionally being in the store by herself with odd men has made her uncomfortable, with one specific, recent story as an example. Shawn fills Maile in on the internet question from some time ago, "Would you feel more at danger in the woods if you encountered a man or a bear?" and she gives her answer. They also dive deep into three books that have opened their eyes to vulnerability, abuse and manipulation.  Let's all be more curious.  For a complete list of all the books ever mentioned on the podcast, head over to our bookshelf dedicated to this podcast at Bookshop.org! Mentioned in this episode: Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips Pick the Lock by A.S. King All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker The Power by Naomi Alderman Peace Like a River by Leif Enger My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell The Book Shop by Evan Friss Here One Moment by Leanne Moriarty Novelist as a Vocation by Haruki Murakami A New Path: A Practical Workbook and Planner for the First Year of Grief and Settling Your Person's Affairs by Megan Malick Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard

Today we're chatting with artist Ned Bustard (in front of a live studio audience) about his early days as an artist and the gifts of courage, creativity, and rest. Why has it been a struggle for him to own the title of artist? What does it look like to live with courage and to rest well while not letting comfort distract us? And when does it all become too much? For a complete list of books mentioned on the podcast, head over to our bookshelf dedicated to this podcast at Bookshop.org! Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard

Today Maile shares why it felt so hard to return to the book shop after a week away (but what also made the return so sweet). And Shawn talks about getting the rights back to two of his books, why it feels a little like these novels have died (kind of). If everything comes to an end, often too soon, why write? Why create? Why start something new? For a complete list of books mentioned on the podcast, head over to our bookshelf dedicated to this podcast at Bookshop.org! Here are a few of the titles mentioned in this episode: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz Cherished Belonging by Father Greg Boyle Erasure by Percival Everett The Creative Act by Rick Rubin Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard

What happens when four local bookshops are all invited to sell books at the same event? In this episode, we discuss indie bookstore competition (and why we all compliment each other so well), our favorite books that have at times through history been banned, and which are our favorites.   We also talk about waiting to read certain books until you can appreciate them, what we think of the books we finished recently, and which titles we've decided to take with us on our upcoming trip.  For a complete list of books mentioned on the podcast, head over to our bookshelf dedicated to this podcast at Bookshop.org! Here are a few of the titles mentioned in this episode: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Catch-22 by Joseph Heller To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee The Short Novels of John Steinbeck by John Steinbeck The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron Wintering by Katherine May Tom Lake by Ann Patchett The Land of Milk and Honey by C. Pam Zhang A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr Time of the Child by Niall Williams Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz Beach Read by Emily Henry Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard

We've been marveling at how owning the book shop has expanded the circle of folks we interact with, and Maile talks about how much she needed that. We also talk about the nature of compensation...are there things you do or would do simply for the love of it, receiving no money in exchange for your time? If Maile isn't making money at the shop, why in the world does she spend so much time there? Also, Shawn meets a monk in the shop and Sean Dietrich (aka Sean of the South) came to Nooks Thanks for listening! For a complete list of books mentioned in this podcast, head over to our bookshelf dedicated to this podcast at Bookshop.org! East of Eden by John Steinbeck The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco Will the Circle Be Unbroken by Sean Dietrich The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary Schmidt The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis Wintering by Katherine May A Hidden Wholeness by Parker Palmer The Land of Milk and Honey by C. Pam Zhang Novelist as a Vocation by Haruki Murakami Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard

There's one question we get asked more than anything else, and so today we're digging into that question. We also talk about the importance of reading novels in order to develop empathy, which specific books have done that for us, and why human recommendations are better than the algorithm.  Thanks for listening! For a complete list of books mentioned in this podcast, head over to our bookshelf dedicated to this podcast at Bookshop.org! Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard

Maile and I talk about being writers who own a book shop...do we mind selling other writers' work when we haven't had much time to write ourselves? And going into 2025, how do we get back on track in our own writing life? Do conditions need to be perfect for you to step out and follow your dream? This one's for anyone working a day job who also wants to pursue their creative dreams.  Books mentioned in this episode: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott Beate Not the Poore Desk by Walter Wangerin Mastering the Process by Elizabeth George A Swim in the Pond in the Rain by George Saunders Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry On Writing by Stephen King 11/22/63 by Stephen King Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard

Today Maile and I talk about our fears in opening a bookstore--what if, in this divisive climate, people get upset by the books we carry or choose not to carry? What if we can't read enough books to keep up with our readers' needs? What if the construction on our block puts us out of business? So much of our hope in the face of despair comes from you all, a book-loving community that helps us to know about the good books that are out there in the world and continues to bring us all together.  We also talk about Maile's fear of complete and utter failure, how the start of construction next door (and the closing of the sidewalk) played into that, and how we find hope in the middle of it all.  Books mentioned in this episode: We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Ishida and Shimoda Intermezzo by Sally Rooney All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whittaker The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling The Dog Stars by Peter Heller Pick the Lock by A.S. King The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis Cherished Belonging by Greg Boyle Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard

Is all reading beneficial? Maile and I begin by gently debating the place of graphic novels in a child's reading diet, then discuss the comment we often hear from visitors in the shop about children: "As long as they're reading, that's what matters." Is it? What if it's not about the book as much as what we bring to the book and how deliberate we are in evaluating what we're reading? There are so many forces acting on us, so many people who want us to think in certain ways. If we read the right books, they can help guide us to a better way of thinking and living.  Books mentioned in this episode: Jane Austen The Dog Stars by Peter Heller Even After Everything by Stephanie Smith Time of the Child by Niall Williams Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan Pick the Lock by A.S. King Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks Instagram Page Nooks Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard

The easy answer to how a book ends up in our shop is that we have to love it . . . or have it recommended strongly to us . . . or talk to readers who share our taste and are big fans of the book in question. But there's more to it than that, because sometimes a book travels a long and winding way to get to us. That's the way of a good book.  And when it arrives in our store and we read it, we long for a community in which to share our response to the book. As Walter Wangerin wrote, art only becomes fully art when it is experienced in community.  We also talk about our writerly lives and how incomplete it feels to have stories we've written that people haven't read.  Also some thoughts on winter living, wood stoves, and reading in the early dark.  Books mentioned in this episode: Land of Stories by Chris Colfer This is Happiness by Niall Williams John by Niall Williams Time of the Child by Niall Williams The Witch Elm by Tana French In the Woods by Tana French The Little Friend by Donna Tartt Beate Not the Poore Desk by Walter Wangerin Blessed are the Rest of Us by Micha Boyett The Bee Sting by Paul Murray Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty Connect with us! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks Instagram Page Nooks Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke

Where do dreams take root? What's the process in deciding to say yes to something new, out-of-the-box, exciting? Today, Maile and I talk about the story behind our purchase of Nooks, a local book shop in Lancaster, PA. We also discuss how the fear of failure can keep us trying meaningful things or setting out on new adventures, and how an important part of making big decisions is often . . . waiting, patience, trust.  Also, Shawn talks about being on the edge of a literal breakdown, and Maile shares how her introverted self has grown into her love of community. "If you're lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it." Books mentioned in this episode: A Prayer for Owen Meany The Creative Act Time of the Child Small Things Like These Connect with us! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks Instagram Page Nooks Events Page