Alexander MacLeod Reads @ PFB

Halifax resident Alexander Macleod will read from his Giller shortlisted debut collection of short fiction up at Main Street this Thursday, February 24th, from 7-9:30pm as part of the UBC Creative Writing program's monthly Locution series.  Admission's free, but we expect this event to be way beyond capacity.  If you want to get a seat, or to even squeeze in the front door, plan on arriving by 6:45pm at the latest.  Books and beverages available as usual.

In other news:

Q:  Why is this blog never updated?

A:  It's nuts here.  We probably took in between 400 and 500 books today, and sold just as many.  2011 is definitely turning out to be the busiest year in our going-on 11-year history.  Blogging's fun, but it comes way behind buying books, selling books, and sourcing books for customers.

Q:  Still taking special orders?

A:  Every day, like mad. We've even added some new distributors so that we can order scarce academic stuff, and mysteries, science fiction and fantasy titles previously only available in the UK.  And we're starting to experiment with sourcing out-of-print and antiquarian books on demand.  Want a $2500 US limited edition Hunter S. Thompson hardcover?  Come see us. Not only can we get it for you, we can likely save you some money in the process.

Q:  Kindle...Amazon...Nook...e-books?

A:  Not much of an issue here.  We're busy, happy, packed to the rafters with interesting stuff, and hiring new staff to keep up with the demand.  New lights installed at Main Street -- big hydro bill savings; more easily visible shelves! -- and lots of new titles in at Kits.

Q:  Still buying?

A:  Definitely!  Every day at both stores, up until 5pm.

Live @ PFB: Sarah Leavitt

Our friend, long-time customer, and recent media celebrity Sarah Leavitt will be presenting a multi-media slideshow/reading based on her critically acclaimed new autobiographical graphic novel, Tangles, in Main Street's front room this Thursday, December 2nd, as part of the UBC Creative Writing Department's monthly Locution event.  Doors @ 6:45pm; books and beverages available behind the counter.

Best of Vancouver

Thanks to the readers of the Georgia Straight newspaper for voting us Vancouver's 2nd best bookstore, new or used, in the annual Reader's Choice poll. This is the first time we have ever placed as a "New" bookstore, and we're enormously stoked to be listed alongside longtime Lower Mainland favorites Book Warehouse and Banyen Books.

In other news, it's still incredibly busy here. We've taken in close to 2000 used books in the last three days, and the new arrivals are neatly stacked (well, relatively neatly stacked) all over the floor, and waist-high in front of the "New Arrivals" bookshelves, which are still full, despite having been emptied twice since the weekend.

We have some interesting new books in house, including signed first Canadian editions of John Valliant's The Tiger, available on a first-come, first-served basis. And program guides for the Vancouver International Film Festival ($10, inc. HST).

It's also Locution tonight, a monthly spoken-word event that we host for the UBC Creative Writing department. Tonight from 7-9pm four different UBC MFAs are reading up at Main Street, along with special guest Lee Henderson, author of The Man Game.

Oh, and it's CSA Space's fifth anniversary today too, with a new exhibition of photographs by neighbor and friend Mike Grill. 6-9pm upstairs from the bookstore at #5-2414 Main Street. Drop by, drink a frosty cold beverage, elbow your way through the crowds.

Kate Braid Reads @ PFB

Kate Braid, poet and winner of the Pat Lowther Award, will be reading as part of the UBC Creative Writing Department's Locution series tomorrow night, November 5th, in Main Street's front room at 7 pm. Other readers include Jay Torrence, Tenille Campbell, Kevin Spenst and Christine Leclerc. Limited seating; if you don't want to be sitting on the floor in the front row, better plan to arrive by 6:45 pm or so. Books and beverages will be available for purchase; the event itself is free.