From the bookshelves
is “Shakespeare and Company” in Paris. In 1917 an American woman, Sylvia Beach, moved to Paris to study French literature and, just afterwards, opened her shop. Last year one of our Dubbo customers was in Paris and mailed us a postcard featuring “Shakespeares” bookstore. For some people, their favourite bookstore becomes their destination whenever the opportunity occurs.
Just printed is the Australian Booksellers Association’s annual Kids Reading Guide for 20162017.It includes handpicked and reviewed titles for young people. It features recently released titles in sections – baby and toddler, picture books, junior fiction, middle fiction and teen reading. There is also a listing of audio books – CDS and MP3S.
Now that the HSC final exams have been completed, so often a young person comes into our shop to offer a resume with the aim of securing employment. Two things come to mind. One is that there are remarkable, personable young people ready to enter the workforce. The other is that they face a tremendous challenge because retail traders are restricting employee numbers as they compete with supermarket operators and the internet.
Having spent 12 years at school, having to then contend with reduced employment opportunities is a tough lesson for them. Inspiring support comes in reading “Psycho-cybernetics” by Maxwell Maltz.
A final item in the Norman Rockwell book is a wonderful reminder of a child’s appreciation of Christmas. It begins with a letter from a child: “Dear Editor, I am 8 years old. Some of my friends say there is no Santa Clause. Papa says ‘If you see it in ‘The Sun’ (newspaper) it’s so.’ Please tell me the truth: is there a Santa Claus? Virginia O’hanlon. A memorable reply in the newspaper runs:
Dear Virginia, Your little friends are wrong...
The extended message finishes: The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. No Santa Claus! Thank God he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood. The New York Sun September 21, 1897 A classical text that honours Christmas in our lifetime. Enjoy your browsing, Dave Pankhurst.