Sampling the Inventory -- What do you Re-read?

One of the nice things about a used bookstore is that, providing you don't only stock books that you hate, there is always something good to read. As well, since these are used and not brand new books, it generally doesn't hurt to read them again. It is almost impossible to read a new book without damaging it, but if you bang up a used book, well maybe you knock a dollar off the price and go on. 😃

Rex Stout has always been one of my authors and a few weeks ago I started rereading a number of the Nero Wolfe mysteries. Walking into his old brownstone to spend some time with Nero and Archie is like relaxing in a comfortable chair. You have been there many times and you know that you are going to enjoy the experience.

I believe that one of the best compliments you can give an author is to consider his or her books worthy of rereading from time to time. It is even more special to realize that books written more than half a century ago still hold up and are enjoyable to read. Rex Stout is one author, Robert Heinlein (for the most part), Isaac Asimov and others. 

Of course, there are books I enjoyed reading that I have no desire to revisit. While I am happy to go back through many of S.M. Stirling's books, I don't particularly care to reread his Draka series. They were good books, but the series as a whole was depressing -- something about having the Bad Guys win in the end, I think. I enjoyed the series and found it an interesting take on an alternative history idea. But it's certainly not a world I would want to live in.

The other nice thing about sampling my inventory is discovering a new author. You see plenty of different books, and if one looks interesting, well what does it hurt to shuffle it off to the reading pile. It may be drek but you may just find a new friend. And after all, one of the reasons I got into this business is that I love to read. I never need to have a shortage of new - or old - books to dive into.

New Beginnings

This has been a season for trying out some new things with my book store, and this is something I have thought about doing for a while -- so why not now?

I started selling books on the internet as Orielis' Books in August, 2002 and have been working (with a lot of help from my two sisters) on building the business for the past seven years. I sell all sorts of used books with specialties in Mysteries, Science Fiction & Fantasy, and Children's books, but carry titles in a number of different areas.

It is a very personalized operation for me and my sisters -- seeking out books to sell, pricing them, entering the books into inventory, taking orders over the internet, and finally packaging and shipping the books. For me, it is very satisfying to know that I have complete control over the business. Of course, when things don't go right there aren't too many people to blame either.

One important consequence of running a book store out of one's house: The place is absolutely overrun with books. Stacks of them surround me as I work (and we won't even mention the basement). It can be a bit overwhelming at times, but at least there is never any lack of things to work on. ;=)

And so I am launched on my maiden voyage into the blogosphere. Hopefully, I will be able to find topics that are interesting and somewhat related to books and bookselling.

Bob