Shelf Life

Suzanne Strempek Shea

Suzanne Strempek Shea is a novelist. She had breast cancer that has been treated. Now (as of the start of this book in May, 2001) she is home recovering her strength and her health. Her friend, Janet Edwards, calls her. Janet needs a part time employee to help at her independent book store in Springfield, Massachusetts. Suzanne offers herself as long as she can still take her afternoon nap she needs during recuperation.

Thus she begins an exciting new portion of her life. She feels like a spy, an author in a bookstore. She also is a bookseller. She loves both aspects of her life. This book is the true story of her first year in the bookstore. It is more than a chronological tale.

Suzanne recounts different bookstores she has visited, the love of reading, and the sales of her novels. She discusses the people who work at the bookstore, as well as Janet, the owner. She draws pictures of the life of and in the store. She talks about regular customers, the employees' sales strategy ("If you don't like it, you can bring it back, but I promise you, you're going to love it.), the changes in displays, and life as an author in a bookstore.

This is a wonderful book. It is prefect for anyone who loves to read, writes, or works in a bookstore. It is a hopeful story for recovery from a scary illness. It is a book of friendship. It is a manual of sales strategy. It is the day to day struggle of maintaining an independent business in the world of mega bookstores and online shopping. This book reminds me of the importance of the independent bookstore as well as all books and bookstores. I want to meet these people. If I get back to that part of Massachusetts, I want to stop in Edwards Books.

Becoming Finola by Suzanne Strempek Shea
Selling the Lite of Heaven by Suzanne Strempek Shea