What's on my "Staff Recommended" shelf

except I don't work at a bookstore

My first destination once I enter a bookstore is the “staff recommended” section because the local bookstore employees are my favorite influencers. I need to know what they’re reading; what they want me to think of them based on the 5-7 books on their shelf. Oh ! this book is recommend by Emily and Emily is working today, amazing! Oh ! this shelf has a little polaroid so I know who is who, even more amazing!

I want to work at a bookstore just so I can have one of these shelves. This shelf is not just a curation of my favorite books of all time. This shelf is my elevator pitch; my dating profile. Cool and mysterious, exciting and intriguing: all encapsulated in the books I want you to read based on this first meeting. You and my bookshelf.

Unfortunately, none of the bookstores I like to frequent were hiring so I’ll have to create my own “staff recommended” shelf for you all here!

Left: Grey Matter Books 264 York St, New Haven, CT 06511 Right: Sweet Pickle Books 47 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002

alright, let’s f*cking gab

1. Either/Or by Elif Batuman — Selin is my favorite fictional character I have ever had the pleasure of getting to know on paper. In this sequel to The Idiot we get to see a different side of her, one that’s outside her Harvard bubble and away from mysterious Ivan, as she travels around Europe the summer before her sophomore year. Batuman’s writing style is in its own category of funny and everlasting, she is a must read!

2. Sirens and Muses by Antonia Angress— If you’re in a reading rut this is the book for you. In Sirens and Muses we follow four characters from the elite Wrynn College of Art: Louisa is a transfer student from Louisiana who doesn’t understand her potential or her roommate Karina, daughter of wealthy art collectors whose work intimidates everyone except Preston, known for his provocative art blog and causing many campus disturbances, including feuding with visiting professor Robert, formerly controversial artist turned educator. You’ll never get bored with these four.

   

   The Last Bookshop 61 Camden Street Lower, Saint Kevin's, Dublin, Ireland

3. The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante — Before we learn anything about Olga herself, we discover her husband is leaving. In the days and months following we watch Olga struggle to get a grip on her new life. On one particularly anxiety inducing day herself, the dog, and the children get locked inside their apartment. What Ferrante does in this story about a woman left abruptly is phenomenal.

4. Transit by Rachel Cusk — This book follows an unnamed woman who recently bought a new flat in London for her and her two sons. Her downstairs neighbors despise her, but everyone else she crosses paths with finds themselves compelled to share their life story. The second book in the Outline Triology, but stands on its own, Cusk creates uniquely complex characters you can’t get enough of.

   

   Elm Street Books 35 Elm St, New Canaan, CT 06840

5. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath — A classic, I know, but that can cause it to be overlooked and that would be an absolute shame! If you’ve always thought to yourself, “I’ll get around to it” today is that day! Now is the time to get around to it! Buy the book and read it finally!

6. Look at Me by Anita Booker — Originally published in 1983, this book is like a female centered version of The Talented Mr. Ripley. Frances (our Mr. Ripley) is an art historian/amateur writer working in the basement of a London medical facility with few, but frequent guests. One day a new character enters, Nick’s wife Alix. Alix is everything Frances isn’t and Alix loves that about her. They immediately click and what the three get up to from that first meeting is beyond entertaining.

   

   Bronx River Books 37 Spencer Pl, Scarsdale, NY 10583

   Thanks for indulging me and my bookseller fantasy. Have you ever picked something up because of a staff recommendation and absolutely loved it? What would be on your “staff recommended” shelf? Have you read any on mine? Which would you be most intrigued to pick up?

   Xx,

   Gabbie

   All of the book links are from Better World Books which I have been using instead of thrift books lately because they don’t attach the horribly hard to remove stickers that thrift books does.