The Gift of the Magic Bookseller

The Gift of the Magic Bookseller

Since last Thursday, I have been a patient at UNC Chapel Hill hospital. I will probably be here at least until this Thursday. The whys and wherefores of that to be explained later.

After I was checked in, I asked my husband to bring me some clothes and books. In all, he brought four books. One was Four Wives which I have finished, but wanted to write up in the blog and send the feedback to the publisher.  One was Pillars of the Earth, which by its sheer length requires me to read it in small chunks rather than all the way through. One was Four Trials by John Edwards which I read in the first 24 hours I was here. And the other was an Advance Reader Copy of a book sent to me by a publisher to read which was not grabbing me.

So I was in a quandary. The first magazine I picked up was a Better Homes and Gardens from 2006. So I decided, on the Saturday night before Christmas, if there was any way I could order books and get them delivered here to the hospital, that would be a lifesaver!

So being the good Book Sense affiliate that I am, I looked for the closest independent bookstore and found Market Street Books in Chapel Hill. When I explained my plight to the young lady on the phone, she asked me to speak to the owner. Kathryn got on the phone and immediately had an answer for me. Yes...if I could just call her back and let her know what books I had in mind, she would PERSONALLY deliver them to the hospital for me the following morning. Not only that, but she mentioned that she had some errands to do and would be going to Target if there was anything else I needed.

Sure enough, the next morning the books were delivered and I was blown away by the kindness and generosity of Kathryn and believe me, I will be visiting Market Street Books whenever I get the chance to be in Chapel Hill. I hope you will too!

One of these fine people, I'm sure, is Kathryn...and as for the rest of them, I hope that they learn from their boss's generosity and willingness to go above and beyond the expected.

And THAT my friends and readers is why I believe in and will continue to patronize LOCAL, INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORES!!!

I will find a way to thank Kathryn and the people at Market Street Books, but for now I just want to let them know how they touched my life at a time when I really needed some books and had no way to get out and get them.

Di

Comments

[Barb Bullock]

Only YOU could get someone to do that and in such a sort time frame. I wish I would had been more thoughtful and brought you some books, but the books I read would be way over your head. Next time. Love, ME

[Diana]

This is a great post. You're right. Only an independent bookseller would consider hand delivering your books to you. What a great shop!