I’m usually hesitant about publisher bookstores, I tend to wonder if they are trying to schluff off their overstocks. I can’t imagine that many of the books I saw at Chronicle Books (Metreon) were has-beens. Situated on a platform in the center atrium of a mall, the store is fun. Chronicle Books offers mostly non-fiction, I think I saw three novels, two of them the monsters in classics variety. These are the fun books often placed next to the cash register of a standard bookstore. A perfect example are the Worst Case Scenario series that Chronicle publishes. How many of you have read the ‘How to Survive an Airplane Crash’ section standing in a bookstore? I read it every time I see the book, every time, just in case.
I’m a sucker for those books by the cash register and I was alarmed at the thought of meandering around tables of tempting last minute purchases. I was strong, mostly because I’m not strong enough to lift my suitcase into the overhead compartment if I have too many books. I was close to buying one of the staff ‘picks,’ McSweeny’s Art, but it was heavy itself. I did wonder if an author would feel rejected if her book wasn’t chosen as ’staff pick’ in her own publisher’s bookstore.
All types of genres are represented, a kids section, animal books, housekeeping type books, a whole side of a table on printing and fonts (who knew there was so much to learn), and a section of ‘body’ books such as What’s My Pee Telling Me? or Penis Poke books. I know you’re wondering what that is, envision a hardbound book the size of toddler’s book with a hole through the center where I’m guessing one would poke his penis. Each page had different illustrations (bananas anyone) what would be ‘enliven’ by said penis. That, I am not ashamed to say, is the first time I had seen a book used quite that way.
Chronicle has a fun line of stationary. Last year I bought my daughter Chronicle’s Nancy Drew Fold and Mail stationary hoping she would find it so much fun she would write home from camp. Nothing. During my visit, I bought some beautiful mix and match stationary and sent it to her the next day at this summer’s camp. I addressed and stamped an envelope, how much easier could I make it to write home? I did receive a text saying how much she loved the stationary, but still no letter. I hope Chronicle comes up with another enticing stationary that I can try for next year. How about lovely paper printed on the top “WRITE YOUR MOTHER!”
Metreon
101 Fourth Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Tel: 415.369.6271
Claire
Kim
