Last winter, NPR interviewed various bookstores around the nation asking for book recommendations for holiday gifts. One of the stores was Portrait of a Bookstore in Studio City, right over the hill from me. I asked around and people raved about this tiny bookstore attached to Aroma Cafe. Finally, I was able to visit and the store is a gem. Yes, it is small, maybe one of the smallest bookstores I’ve ever been into, but it packs a punch.
What most impressed me about the store was the employees’ passion for books. When I was there almost every book was handsold. I walked through before I ate lunch at the cafe and eavesdropped on the owner, Julie von Zerneck, discussing books with a customer, who then left with several selections. As I was loitering, the person next to me picked up The Elegance of the Hedgehog, I said it was the best book in years. The owner overheard me, I guess I wasn’t the only one eavesdropping, and highly recommended The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa because both books have the same atmosphere and enchantment.
When I returned and the manager talked to me about books, another employee peeled off my girlfriend, Leslie, and suggested several books new to her (and let me tell you, this is a difficult accomplishment). When I mentioned that I was reading essays, the manager found At Large and At Small by Anne Fadiman, now one of my favorite essayists, probably my favorite living essayist. A third customer was discussing The Story of Marriage by Andrew Sean Greer with the cashier, left, then immediately returned and bought it for a friend. Every staff person I came across wanted to discuss books and find a perfect fit for the customer.
Portrait of a Bookstore is tiny but not squished. It consists of two Read the rest of this entry »
Claire
Kim
