Season's Greetings, Happy Solstice, Merry Winter, and December Celebration to All:

We have had a busy season so far. Many thanks to loyal Lucy's Books customers!
We could not survive without you.

The weather has been mild here in Astoria. We have had many sunny days that is not typical during this time of year, so I'm told by the NBA's (native born Astorians).
I on the other hand am a ABC, Astorian by Choice. Just a little bit of local jargon and trivia that always seems intriguing with small communities.

The Christmas Season, Hanukkah, and other Celebrations are fast upon us- I had planned to get something out before now. It is a season for giving and forgiving. Of buying gifts, those special ones, that makes the receiver tickled down to their toes. Of giving good cheer, and continuing it in the New Year. Giving is the easy part- forgiving might be a little harder for me. I have been pondering over this for a few weeks, not to mention worrying too.

What's on my mind is the greed of a large online company that, paired with the ever smarter smart phone, is now offering a discount when a person goes to a store, scans the ISBN number or code off an item, then buys it through that large online company which the customer will receive five dollars off the already discounted price. This is, to me, not just (as in fair) business practice...it encourages and propagates greed. It is unethical and underhanded. How will the small business owner survive this onslaught- he can't compete on their level. Is it the end of the small businesses in this country? We've heard about the middle class disappearing...is this yet another step involved in that? How did the Grinch get so...so selfish, fat, destructive, and gluttonous? It is unforgiving if small businesses go under because of the big cyberspace company's need to eek out every last dime.

On a happier note...I still have to be grateful to this community here in Astoria who still believes in having a small bookstore in town and supporting it when they can. That's love and devotion. And a great Christmas gift for Lucy's. We'll keep on plugging through despite the obstacles.

Wow, these books have been popular here and flying off the shelf...if you have any holiday cash to spend between now and after the season, check these titles out (if you haven't already):

Fiction:
Faithful Place by Tana French
Swell by Corwin Ericson
The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht

Non Fiction:
The Dirty Life:A Memoir on Farming, Food,and Love by Kristen Kimball
Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food by Paul Greenberg
Profit Over People by Noam Chomsky
Matter Horn and What It Is Like To Go To War by Karl Marlantes
Working in the Shadows by Gabriel Thompson

Young Readers:
The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
The Graveyard Book by Niel Gaiman

Children's:
I Want My Hat Back by John Klassen which won the Best Illustrated Children's Book Award from The New York Times.
The Frog Wore Red Suspenders by Jack Prelutsky, and this book is a New York Best Seller plus it's a selection of the Junior Library Guild.
Ugly As A Toad by Jullie Fox. This simple book shows how things can ALWAYS be worse. Tommy is a toad who thinks he's ugly. However, what would be worse than that? Well, you could be an ugly toad WITH ants in your pants and butterflies in your stomach! Being a toad isn't so bad,eh?

Have a Happy Season and a healthy New Year!