We are invited to appear on a podcast with someone famous...and we had a blast. We also talk about how both of us have found our way back to writing, finally, two years after opening the bookshop. How can we make room for joyful creativity in our busy lives?

Join us over at Kate and Charlie Gibson's podcast, The Book Case!

Books We Read Recently

Where'd You Go, Bernedette? by Maria Semple John of John by Douglas Stuart The Names by Florence Knapp Buckeye by Patrick Ryan Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe History of the Rain by Niall Williams

Connect with us!

Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page

Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard

*All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Our kids are hitting all the big life highlights these days. In the meantime, we talk about some of our favorite recent reads and what common thing about them is about them that has us so entertained...as readers AND as writers.

Books We Read Recently

The Names by Florence Knapp John of John by Douglas Stuart Difficult Loves by Italo Calvina Buckeye by Patrick Ryan Heart Be At Peace by Donal Ryan History of the Rain by Niall Williams Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt 84, Charing Cross by Helene Hanff

Connect with us!

Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page

Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard

*All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Today we're talking about the inspiring nature of human-created art and beauty. What is the value in it, apart from the end product? And what do we rob ourselves of when we lean on AI in our creative ventures?

Books We Read Recently

Old Soul by Susan Barker

Connect with us!

Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page

Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard

*All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

We went to Italy! Nooks is busier than ever! And thoughts on an economy that isn's solely financial...how can we run a bookshop where finances are obviously important but where relationships don't become transactional?

Books Mentioned:

Beloved by Toni Morrison The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim Difficult Loves by Italo Calvino Art Work by Sally Mann Dear Writer by Maggie Smith The Creative Act by Rick Rubin Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt Tom's Crossing by Mark Danielewski (still) House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski Whalefall by Daniel Kraus Angel Down by Daniel Kraus

Connect with us!

Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page

Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard

*All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Maile's starting to feel a gap between the good things going on at the shop and how those good things are impacting her. In short, she's not feeling permeated by the good that's happening there. So what's missing? What do we do in our lives when there are good things going on but those good things are taking us away from our family or other things we love?

Books Mentioned:

Beloved by Toni Morrison Year of the Monkey by Patti Smith Country of the Blind by Andrew Leland Counterweights by Shannan Miller Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

Connect with us!

Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page

Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard

*All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Well, it happened. For the first time, we were called out online this week for not being sincere in our desire to welcome everyone. It was bound to happen, but it still hurts. We address that and talk about why we carry the books we carry and why we have the events we do. And if you ever question anything about Nooks or feel like we're being insincere or misguided, we would love to have a conversation with you about it.

Shawn also finally finished reading a bestselling book that has wildly varying reviews and gives his take on it. And Maile talks about why she needs light books these days.

Books Mentioned:

Habits of the Sea by Shea Earnshaw Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt Theo of Golden by Allen Levi Tom's Crossing by Mark Danielewski Beloved by Toni Morrison

Connect with us!

Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page

Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard

*All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Today we're talking about how it feels to actually stop and take a breath. For the last two years we've been working through challenges, both imposed and voluntarily taken on. And now we're thinking about our first two years at Nooks and what the next steps might be.

We also talk about the novel idea that maybe, someday, this shop could be financially successful and support us as a family. What does that look like for Nooks?

Books Mentioned:

The Bookshop by Evan Friss Theo of Golden by Tom's Crossing by Mark Danielewski The Keeper by Tana French (NEW!) The Searcher by Tana French The Hunter by Tana French A House to Call Home by Christie Purifoy Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Connect with us!

Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page

Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard

*All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

"I had no idea this shop would break me open the way that it has." Today, we're exploring this statement that Maile made this week, why she feels this way, and how Nooks is meeting people's need to belong. We also discuss the seemingly random nature of "taste," how so many of us end up liking (or hating) books that other people feel completely differently about.

Find out more about Elsewhere Bread!

Books Mentioned:

Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke The Silk Worm by Robert Galbraith Every Moment Holy Vol II: Death, Grief and Hope: by Douglas McKelvey and Ned Bustard Every Moment Holy: Rites of Passage by Douglas McKelvey and Ned Bustard Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann A House to Call Home by Christie Purifoy Tom's Crossing by Mark Z. Danielewski The Bookshop by Evan Friss Theo of Golden by Allen Levi Counterweights by Shannan Martin

Connect with us!

Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page

Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard

*All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Today we're recording the podcast in our new space! After nearly doubling the size of our bookshop, we're feeling rather exhausted...which you can tell by the sound of our voices. But we're also incredibly excited to share the new space with you and catch you up on all the other goings on at Nooks.

We also hearken back to our conversation in Episode 022 with Evan Friss, the author of The Book Shop.

Books Mentioned:

The Bookshop by Evan Friss Marce Catlett by Wendell Berry Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith The Silk Worm by Robert Galbraith Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann The Experiment by Rebecca Stead Flashlight by Susan Choi Wendell Berry: Port William Novels and Stories: The Civil War to World War II Wendell Berry: Port William Novels and Stories: The Postwar Years Tom's Crossing by Mark Danielewski Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book #1) by JK Rowling

Connect with us!

Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page

Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard

*All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

Today we're recording live from the bookshop and some surprise guests stop by! We also share an announcement about the next really exciting thing happening at Nooks (hint: expansion). Plus, Maile finished a long, long book, and we share what we've been reading...

Books Mentioned:

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann The Country of the Blind by Andrew LeLand A House to Call Home by Christie Purifoy Tom's Crossing by Mark Danielewski Memory Wall by Anthony Doerr Flashlight by Susan Choi

Connect with us!

Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page

Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard

*All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.