Ann Patchett

I have somebody saying to me, the sales reps, the people who come to the store from the different publishing houses who I know and trust will say to me, you really need to read this book.

So the main thing that I do at the bookstore is we have a first editions club, which I like to say is fruit of the month club that doesn't rot.

So we have a signed first editions club.

So what I'm constantly doing, right now I'm reading for October.

I am trying to find the best book for September, the best book for October, and then get that author to come sign the first editions, and we mail them out.

We have about 2,000 members in the club.

So it's a big responsibility, and I'm always looking for a fantastic book that is going to be in keeping with the kind of books and the level of books that I've picked in the past.

Right.

So probably the sales reps are my best conduit to the books because they know me.

They know what I've picked.

They know what I like.

And they say, oh, that Emily St.

John Mandel exit party coming in September.

Brilliant.

It's true.

It is.

They're...

So important.

And for so many different reasons.

If you are taking your family out to dinner and you want to go someplace before your reservation, if you have 20 minutes before you've got to pick your kid up at school, if...