Mike Perry-Midwestern Gem

One of my favorite books from 2006 is Mike Perry‘s Truck: A Love Story. Many people read his book Population 485: Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time. Population 485 is one of the best books I have read in the last five years. Mike has been to Northfield a few times now. Hearing him read is a listening pleasure. He is one of those authors who understands the reading process. The words come alive when you hear him read.

For each of his books, Mike has produced a cd of him reading his own work. He gives these out for promotional purposes. I often play the essays from Truck in the store. The first two are light and funny. One about dating in his father’s farm truck, the other about his journey to baldness. But it is the third essay from the cd that is literary gold. An essay about gardening. Really, gardening! The more I listen to this piece the more I love it. He starts by talking about seeds. Works in some humor, a bit about radio, Moose country vs. NPR. Then clobbers you with the Rwandan genocide. This is followed up by Wendell Berry. The man can write and I look forward to reading everything that rolls off his pen.

Listen for yourself.

You can purchase Mike’s books here or leave your comments:
Truck: A Love Story

Population 485

Off Main Street

Big Rigs, Elvis & The Grand Dragon Wayne

Jerry

Truck essay #3

This is essay #3 from Mike Perry’s Truck cd.  The essay in which Mike proves he is a writer to watch.

Truck essay #2

This is essay #2 from Mike Perry's Truck cd.

Truck essay #1

This is essay #1 from Truck: A Love Story

National Press for the Monkey

Monkey See, Monkey Read received some national press today. Shannon McKenna from Shelf Awareness wrote an article about the store. While she did not interview any reading monkeys or monkeys reading, she did talk to the ape in charge. Here is a link to the story: Shelf Awareness

Shelf Awareness is a daily email newsletter for the book selling business. From their website: “Shelf Awareness: Daily Enlightenment for the Book Trade”

Anyone interested in the book biz should subscribe. The folks at Shelf Awareness do a wonderful job reporting about our industry.

Jerry

DVDs

Our DVD selection continues to grow. Today we received another shipment of winners at great prices!

About Schmidt for $7.99

Or check out our DVDs for the younger set.

Welcome to the Monkey blog

The staff at Monkey See, Monkey Read took a vote and decided to start a blog. I lost and my punishment is to do the blogging. The purpose of the blog is to generate some book discussions. We’ll also announce store events, sales, specials, etc.

I should start with a few details about the store. Monkey See, Monkey Read is a bookstore. We sell new and used books, toys, and DVDs. What? New books? Yes, we do! The chains won’t be losing sleep over our massive selection, but it’s quality, not quantity right?

DVDs? Yes, yes, we have those as well. And bargain priced.

To kick it off, I’ll just mention what I am currently reading. Bill McKibben’s “Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future. ” Due out in March, 2007. McKibben’s latest is about local economies. I’ve finished half the book this weekend. McKibben can flat out write!

Check out our website.
Jerry