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May 2009 Archives
Sitting alone during a quiet afternoon, I have found myself enamored by the works of Hafiz and his interpretations. Not one terribly familiar with poetry, Indigo asked me to oversee this section, which essentially means I am the one responsible for reordering books and researching new titles. Excited by the challenge yet still somewhat distant to pursue, I looked into the titles that have been popular with Indigo customers and read through various pages within these books. Our biggest seller in the poetry section is I Heard God Laughing: Poems of Hope and Joy by Hafiz. So what will this collection start off with I ask? A version of the common "Roses are red, violets are blue" or some strange Haiku about the sun not setting the same since love has come to exist in some sappy poet's life? Being very judgmental and not quite knowledgeable on the subject of poetry, I was overwhelmed with Hafiz's words. Not a pathetic, poor man as I had assumed, he views the world with love and really captures the beauty in everything by doing so. Whether it's kissing the earth or dancing forever, this collection brings optimism and hope to anyone who opens the pages through the concept of love. I urge everyone to pick up this title and read the words that have enlightened me and have made me see things more optimistically.
Peace
-Adrienne
Here's a preview!
Levels of Love
All I know is love,
And I find my heart infinite
And Everywhere!
Indigo Bridge has the unique treat of having three poets present their work tomorrow night at 7:30! Our three guests are Bekah Banks Ewing, Luke Hollis and Alice Bolin. The three friends met about a year ago in a poetry course at UNL, and since that time, have shared the same ambition and passion for poetry. They get together often to share their new writing ideas, but this is their first time doing a public reading. Alice told me she feels hearing a poem read by the writer themselves is a very powerful experience for the viewer and often communicates the meaning of the writing even more effectively than if it is just read on the printed page. This is the trio's "last harrah" before parting ways (each is pursuing degrees in English) so please join us for this special occasion!
-Leah
Echo
a poem by Alice Bolin
Saturdays I will walk without thinking
to Grandpa's sod hut and sinking
roots of marrow country. Starving rills fall
on hollow pools, churning a chant of wading birds.
How many nights will I count his soil's splits,
naming all my achings.
Want hangs on my lips as blossoms
of salt rocks in sun. Back flat
in scabs of switchgrass, my limbs will flash with fictions.
*
In scabs of switchgrass, my limbs will flash with fictions
of salt rocks in sun. Back flat,
want hangs on my lips as blossoms,
naming all my achings.
How many nights will I count his soil's splits
on hollow pools, churning a chant of wading birds,
roots of marrow country. Starving rills fall
to Grandpa's sod hut and sinking
Saturdays--I will walk without thinking.
When consumers are faced with the choice of shopping at a locally owned business or at a large corporation owned store, good customer service is often trumped by low prices and one-stop shopping. Many, however, stop short of considering where their money is actually going. Consider that a local business puts three times as much money back into the local community than chain stores, and you can see why there is an argument for shopping locally beyond just a friendly, smiling greeting (which you always get coming into Indigo!).
A report from the Civic Economics institute identifies four reasons why local business is so profitable for the community:
1. Labor costs go straight to local employees. It's pretty hard for a business like Indigo Bridge to outsource. A much larger proportion of profit goes into wages than in an average chain store.
2. Profits stay in the community! Instead of sending out excess profit to a CEO in New York, ours go straight to the local ownership.
3. Local businesses buy from other local businesses! In addition to our partnership with Cultiva Coffee, Indigo gets a lot of books from the University of Nebraska Press and buys food from local places like Maggie's and Zola Chocolates.
4. Charity! Besides naturally giving money back to Lincoln, Indigo puts resources into a multitude of charities and community building activities; both the Lincoln and world community. From providing an outlet for foreign language learners to providing a source of revenue to skilled artisans living in poverty, we make sure that we're actually improving lives with the money you spend here. Not only do we facilitate these things, but we also make sure to spread something more important than money; social awareness.
Even if you don't care much about improving community, there are still plenty of reasons for a consumer to choose Indigo! Although we don't have the square footage of a big box store, we have an excellent selection of books you won't find anywhere else. Each of our employees personally oversees which books we have in stock in each section, so each book is assured to be interesting and worth having in stock. As for prices, our canvas bags are only $12 for a 10% discount on all purchases, which is a great deal.
Plus, you can bring your Ivanna Cone ice cream inside and browse. What could be better than ice cream, a cup of coffee, and a bunch of great books? How about a bunch of great books whose purchase goes to good causes and comes back to you and your neighbors!
Peace!
-Dustin
This week I had the pleasure of taking a trip to Kansas City. While there, I visited another independent bookstore located in Mission, Kansas. The store, I Love a Mystery, has the ambience of an old Victorian library with a touch of haunting décor such as a gargoyle poised by the front door, a skeleton watching over the coffee area, as well as poison bottles and daggers tucked into little nooks around the store.
The shelves in the store are stocked entirely with mysteries- new and used. As I browsed the shelves, I had a great chance to chat with store manager, Becci West. I must say, it is always a delight to "talk shop" with other indies. We tossed around ideas for new displays, spoke of pro's and con's to some of the software we use, and discussed ways to attract customers to locally owned businesses.
I was so happy to meet some of the staff at I Love a Mystery and have the chance to see another independent store; rich with personality in its decor and staff. Next time you are in the Kansas City area, make sure to stop into I Love a Mystery for a ghostly good time browsing through their mysteries. Visit them on the web at iloveamystery.com
If you are not heading to Kansas City, but are interested in a good mystery, I would recommend the book, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. You can purchase this book right here in Lincoln at Indigo Bridge Books! This book was just released in May and has been announced as the winner of the Crime Writer's Association Debut Dagger Award.
Bradley sets his story in 1950 at the address of his 11-years-old protagonist, Flavia. The book unfurls a series of mysteries that surrounds Flavia's home and life. In a family that is pretty strange already, Flavia manages a new extreme when she finds a dead man in the garden. This book has been recommended as adult fare that mature young adults can also enjoy.
"The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie ... is full of mystery, charm and chemistry. Its quick-witted dialogue, tongue-in-cheek humour and colourful characters will linger long after the book is back on the shelf. " --DAILY PLANET, The Discovery Channel
"[A] charming novel that is sure to be one of the most loved mysteries of the year."--CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
"It's a rare pleasure to follow Flavia as she investigates her limited but boundless-feeling world. And it's nice to know she'll be back."--ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Peace!
Kate
Hello! I want let everyone know about one of our five upcoming book clubs. Three Indigo Bridge employees, Dustin, Adrienne and I are heading up a Classic Literature/Short stories book club at Indigo. Our first selection is The Plague by Albert Camus. This famous novel deals with a town's descent into isolation as the community comes to grips with an outbreak of the Bubonic plague. Dustin says it assaulted his senses with its dramatic posturing of suffering and it gave him insight into existentialist philosophy (although Camus claimed not to be an existentialist in the first place). Adrienne is looking forward to reading more Camus because she feels like he inspires his readers with his unique conception of love. Bring your original opinions on this book on Wednesday, May 27th at 7:30 pm. The meeting is at the store and should last about an hour. People who would like to purchase a copy from Indigo will receive a 15% discount. If you would like to take advantage of the discount, please contact us so we can order an accurate amount.
I'm so excited to get this club started! Hope to see you there!
Peace,
Leah
Ya'll like French Existentialism? Not quite nihilism, but close!
Peace
Dustin
Hello!
Well, here we are blogging, and here you are, reading our blog! I find this quite exhilarating. The hard part about it is, there is so much to say and I don't know where to start! So I will start by saying this: I have great and humble hopes that we will acquire a following of avid readers, who will in turn get to know the personality of all of our employees as we share our stories and experiences at Indigo Bridge Books. We have such an amazing staff that has so much to offer to such an amazing community. So stay tuned to the Indigo Bridge Blog and check back regularly to hear what is happening at Indigo Bridge Books.
Thanks for reading!
Peace
Kate
Greetings!
Our bookstore coffee shop joined the community last fall.
Our goals for this venture grew out of our desire to serve people in a meaningful way, although that "way" has been evolving over the last several months.
We wanted to promote literacy. Early reading skills are the foundation for future success in school and beyond that, we think, in life.
The ideas we stumble across in books expand our view of the world and our place in it. We wanted to have great books and great conversations.
We also wanted a forum through which we can raise awareness of everything that we think matters - ok, that's a lot and we're working through all of this... we seek to promote social justice and environmental responsibility within our community and within ourselves.
Various amazing doors have opened as we've discovered so many others with the same heart. We're excited to be on this journey of seeking purpose and meaning and we're comforted to know that lots of you are sharing this road with us.
Peace
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