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"No one ever shouts in a bookstore."
—Lillian Jackson Braun
 April is a special month for me because the 14th will be my first anniversary of working at Island Books. I started in the back room and it's hard to believe how much I've learned over the past year. Time flies when you're having fun.
I love how Island Books brings people together in different ways. Whether it's discussing the merits of a book, choosing wrapping paper, recommending gifts, or sharing traffic tips, the people who come inside all seem to find common ground. In April, there will be plenty of opportunities to make new friends when you come through our door.
One of the best ways we connect people is at our book club. Our monthly regulars get better and better at unpacking the meaning of a book. Maybe it's something about sitting amidst shelves and shelves of books, but the last few meetings have conjured up some powerful discussions about The Goldfinch, Room, and The Human Age. When you get people together who don't necessarily travel in the same social circles, you get a wide range of perspectives on a book and the larger subjects surrounding it.
For our April book club, we'll be reading The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud (read our original blog post about the book here). This story about a woman who becomes obsessed with another couple stirred a fascinating debate about whether female characters have to be likeable. Considering today's political climate, this promises to be an interesting discussion beyond the subject matter of the book.
Another way we bring people together over books is through our new cookbook book club. To get a sense of how great an event it is, go to our blog to read more about it, browse pictures of last month's tantalizing dishes, and try out the Sticky Toffee Chicken Wings recipe from March's featured Short Stack Cookbooks. The whole night was such delicious fun.
One of the best events we host all year happens at the end of the month. April 30th brings Independent Bookstore Day, a lollapalooza we've been looking forward to all year. There will be special one-day-only merchandise, prizes, free food, typewriting on our typewriters, author visits, and more. This is a holiday we're passionate about because it reminds everyone that we're more than just a store. We're a community center and local anchor run by passionate readers, just like other independent bookstores around the country.
Have a good time this April soaking up this promising change in weather. In honor of that recent local-gone-viral story about the man who climbed a huge tree downtown, find a tree full of cherry blossoms, hoist yourself up on a branch, and crack open a book.
Warmly,
Laurie Raisys
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Destination of the Month: France
 April in Paris, right? What could be better? We're even hosting a party on April 21st in honor of that very idea--wine, cheese, an author visit, French books and gifts, and a portion of all proceeds to benefit the Mercer Island Sister City Association scholarship fund. Until then, peruse this inspiring selection of favorite guidebooks, histories, travelogues, art books, and works of fiction either from or about our Destination of the Month. Vive la France!
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Independent Bookstore Day
 The main event on our calendar is back and it's better than ever. Independent Bookstore Day 2016 is being celebrated all across the country, and Island Books is one of dozens of participating stores in the region. We're all taking part in the larger cause, but we're also celebrating it in our own way, too, because, you know ... we're independent.
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Counter Intelligence: Lillian's April Pick
 Middle-grade readers are sure to love Lillian's April staff pick, The Wild Robot by Peter Brown.
When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island. Why is she there? Where did she come from? And, most important, how will she survive in her harsh surroundings?
Heartwarming and full of action, The Wild Robotraises thought-provoking questions about the environment, the role technology plays in our world, and what it means to be alive.
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"The lure for the store's loyal patrons is personal service."