It's not an origin story, but in 2013 Shelf Awareness ran a "Cool Idea of the Day" item about a paper-covered books display at Malaprop's Bookstore, Asheville, N.C., with a sign reading: "Blind Date with a Bookseller (or their favorite books, anyway. It's almost the same thing). We love you. We want you to ride off into the sunset with the book of your dreams. But we also want you to enjoy the pleasant surprises of life.... If you're brave and true, step forward. pick one that calls to you. Embrace the sweaty-palmed anticipation of the unknown."
I'm sure this wasn't the first Blind Date with a Book moment in history, but it was definitely a harbinger of things to come, as just a few months later we highlighted other indie bookstores offering them in Valentine's Day promotions.
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| At Gibson's Bookstore | |
In this week's bookshop newsletter, Gibson's Bookstore, Concord, N.H., wrote: "If you like to live life on the edge and trust our booksellers implicitly, you should stop in and peruse our Blind Date with a Book Display! At any given time, this display has up to 12 different paperbacks chosen by our booksellers, wrapped up in mysterious little parcels with vague yet extremely specific blurbs written on the outside.
"Browsing the display you might find 'John Tucker Must Die, with bisexual witches' or 'Lesbian necromancers in space' or 'Exiled witch on house arrest for turning her narcissistic, internet-troll, gun-loving, beer-drinking, ex-coworker into a talking cat.' We'll be honest, sometimes the formal publisher marketing lets a book down. We strive to fix that."
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| At Sweet Home Books, Wetumpka, Ala. | |
Americans are expected to spend $25.9 billion on Valentine's Day this year, and while flowers, candy and the other usual suspects will harvest the majority of those sales, my recent unofficial social media survey found that an impressive number of indie booksellers are also highlighting the pleasures of the bookish unknown for readers. Here's a Blind Date with a Book Valentine's Day sampler:
Werner Books, Erie, Pa.: "We avid readers know books make the best date--they won't judge you, they don't care what you're wearing when you read them, you can walk away from them at any time, and when you're done you can pass them along to someone else with no hard feelings. What better reason to go on a blind date with a book?"
Blue House Books, Kenosha, Wis.: "THIS WEEKEND head to 6th Ave A for two of our favorite shopping events: Blind Date with a Book at Blue House Books. Blind Date with a Plant at Equinox botanical boutique. It's the perfect Valentine's weekend!"
The Bookies Bookstore, Denver, Colo.: "Happy almost Valentines! We've got blind dates for y'all--with options for all ages and genre preferences."
A Novel Idea, Philadelphia, Pa.: "Love is in the air in the form of gift wrapped mystery books! Come by the shop this weekend to go on the best blind date ever! We will have a table filled with mystery gift wrapped books with clues to help you find your perfect match."
The Poisoned Pen Bookstore, Scottsdale, Ariz.: "Grab a Blind Date with a Book in time for Valentine's Day."
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| At Zenith Bookstore | |
Zenith Bookstore, Duluth, Minn.: "Love is in the air, and Blind Date With A Book is back! Get a hand-wrapped book, curated by your loving Zenith booksellers, and tagged with intriguing clues. Includes a bar of delicious artisan chocolate from Minnesota chocolatier @tcchocolate. Who knows, you may just find the perfect match!"
Turning Page Bookshop, Goose Creek, S.C.: "Hey Cutie, want to read me to dinner for Valentine's Day? Surely you do?"
Afterwords Books, Edwardsville, Ill.: "Blind date with a book and tea makes an excellent gift! Available in adult or young adult fiction titles, each blind date includes a hardcover book, a sample of @simpsonvailtea literary tea and a cute bookmark."
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| At A Likely Story | |
A Likely Story Bookstore, Sykesville, Md.: "Look what's back!! A favorite. Come and get your blind date with a book... you should never judge a book by its cover."
Thunder Road Books, Spring Lake, N.J.: "Get them what they really want for Valentine's Day... a really good book! Blind Date with a Book is back at Thunder Road Books and we got all the genres covered!"
Blacksburg Books, Blacksburg, Va.: "A big pile of blind date books that we're working on for the Y'allentine's Book Fair on February 11 over at @moonhollowbrewing! Drinks from Moon Hollow, a dessert pop up by @yourdessertbarva and food by @lawingsva--sounds like a perfect pre-Valentines date!"
Comma, a Bookshop, Minneapolis, Minn.: "Have you ever had a blind date with a book? You pick a book that's already wrapped, with just a few clues, and take it home! (Any guesses what the book in the video is?)"
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| At 2 Dandelions Bookshop | |
2 Dandelions Bookshop, Brighton, Mich.: "Back by popular demand... it's Blind Date with a Book! All books are only $10--will you find your perfect match? These make great gifts as well... get them before they're gone!"
Femme Fire Books, Jacksonville, Fla.: "Decided to switch things up a bit with our Blind Date With A Books! We have a new wrap design.... I hope y'all like it."
As Gibson's Bookstore noted in its newsletter: "Our booksellers have entirely too much fun writing the blurbs for these books, and our customers have just as much fun picking out their next read! (Every time we hear a laugh coming from the display area, our hearts grow three sizes.) Stop in and check it out for yourself!"