Russell Books May Newsletter
Long Weekend Sale, Collin Varner signing, lots of books, mother's day, store updates and more!
Welcome to your favourite part of the month! When RB posts their newsletter! Please don’t protest. I’m feeling fragile. If you have any teachers in your life, give them a hug at some point this month. May is truly insanity for those of us shaping the minds of the next generation — spring concerts, track and field season, overheated classrooms, trying to finish up the curriculum … I’m losing the plot. Anddd there is a SEGUE. Because you know who hasn’t lost the plot? The fantastic authors that we carry on our shelves. Really hope you come by the store to check them out this month. I might not be there, because I am drowning … but you’ll feel my spirit. Love you guys. Sorry if that was too soon.
Victoria Day Weekend Sale!
What better way to celebrate Queen Victoria than a Buy 2, Get 1 Free saleeeee! I just looked up “Did Queen Victoria read books”, and it turns out that she really liked Jane Eyre and the poetry of Wordsworth and Tennyson. I’m not going to lie, my research was not extensive on that, so that could be totally false. But come by our store May 15th - 18th! We’ll see you there.
Event: Colin Varner
Join us on Saturday, May 16th for a book signing by Collin Varner! Who even knew there were 200+ species of plants in Greater Victoria alone?? Come by our store to find out more. Seriously. Do it.
Asian Heritage Month
Did you know? May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada — so it’s our time to recognize the long-standing contributions of people of Asian descent to Canadian culture and history. Some of my personal favourite Asian Canadian characters include Madeleine Thien and Kim Thúy — definitely check them out if you get a chance this May!
Red Dress Day
May 5th in Canada is a national day of awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. This day raises awareness for the high rates of violence committed against Indigenous women and girls. Over 63% experience physical or sexual violence at some point throughout their lives — and so, on this day, and every day, they deserve our solidarity. Pictured below are many examples of Indigenous-authored novels and stories that feature Red Dress Day themes.
Mother’s Day
It’s almost Mother’s Dayyyy! And guess what. We would never have had “Pride and Prejudice” or “A Complicated Kindness” or “Great Expectations” or … you get it. Without mothers. Without their mothers. Do you get what I’m trying to say? The gist is that they’re insanely important. To just everything. Go appreciate yours today — and, of course, appreciate them extra on Mother’s Day. We love you, moms!!! And I love you to my mommy, who is reading this because she reads all my newsletters!! <3
(These beautiful pop up cards are made by freshcut paper)
New from our Vintage & Collectable Dept.
There is no unabridged version? Inconceivable!
Exciting news! We recently acquired these two rare editions of "‘The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern’s Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure, The “Good Parts” Version’. The work is a 1973 fantasy romance novel by William Goldman. It is metafictionally presented as an abridgment of a longer work by the fictional S. Morgenstern with Goldman’s commentary asides throughout. The book was adapted into a popular 1987 film. We have had many customers over the years insist they want the unabridged version (which doesn’t exist).
Pictured is the first paperback edition (what do you think of that cover!?) and a first hardcover edition (this is the first time we have ever had it in stock!)
You can check these and lots more treasures out next time you are in the store (they are in the Vintage & Collectable Display Case by our top floor customer service). Browse more collectable items from our cases here.
TC10K
Pictured below are some beloved members of the RB team running the TC10K! (Did you know we have a team every year and have for many, many years?!) Reading and running can go together, you know. The words start with the same letter, for one. Also, what better way to recover from a run than with some gentle literary analysis? Marathon then “War and Peace”, anyone??? Jk. Unless? ;)
New Shelves
Um…. this. just. in. As if we didn’t already have enough books in our store?? Just kidding. No such thing as “enough”. Duh. Anyway. RB is adding new shelves and filling them with vintage and collectable books above our top floor customer service desk. Come check them out!!
Thanks for Reading!
Hopefully you’re not still feeling uncomfortable after I told you that I love you. I’m okay being Laurie if you’re Jo, though. Please enjoy these last pics of the gorgeous/cute/smart/awesome RB staff. Be glad I’m not in any of these, because I look like a shell of my former self at the moment. I’ll check back in with you in June — things will be looking up, I’m sure.
See you then :-)
Want to follow us throughout the month for updates, new additions and more? You can find us on Instagram, Facebook and BlueSky You can also browse our stock and find more about upcoming events on our website.