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Some lovely customer left this for us, we do as well, and thanks!

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Its getting hot in Ojai the next couple days as our temperature gauge has been showing us…

But there are still plenty of new books to put away, and air conditioned rooms too cool of in while you browse.

Two girls came into the store yesterday with what looked to be 8th or 9th grade summer reading lists and were asking for copies of Oedipus Rex. I took them over to the Greek Theater section, pointed out the Sophocles shelf, and told them not to hesitate if they had any questions.  I was walking back to the counter when one of the girls asked if there was any difference between Oedipus Rex and Oedipus the King.  I explained that- no, the only difference would be one of translation and the Rex just meant king in Latin- but suddenly that struck me as odd. Why do we commonly refer to this Greek play with a Latin title? A few other customers in the courtyard chipped in – echoing variations of the question, and so did a little research. As it happens, the title Oedipus Rex makes as much sense as calling it Oedipus Koning (Dutch), Oedipus Malek (Arabic), or Maharajah Oedipus (Hindi). Ancient Greek actually had (at least) three different titles meaning king: Anax-meaning lord or leader; Basileus- meaning chieftan; and Tyrannus- meaning king by unusual succession. This isn’t esoteric knowledge by any means, however this particular bookstore employee will now make a point of referring to this tragedy of tragedies by its original title, Oedipus Tyrannus, or by the simple English translation, King Oedipus. -

sophocles

This fine young lady nails some of the funniest interactions with book shop customers we’ve heard.  Some of them have even been heard round these parts, for instance,  variations on this conversation:

“Customer: Hi, do you have any new books?
Me: We’re an antiquarian bookshop – our stock is out of print books.
Customer: So other people have touched them?
Me: Presumably, yes.
Customer: I don’t think I’ll bother, thanks.
Me: OK.”

These guys have a great store, when you’re in downtown you should check it out, also read this article in the L.A. times about them.

The New York Times Book Review had a nice bit about rejected book covers recently.

Thanks to author Jaquline Winspear for signing her new book when she came by today.

The author of the popular Maisie Dobbs mysterys was kind enough to sign a copy of her newest book, A Lesson In Secrets, when she stopped by for a little book shopping this afternoon.

Got sent this this morning, made us laugh

Original here