Shakespeare and Co. Booksellers

Miranda July’s debut short story collection, No One Belongs Here More Than You, came out in paperback this month.  We have the neon green edition.

“When my husband saw the new short hair, he gave me the look we give each other when one of us forgets who we are.  We are not people who buy instant cocoa powder, we do not make small talk, we do not buy Hallmark cards or believe in Hallmark rituals such as Valentine’s Day or weddings.  In general, we try to stay away from things that are MEANINGLESS, and we favor things that are MEANINGFUL.  Our top three favorite meaningful things are: Buddhism, eating right, and the internal landscape.  Haircuts are in the same category as trimming the finger-and toenails, which is in the same category as mowing the lawn.  We don’t believe in mowing the lawn; we do it only to avoid unnecessary engagement with the neighbors.  The neighbors trim their bushes into ridiculous animal shapes.  Carl looked at me as if I were the neighbors, as if my hair were in a ridiculous animal shape. “

- From “Mon Plaisir”

and

“Friday night was date night, named for the date Sarah and Tom would go on while Lyon slept over at my house.  But because they usually just stayed home and fought, and Lyon and I more often went to dinner and saw a movie, date night became our code for Night of Endless Fun.  Don’t underestimate how much joy an eight-year-old and an almost-forty-year-old can bring each other.  We usually begin at Miso Happy, our favorite Japanese place.  We thought the name was terrible, but we liked the noodles.  We talked about everything, including but not limited to: My gray hairs, should I dye them?  Could I dye them individually?  Could I pay a mouse with a tiny paintbrush to jump on my head and dye them one by one?”

-From “How to Tell Stories to Children”