AndrewJamison

As I am in Burlington, Vermont, visiting my sister and brother-in-law it seems somehow appropriate to imagine what the world would be like if Bernie Sanders, who served as mayor here for many years before he was a senator, had been elected president in 2016. To help you carry out the thought experiment you might consider what Bernie has to say today:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/sep/24/bernie-sanders-opinion-billionaire-politics

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Since I am away this week the shop will be closed, but next week do join us for our tenth anniversary celebration. Click “bookstore events” to find out what’s in store.

Bunny Ragnerstam, who passed away this spring, was the author of many fine historical novels primarily about working class life in southern Sweden in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His wife Christina came by the shop recently and asked if I would be interested in buying some of his books and, after two visits to their house in Ystad, a good deal of his collection is now at Andy’s Corner. Much of it is in the same spirit as his novels – socially-engaged literature and social and political history, the kind of books that are so important in the world today and which we try to keep in stock at Andy’s Corner. Anyway, do come by and have a look. There’s even a record of Joe Hill songs. Remember him?

Rebecca Solnit is always worth reading (I have just started Orwell’s Roses, a wonderful way into the life of George Orwell) and in this interview, she is at her acerbic best, as she talks, in her inimitable way, about Trump and America and the importance of reading books as a way to persevere in the strange times in which we live.

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/qa-rebecca-solnit-trump-books

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And let me remind you that our summer sale ends next week as summer turns to fall and that we will be closed the following week (September 25-27) when I take my annual trip to Vermont to visit my sister. And after that, it’s time to celebrate our tenth anniversary. For details go to “”Bookstore events”.

Giulia Cantone, who had played with Alison Luthmers at Alison’s release party in the spring, came by the shop the other day and will now contribute to our tenth anniversary celebration with a concert on October 2. Giulia is an Italian lutenist specializing in Renaissance and Baroque plucked instruments. Based in Malmö for the past two years, she will play a selection of pieces from the German Baroque lute repertoire. The concert will start at 6 p.m.

The Swedish government has just announced a “cultural” canon, and, unlike all the real cannons that the government buys and sells around the world, this one has been controversial. May I suggest that instead of trying to impose one cultural canon on its people the government might instead encourage each of us to find our own canon. And why not start finding yours at Andy’s Corner where our summer sale continues for three more weeks? Here is an interesting comment on the “controversy” in today’s Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/sep/04/sweden-cultural-canon-abba-ikea-meatballs

It’s hard to believe, but Andy’s Corner will have been in business for ten years on October 5, which calls for a celebration. The plans are still not completely finalized but we will be having at least two events to mark the occasion, a concert with a new program by the Bellevue String Quartet, entitled “Nordic Bridges” on October 1 and a party on October 5 with our old friends Kevin Benn and Robin Gott putting on “Botticelli”, a short play by Terrence McNally and Alison Luthmers and Johnny Teyssier playing duets for violin and clarinet.

In these dark times it’s reassuring that there are writers willing to take on the problems of the world in refreshing new ways. I’m just finishing Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead, with a truly mind-boggling young narrator telling of the troubles he’s seen growing up in Appalachia. And now I wake up to a review of Sarah Hall’s Helm that apparently has the wind not just blowing but speaking – and maybe providing some answers.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/aug/19/helm-by-sarah-hall-review-a-mighty-epic-of-climate-change-in-slow-motion

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And just so you might be surprised once again we’ll be open today and tomorrow from 2.30 to 5.30 since I’m in town for a doctor’s appointment.

Good to see that John Fogerty is still alive with quite a story to tell.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/aug/15/john-fogerty-creedence-clearwater-revival-contracts-controlling-catalogue&ved=2ahUKEwiY2I-anYyPAxUtIxAIHT4yFMAQ2LwJegQIGxAB&sqi=2&usg=AOvVaw2wV2tJgAwOZYyxlHQa0UzN

We often play Creedence on Saturdays. In the meantime, enjoy:

https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-samsung-ss&sa=X&sca_esv=8740a35e22b44344&sxsrf=AE3TifNW2juQHSoH1A23fZyZI0r8b1Vr0w:1755241203909&q=creedence+clearwater+revival+who%27ll+stop+the+rain&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgFuLUz9U3MDTKSStS4tVP1zc0zCoqSi9KNzfQEvQtLc5MdiwqySwuCckPzs9LX8RqmFyUmpqSmpecqpCck5pYVJ5YklqkUJRallmWmKNQnpGvnpOjUFySX6BQkpGqUJSYmQcA4xpkBmMAAAA&ved=2ahUKEwjv69CDn4yPAxUeFBAIHXwsDKYQri56BAgpECk&biw=384&bih=783&dpr=2.81

Berries can be black and blue

And red and even redder

A simple pleasure, it is true

But name me something better!

To pick them offers peace of mind

And time for contemplation

Of all the wonders you can find

While you’re on vacation.

But alas it’s time again to leave the forest and get back to work. Hope to see you in the shop this week.

…we leave town. Just kidding, but it’s usually hard to attract customers during the festival. In any case, we’ll be closed tomorrow while we conclude our little family reunion. All four grandkids were helping out sorting books yesterday and now half of them are heading home to Barcelona.

We’re open today, August 8, from 1.30 to 5.30 and then open again next week on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the regular hours.