Page 17 of The Cornish Cream Tea Bookshop
‘That’s right. I’ve worked in bookshops for a long time, and I’m delighted to be here, working in Thea’s.’
‘You like reading, then?’ Sylvia asked. ‘You’re not just one of those fancy consultants?’
‘Not at all. I love books, and reading, and I want other people to have the opportunity to love books, too – whatever kind they want. Nobody should be put off by literary snobbery: all that matters is that they choose the books that interest them. That’s why I want us to come up witha diverse reading list for our club: it’s why I invited you all here.’
‘Why us, though?’ Finn asked.
Ollie shrugged. ‘Because I didn’t want to waste time, so I went with the people I knew, and I asked Thea to do the same. After the first few sessions, we can ask other people to choose the books. I just needed a few trailblazers to get us off the ground.’
‘Well, I’m honoured,’ Lizzy said, folding her arms.
Ollie gave her a grateful smile. ‘So, what I thought we could do, is take it in turns to say why we’ve picked our book, why we think it would appeal to our Port Karadow friends.’ She knew Thea had a copy ofThe Picture of Dorian Grayby Oscar Wilde, and could see that Lizzy was clutchingThe Vanishing Halfby Brit Bennett. ‘Meredith, I can’t see what you’ve brought. Why don’t you—?’
‘What other events are you going to put on here?’ Sylvia asked.
‘All sorts,’ Ollie said. ‘Readathons, book-swapping events. It shouldn’t just be me, Thea and Becky shouting about the books we sell, or authors giving talks – though those are great. We should be giving customers a platform, too.’ It was a horrible phrase:a platform,and she wrinkled her nose in distaste, but she didn’t know how else to say it.
‘At her interview, Ollie suggested a Book Wars tournament,’ Thea said, grinning. ‘That’s something we’re definitely going to do.’
Ollie laughed. ‘That’s one of my more off-the-wall suggestions, but it could be brilliant.’
‘What’s Book Wars?’ Max asked. His beanbag was nextto hers, and with their legs outstretched, her knee kept brushing against his.
‘It’s where two people each have a set amount of time to argue the case for their chosen book. There should be a theme every time, some kind of similarity, so Stephen King versus Dean Koontz, or a classic versus a modern retelling, likePride and PrejudiceandEligible, or two books with the same title that are completely different. The audience gets to decide who has made the better argument. It’s fun, and a good way to sell books.’
Thea leaned forward. ‘Once we’ve got this part of the shop finished, and I’ve got a mic and speakers installed, I’m doing it. We could have it as a monthly, or even weekly, thing. Whoever wins each round comes back, until we’ve whittled it down to a grand final.’
‘A Book Wars league,’ Ollie said, excitement bubbling through her at the thought. ‘We can talk more about it in a bit. Meredith, do you want to—’
‘What are you doing for the Christmas pageant?’ Sylvia asked. ‘I assume you’ll be having something spectacular. It’s on the twenty-third of December.’
Ollie exchanged a glance with Thea. ‘I was thinking of an author reading and signing,’ she said. ‘Someone who writes books set in Cornwall. Mysteries or thrillers, potentially – something that fits with the time of year. But tonight, we’re just picking titles for the book club.’
‘Who would you choose, if you could have absolutely anyone here?’ Maisie asked.
‘Oh God.’ Ollie rubbed her forehead. ‘There are so many great authors who write Cornish stories. Of course, it willdepend on who’s available. I haven’t talked to Thea or Becky about that yet. It’s exciting, though!’
‘If you can get anyone to come, of course.’ Lizzy frowned. ‘Just before Christmas, all the way down here. It’s a big ask.’
‘Ahugeask,’ Sylvia added, tutting.
‘I’m sure Ollie can do it,’ Max said. ‘Ollie, I forgot to bring my book with me, but I was going to pickIn Cold Bloodby Truman Capote.’
‘That’s an excellent choice,’ Ollie said, ‘a controversial classic that everyone will have an opinion about. Right.’ She wrote it down in her notebook, and let her knee nudge Max’s in a silent thank you. ‘Meredith, what’s your choice?’
Meredith reached into her handbag and, after a long, loaded pause, pulled out a brightly coloured hardback. ‘Something Wilderby Christina Lauren! Ollie, this book is so brilliant.’
‘I recommended it to her,’ Thea said, grinning. ‘It’s likeRomancing the StoneandIndiana Jones, and it has the most incredible love story.’
‘Oh God, that one,’ Finn said, tipping his head back, eyes on the ceiling. ‘She’s already read half of it out to me.’
‘Nothalf,’Meredith protested. ‘Just some of the good bits.’
‘Don’t you think it’s a bit far-fetched?’
‘Not at all. It’s exciting and dramatic and hugely romantic.’ They stared at each other, the air between them fizzing with tension.
‘This,’ Ollie said, after she’d taken a moment to soak up the atmosphere, ‘is what we want. Books people will be passionate about, one way or the other. We want disagreement, challenges, love and hate.Something Wilderwill be perfect.’ She wrote it down. ‘Lizzy, tell us about your choice.’
