I happened to be in a bookshop this afternoon, and during my brief browse I spotted a favourite novel from last year and took the opportunity of moving its neighbours slightly further along the shelf so that the book in question was face out. It's not the first time I've done a bit of 'guerrilla book-adjustment' like this making me - as Mr. C. coins it - a 'power re-arranger', but although it's only a tiny gesture of support for something I rate, I hope it results in the book catching the eye of a shopper who will buy it and enjoy it. For the avoidance of doubt, no other novel was 'disadvantaged' in the process, and I wouldn't dream of any major interference to a bookseller's display, just a wee tweak here and there!
~~~~~
Did any fans of the Moomins or The Summer Book and A Winter Book watch the documentary Moominland Tales: The Life of Tove Jansson which was shown the other night (and is still available on iPlayer)? It was fascinating to learn of all the autobiographical elements in the books, I thought, and watching it might even (slightly) enhance a reading of the 'Summer'/'Winter' stories.
Wasn't it lovely? I think I enjoyed it better than anything else we watched over Christmas.
I have also sneakily re-arranged book displays to promote a friend's book though can't claim that I have boosted anything to best-seller status!
Posted by: Mary | 28 December 2012 at 06:38 PM
I'm sure every little helps when it comes to book promotion, and yes, if only the BBC would give us more like the Tove Jansson programme!
Posted by: Cornflower | 28 December 2012 at 08:01 PM
Yes I watched it and it confirmed my long held view that the Moomintroll books are very adult in their themes; not that I managed to convince Simon T about that when he read one of the "childrens" books by Jansson earlier this year (or last year I don't recall). A fantastic woman and I was both amazed and dismayed to hear how same-sex relationships were illegal for so long in Finland - quite against my expectations. As you say a great programme.
Enjoy your Cornflower Midwinter! Mind out for the neutrino beams from CERN :-)
Posted by: Dark Puss | 28 December 2012 at 09:13 PM
I was amused that Tove Jansson's character Little My was her fictional alter ego!
Posted by: Cornflower | 28 December 2012 at 09:24 PM
Thank-you so much for alerting me to the Tove Jansson documentary. I've just watched it on I player. I love Finland and I love the Moomins, but most of all I loved watching a BBC documentary without a presenter ... so often the hand-waving, walking-towards-the-camera presenter seems to be the story.
Posted by: Jane M | 29 December 2012 at 04:13 PM
Good point, Jane.
Posted by: Cornflower | 29 December 2012 at 06:50 PM
We're also prone to a little shelf rearranging - I very recently moved a number of 'signed by the author' copies to front of the row, so nobody would miss out (they were tucked behind the unsigned copies!)
Posted by: The Willoughby Book Club | 29 December 2012 at 08:06 PM
Well done - but how strange that the signed copies had been relegated like that.
Posted by: Cornflower | 29 December 2012 at 08:18 PM
I thought it was a lovely programme, that was enchanting and informative, and whilst I knew much of Jansson's work was based on her own life, I hadn't realised just how much of herself she poured into her writing. I loved The Summer Book and A Winter Book, and The True Deceiver is fantastic, but I've yet to read about the Moomins.
Posted by: Christine Harding | 01 January 2013 at 08:34 PM
Yes, The True Deceiver! I forgot to mention that one.
Posted by: Cornflower | 02 January 2013 at 10:37 AM
Happy Blog Birthdsy, Cornflower. Oh what joy for one of us to meet the Moomin family for the first time.
Posted by: Erika | 02 January 2013 at 10:57 AM
I hope that documentary will bring a lot of people to the books.
Posted by: Cornflower | 02 January 2013 at 04:05 PM