Interview with a Bookseller: Ellyn Grimm
In the spirit of getting to know us better, we will periodically be posting interviews with different people who work here at Dog-Eared Books. For our first set of interviews, we are starting with Amanda Lepper and Ellyn Grimm—the two amazing women who made this all happen. Welcome into Ellyn’s world of books and reading!
Who are you? What do you do at the store?
I’m Ellyn.
I co-own the bookstore with Amanda, and I do lots of things from bookselling to working with local authors to scheduling. It’s something different every day!
What is your favorite book?
That’s a stupid question. To riff off a Mindy Kaling quote, favorite book is not one book; it’s a tier. I can tell you that ONE of my favorite books is The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.
What is the book that changed or affected you the most?
Hmmm. That’s a tough question. There are lots of books that have affected me. One that challenged my thinking quite a bit is Life of Pi by Yann Martel. A book that moved me was Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt. Again, this is a tier situation.
What’s a book that helped you get out of a book slump?
I like a solid detective story/mystery to pull me out of a slump. I love anything by Tana French. I’m currently reading The Enigma of Room 622 by Joel Dicker which is doing a good job of holding my attention.
What’s a book that you read at the exact right time?
The Five Wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quade. It’s a realistic story about flawed people trying to be better. It’s hard to change harmful habits and behaviors and doing so is a journey with plenty of setbacks along the way.
Are there any books you own several copies of? Why?
I own a few copies of The Catcher in the Rye. I got my husband a basic cover version back when we first started dating and then bought one with a pretty cover later. Our youngest is named Holden after that book. No one does characters quite like Salinger.
What is your earliest book memory?
I remember reading my first chapter book. It was The Doll Hospital by James Duffy. I read it in my closet with a flashlight. I was probably around 6 or 7 years old.
What is your favorite place to read?
BED. I want to snuggle into the blankets, and I want everyone to leave me the eff alone.
Show us your bookshelf! How do you organize it? What are the vibes?
Um. There is no organizational system whatsoever. They just go on the shelf…or on a nightstand…or an end table…or in a stack on the floor. The vibe is books.
What advice would you give readers? Non-readers?
For readers, join a book club. It will force you to read outside your comfort zone, and that’s a beautiful thing. You’ll discover some of your favorite books this way, and they won’t be ones you would’ve chosen to read if left to your own devices. For non-readers, there are books for you. Visit your local bookstore, and let someone help you find the perfect thing.
Tell us a controversial book opinion
Dog-earing pages is a thoroughly acceptable practice. Also, I don’t enjoy audiobooks.
Why do you read?
I read for escapism; I read for validation; I read to learn; I read for connection.
What do you love about bookselling? About our store?
Bookselling is like book clubbing all day every day. I love making connections with other readers and pairing people with books. There are always books coming out, so there’s never nothing to talk about. About our store: I love the people. The relationships I’ve made, big and small, with our booksellers and customers have been some of the most meaningful I’ve had. The thing I take the most pride in is our store’s genuine desire to always be and do better as booksellers and as members of our community.
Get to Know More of Our Booksellers
Interview with a Bookseller: Amanda Lepper
