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Reading Moby in New Bedford

Published January 14, 2025 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: books, Herman Melville, literature, Moby Dick

What is it about New Bedford early January, despite the bitter cold, the hard-edged cobbled streets, that stirs the soul? Is it that Melville himself stepped aboard the Acushnet from this very harbor to sail around the world? Is it that over 2500 Melville freaks gathered this year, a record-breaker, to hear the words he painstakingly pressed to paper about a sea voyage gone terribly wrong? It’s about literary camaraderie, over quick breakfasts, or late night, lingering beers at a bar aptly named The Moby Dick Brewing Company. It’s hearing multiple perspectives on this magnificent American novel, or something like a novel, propounded by Melville scholars who elucidate the voyage with insight and humor. It’s celebrating literature among crowds of fans, kids crawling through the life-size model of a whale’s heart – their dad topped in a whale-shaped hat. It’s college students camping out in museum hallways overnight; retired professors toting the 50-year-old copy of the novel they read in college. It’s travelers from as far away as Australia and Brazil, and as near as the next town over who crew this round-the-clock, yet seemingly endless, public voyage that is Moby-Dick: or The Whale. See Kathryn’s wonderful pics. below.

Don’t miss our own Sag Harbor version of a Moby-Dick Marathon reading, this spring, over three days, at various village locations. Readers get ready! Sign-up and dates coming soon. Reserve your weekend late May/early June.

Canio’s On the Road @ New Bedford Whaling Museum

Published January 12, 2025 Uncategorized Leave a Comment

Holiday Shop @ Sag Harbor Whaling Museum

Published December 18, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: christmas, holiday, nature, travel, whale, whale-watching, whales

Holiday Surprise Book Boxes

Published November 16, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment

Holidays have always been a favorite, festive, if hectic time at the shop. We’ve got lots of our unique inventory available for gift-giving, and we’d love to gather surprise gift boxes for all on your list.

While we continue to search for a new home, let us select from our best collectibles and art books; excellent fiction and poetry; children’s books, and of course, nature and spirituality. We have vintage Moby-Dick Marathon T-shirts available, too, for the Melville fan.

Send us your shopping list now, and we’ll organize thoughtful titles you’ll be pleased to present. Allow us to make the choices. We know all will enjoy our picks. Last day to order a box is Tuesday, Dec. 10 (Emily Dickinson’s birthday!)

If you’d like a surprise box for yourself, tell us what category you’re after, and we’ll gather good reading for you.

Thanks to Sag Harbor novelist Stella Sands for this suggestion. Her new book Wordhunter includes an enterprising character who sells books by- the- pound to customers who enjoy a surprise.

Surprise boxes will be shipped or delivered to your door (Sag Harbor area). Gift wrapping is available. Send your requests by email to: caniosbooks@verizon.net Include categories of books to be gathered, age of recipients, billing and shipping information.

As Canio’s continues, On the Road, let’s keep in touch.

Now is the time, dear reader …

Published August 27, 2024 Books we love , Bookselling in the 21st century , Bookstore Lore , Community , Creativity , Environment , Fiction , Literary history , Sag Harbor , Uncategorized , Writing Leave a Comment
Tags: Bookstore Lore, Sag Harbor, Sag Harbor history

Now is the time, dear reader …

You’ve been wanting to come browse the shelves at Canio’s for a while. You’ve been telling yourself you’ve got to get over there. Soon. Gentle reader, now is the time!

We’ve got great sales and great books in need of a new home. As we enter the last month at our current location, we’re taking stock of all the wonderful experiences we’ve enjoyed here over the past 25 years. A quarter century of literary encounters, meeting writers on the page, and in person. And meeting great people such as yourself! It’s a bittersweet task to sort through our storied collection, and make plans for an unknown future. Canio’s Cultural Cafe will continue with programing at partner locations. We look forward to sharing more news soon.

Stop by soon to find some great bargains, say hello, say goodbye. Tell us your favorite “Canio’s story.” And, help us keep the celebration of Sag Harbor’s literary culture alive.

Maryann and Kathryn at the 1999 opening party.

Canio’s on the MOVE

Published July 12, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment

Help Canio’s Books and its Cultural Cafe thrive!

Canio’s Books must move to a new location later this fall. In this season of change, we look forward to new possibilities this change offers.

Friends of Canio’s has launched a GoFundMe site to help realize opportunities and manage expenses. Please consider supporting this effort and share it with your friends.

From Friends of Canio’s:

“Canio’s Books has kept a light on for the East End literary community since 1980. After 44 years, it must leave its beloved Sag Harbor home on Main Street. Donate now to ensure it will thrive and grow in a vibrant new location.

Canio’s is well known for its hand-picked book collection that blends fiction and non-fiction, stretching from classic to contemporary. “Eclectic,” “a treasure,” “wonderful assortment of new and used books,” “selections like fine wines,” “friendly, helpful owners,” say Yelp reviewers. One avid reader pronounced it “a perfect bookstore.”

Please share the link with your literary and community circles. Thanks for your support! Stay tuned for updates!

DONATE

Colson Wows Sag Harbor Crowd

Published August 8, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: Colson Whitehead, Crook Manifesto, Sag Harbor, Sag Harbor literary history

What could top our sellout event featuring Colson Whitehead reading from his newest novel to family, friends and fans in his own summer-home town? Hard to imagine. We gathered at the beautiful, historic and welcoming Christ Episcopal Church as Priest-in-Charge Mother Broderick invited us to consider this house of worship, “our house” for important gatherings and celebrations of life-passages. Canio’s Books co-owner Kathryn Szoka praised Colson’s copious literary achievements, and acknowledged his early support of the Steinbeck House preservation project. Whitehead signed on as honorary chair, a commitment, Szoka said, that catapulted the campaign and led to its success.

Colson charmed the audience reading a nostalgic passage from his most personal novel, Sag Harbor, a book pivotal to his development as a writer. Young Benji views the village through its ever changing facades as he tries to find his footing on unfamiliar ground. Whitehead gave us a sneak peek of his work-in-progress, the third installment of his Ray Carney series. It featured a cameo appearance by Major Ed Koch, and promises to be another winner.

Whitehead first introduced Carney, a furniture salesman cum fence in the 2021 heist novel, Harlem Shuffle set in the ‘60s. In his new book, Crook Manifesto, Carney returns, a decade later, in the late seventies. Colson discussed his writing process – he listens to music to drown out the cacophony of city noise. Kathryn pointed to some particularly lyrical passages. The hope is as you mature as a writer, Whitehead said, you become better at finding the musicality, the right rhythm for the sentence. With Crook Manifesto, Colson has found just the right beat.

Steinbeck House Opening Day!

Published February 17, 2023 Uncategorized 2 Comments
Tags: Sag Harbor, Sag Harbor literary history, Steinbeck

What a thrill to anticipate this Memorial Day weekend when the Steinbeck House welcomes visitors (by appointment only, see SteinbeckHouseNY.org) for the very first time. All the hard work over the past two-years has finally come to fruition. This is the place where Steinbeck wrote The Winter of Our Discontent, Travels With Charley, and America and Americans . The true value of this property, preserved in large part due to the Town of Southampton, can’t be measured in dollars and cents. It will be measured by the inspiration it provides those writers who will find peace and quiet there, with time and space enough to imagine, and to write their next great book. And even an hour’s tour of the grounds will afford the interested visitor a glimpse of the place that so inspired the Nobel Laureate. Book a guided tour to enjoy the expansive water view, stroll under sheltering trees, and step into the modest house Steinbeck called home.

SOUTHAMPTON TOWN BOARD VOTES 5-0 to PRESERVE STEINBECK HOME

The Town Board of Southampton showed their LOVE on Valentine’s Day and voted 5-0 to use CPF funds to preserve John & Elaine Steinbeck’s home as a writers retreat with low impact public access. Thank you, Tommy John Schiavoni, Supervisor Jay Schniederman and all Town Board members. You made history.

TWO years ago NO ONE thought it could happen.

But we did ! And we kept that vision alive with passion and integrity. Big thanks to the Sag Harbor Partnership who had the know-how, connections, and believed in the vision. April Gornik and John Avlon were early and steadfast believers who opened doors and minds to the importance of our dream to preserve John Steinbeck’s home. Susan Mead and Diana Howard (SHP) continue to spend countless hours working out the details. Colson Whitehead signed on early as Honorary Chair which was key. Thanks to this dream team!

More heartfelt thanks to all who spoke, wrote, and cheered from the sidelines, who helped in small or big ways. Each word of encouragement, every donation, every letter, and appearance at events added to our groundswell of community support that, in the end, was irresistable!

Together, we made history! We preserved a literary jewel that will shine far into the future.

We’re so gratified, we can’t thank you enough. More about next steps coming soon. For now, let’s savor this experience, appreciating what happens when people join together for the benefit of our local as well as world community.

To creativity & community!

with gratitude,

Kathryn + Maryann

We ‘re raising the last $200,000. Please donate! GOFUNDME.

40 Years of Canio’s in Sag Harbor!!

Published September 12, 2020 Uncategorized Leave a Comment

Where did the time go? October 2020 marks the 40^th anniversary of Canio’s Books in continuous business at 290 Main Street, Sag Harbor. What an extraordinary joy it’s been to provide our exceptionally creative and caring community with good books and interesting events all these many years. Come to our ZOOM party on Thurs. Nov. 19 when we’ll hear from special guests: founding owner Canio Pavone; New Yorker Comma Queen Mary Norris; ecologist/writer Carl Safina, and more. (Register at Zoom link on our Calendar of Events. )

To celebrate, we’re collecting & sharing stories. Your stories. Your favorite “Canio’s Moment.” We want to celebrate how Canio’s Books has been a literary gathering place for all in Sag Harbor.

Tell us about a book you discovered, maybe one that changed your life. Tell us about an author you met at one of our events, a writer you long admired. Tell us about what it was like for you to read your own work at the bookshop. Tell us about a hidden gem you discovered while browsing. Tell us about a friendship that started in the stacks. Tell us what the bookshop means to you now. Especially now, in this year of unprecedented challenges. Let’s remember together some of the joys you’ve experienced at Canio’s Books.

Have FUN with it! . Send us your video clip or written piece (details below).

Thank you for helping us celeberate! We’re so grateful for our supportive community. You’ve helped the bookshop thrive through these four decades. We look forward to more stories being created each & every day we open our doors.

with gratitude & thanks,

Maryann & Kathryn

Submission Guidelines

WRITTEN: Submit your story (prose or poetry welcome!) by email to caniosbooks@verizon.net Subject: Celebration Story . Please send prose in 12 pt. type, double-spaced. Maximum ten pages. And one concise paragraph is just perfect!

VIDEO:

Production: It doesn’t have to be high art; it’s content that counts! Be sure the audio quality is clear and we can see your face. Facial expressions are key; be sure you’re close to your camera. Shoot during daylight to make lighting easier.
Landscape mode: Please shoot video in landscape mode otherwise, your face will be small and most of the screen will be dark. If you shoot from your phone, be sure to turn it lengthwise!
Keep it short: 30sec-2min is ideal; but if you’ve got a really good story to tell, longer is fine!
Uploading: When your video is done, send it via WeTransfer.com to caniosculturalcafe@gmail.com.

Elena Ferrante Day! Sept. 1

Published August 26, 2020 Books we love , Bookselling in the 21st century , Fiction , Italian , Novelists , Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: Adriana Trigiani, Ann Goldstein, Big Stone Gap, Elena Ferrante, Kissing Carlo, Lying Life of Adults, Mary Norris, Tony's Wife

Come Tuesday, September 1 all other books you’re reading must be put aside to make room for the new Ferrante novel. What is it about the propulsive pace of a Ferrante sentence that pulls us along? Before we realize it, we’ve fallen deep into the inner reaches of her narrator’s psyche. We’re breathless. Everything else must wait.

Since mid- spring we’ve been eager for the official release of Lying Life of Adults. Books are stacked waiting for their readers. September 1 is “Elena Ferrante Day” so stop by to get your copy then cancel all other appointments, except for our Zoom discussion with translator Ann Goldstein and author Mary Norris, Saturday, September 12. (Check our events calendar to register for this event.

AND on this auspicious day, join us on FACEBOOK LIVE at 6 p.m. with beloved author Adriana Trigiani (Big Stone Gap, Tony’s Wife, Kiss Carlo & more) whose fascinating weekly book talks feature terrific authors and showcase an independent bookshop. On Tuesday, September 1, Canio’s Books’ co-owners Maryann & Kathryn will share the spotlight. Author guests include Dr. Eddie Glaude, Begin Again; Nancy Pearl , Writers Library; and Lorenzo Carcaterra, Payback. What better way to celebrate great contemporary novels than with Elena Ferrante & Adriana Trigiani. Fantastico!

The Canio's Books Blog