Meet the bookseller with Judi Mitchell
Judi Mitchell has worked at Readings for close to 20 years. At the moment, she juggles four different roles: Senior Customer Service Officer, Staff Trainer, Digital Content Assistant and the Editorial Assistant for the Readings Monthly. Phew! Here, she tells us her favourite thing about working at a bookshop, and what books are next on her TBR pile.
Why did you decide to work in books?
I’m not sure whether I decided to work in books or whether books chose me. Some of my first childhood memories are of bedtime stories and of trips to the local library and their magic has entranced me ever since. Mum was an English teacher and used to take my older sister and me on her buying trips where we would pore over the latest books and be allowed to choose a couple to take home. I used to read with a torch under the bed covers after lights out and sneak into my sister’s room to ‘borrow’ some of her books, even though they were probably ‘too old’ for me at the time!
I didn’t read as much when I started my tertiary education but before long I had a Saturday morning job at a bookshop which then turned into school holiday work and annual stocktaking. Upon moving overseas to further my classical music studies, it was to bookselling I turned to earn a living. I worked in a wonderful company in Glasgow; the poet Robbie Burns even shopped there once upon a time. I stayed with them for many years before returning to Melbourne and Readings!
To cut a long story short, I’ve always loved books and there isn’t a corner of my soul that hasn’t been touched in some way by something I have read. If other people have experienced that same feeling from books I and others have sold or recommended it makes it all worthwhile.
What is your favourite part of your job?
It’s so hard to single out one particular thing. Besides the obvious pleasure in selling books, CDs and DVDs, the feedback from customers regarding recommendations they have enjoyed, and seeing the excitement of children when a favourite author has a new book, it would be the customers and staff I have met over the years. There aren’t many workplaces where you are likely to make lifetime friends both behind and in front of the counter. I am lucky to have both. The camaraderie amongst booksellers is quite unique and I love this about my job. We are all passionate about books and hopefully even a little of this enthusiasm rubs off onto the customers we meet.
Describe your taste in books
Before I answered this question I scanned my bookshelves to see if I favoured one genre over another. I certainly have more fiction than anything else but within that there is quite a mix. As is the case for most people, my tastes have changed over the years but often what I choose to read will reflect my mood or how busy I am. I’ve bought books and finally read them years later because I just haven’t been in the right frame of mind.
I have a lot of brilliant Scottish (I lived in Scotland for 10 years!) and Australian literary fiction, as well as international fiction, some sci-fi and fantasy, a fair bit of crime fiction – this is often my go-to when I’m stressed – and some terrific YA books (including Philip Pullman and Patrick Ness), along with several books from my childhood which I can’t bear to part with. My very early favourites were Harry by the Sea, Bedtime for Frances and anything by Dr. Seuss. I also have quite a few cookbooks and would love more, but there is this thing called space!
I love reading and am just glad there are so many wonderfully creative people in the world and publishers willing to give them a voice so that everyone’s interests are catered for.
What books are sitting on your bedside table right now?
Monstrous Devices by Damien Love (available in October) – I happily scored a reading copy of this soon-to-be published middle fiction debut written by a Scottish friend of mine. I’m super excited to read it and while we’ll be able to order it from the US or UK, publishing rights are yet to be sold in Australia so I feel extra privileged to have it.
The Scholar by Dervla McTiernan (available in February 2019) – woohoo! I’ve just been sent an advance reading copy of McTiernan’s follow up to the brilliant The Ruín. I can’t read it yet as Damien’s book comes first but I know it will be worth the wait!
Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe – a must read for all Australians and a book which has been recommended to me time and time again.
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie – a Hugo, Nebula and Arthur C. Clarke winner, I’ve been eyeing this book for ages and have only heard great things about it. I used to read a bit of sci-fi and fantasy so I’m looking forward to delving into the world Leckie has created.
Leather Soul by Bob Murphy and A Wink from the Universe by Martin Flanagan – as a Western Bulldogs supporter and with it being AFL finals season, I feel these should get a mention. I recently did a podcast with Bob about his memoir – he was fantastic, and I want to read it again without the pressure of formulating interview questions. You can’t have Bob without Martin and as I have only skimmed portions of Flanagan’s book, it’s well and truly time to read it in full.