Because her family moved from one community to another due to her father’s employment in the forestry industry, Melodie Taylor didn’t have much time to make lasting friendships as a child.
The result?
“I had books, man. My parents were very much against video games. I had books, and that has carried over. I carry more books on vacation than clothes,” grinned Melodie, Hole in the Wall Books manager, speaking to SooToday.
The store, in Wellington Square Mall, is located next to The Rad Zone (for music and movie lovers), owned by the Sault’s Paul Muncaster.
Hole in the Wall Books, said Melodie, a Thunder Bay native who has called the Sault home for the past 20 years, “started off as a couple of racks, and when Paul asked me ‘do you want to expand?’ I said ‘yes!’ I jumped at the chance.”
“I did it from scratch, man.”
That was eight years ago.
After hammering out a doorway on The Rad Zone’s east wall (now you know where the name Hole in the Wall Books came from), Melodie found shelving for the store and “it’s grown and grown.”
“I have my sources,” Melodie smiled.
“I go out and hunt for the books, I dig for books, I go to garage sales, I accept donations, I go to the library for no longer needed books, and if necessary I pillage from my own collection if someone is looking for a specific book,” adding she cleans every book she finds.
“I won’t buy a grimy book, no matter how much I want it.”
The shelves at Hole in the Wall Books are packed with books old and new, fiction and nonfiction, classics, collectibles, out of print books, autographed books and first editions, covering just about every possible subject, ranging in price from 50 cents to $200 (for rare books).
The store attracts customers of all ages.
“I try to get people out of their bubble and read something they don’t usually read. I say ‘you’ve read it all, now read this,’” Melodie said.
Melodie will often hold monthly or seasonal themes at the store, currently displaying a set of great outdoors and travel books, ‘whodunnits’ and recommended reads, also planning to set up a Canadian-themed group of books for display and sale in July (after Canada Day).
Melodie has come up with a display near her cash register entitled ‘Blind Date With a Book,’ which consists of books wrapped in paper covering, each with an attached note describing features of the book in the same enticing manner singles describe themselves in classified ads.
“A book can be sitting here, no one will buy it. But the moment I wrap it and write my synopsis on it, it arouses their curiosity and they’re tempted to buy it.”
Showing a ‘blind date’ book to SooToday, the attached note reads ‘Award-winning New York Times best-selling author. Fictitious, romanticized story, loosely based on real events. Literary grace, elegance and magic. Everyone gets mad about the ending. Deal with it.’
Cheeky, but effective!
In an era in which book lovers can order out of print books online, Melodie has held her own.
“People like the tangible. They like to see the book, touch it, examine it before they buy it. People like to hunt. If you’re hunting for one book you might find another. It’s not as fun when you’re just clicking on Amazon.”
As for Melodie’s favourite type of reading?
“I read everything, but I like history, biographies, philosophy, ‘fluff’ fiction.”
Her single favourite book?
“One of them that’s up there, in my favourite top five, is Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman. It requires a little bit of suspension of disbelief. It helps you let go of a lot of weight and stress you’re carrying. But I’ve run out of copies of that to sell,” Melodie chuckled.
“I’ve always wanted to work with books. Bookstores are so important. They’re unifying. Books put you in someone else’s shoes, someone else’s life, it can help you express emotions you’re feeling so perfectly through one sentence. Books help you mentally, help your memory, help you emotionally, spiritually.”
“Some people say they don’t like to read, but they just haven’t found the right book. There’s a book for everyone, one that’ll speak to them.”