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The Odyssey Bookshop
Monday - Friday: |
Check us out on:
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Order Books Here:
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The Odyssey Bookshop
Monday - Friday: |
Check us out on:
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Order Books Here:
Please Note: |
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Pictures of recent events
The Odyssey Bookshop is one of five independent
bookstores participating in WAMC's Roundtable on Tuesday mornings,
just after the 10:00 news. People from the Odyssey will be on about once a
month, talking about our favorite books. Odyssey staff members also review books on WHMP, 96.9 Northampton. You can hear our reviews between 9am and 10am, Monday through Friday during The Nine O'Clock Show with Bill Newman. Download podcasts of Bill's previous shows here. The Odyssey Bookshop (413) 534-7307 email odysseybks@aol.com |
The Odyssey Bookshop Signed First Edition Club
The Odyssey Bookshop, founded in 1963, is the largest independent bookstore in Western Massachusetts, an area known for its arts and cultural innovations. Members of the First Edition Club receive a signed first printing of a new book every month for the list price plus shipping. Books are selected for literary quality and potential collectibility. “There are few people better suited to the task of selecting books of literary merit than the folks at the Odyssey Bookshop…. a wonderful way to be introduced to great authors.” — Ken Lopez, Bookseller, Former President, Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America and Member of the Odyssey's Bookshop's First Edition Club since May, 2001. Refer a friend to the First Edition Club and get your next selection free! details Since 2001, the Odyssey Bookshop has selected three books which went on to win that year's Pulitzer Prize: Empire Falls by Richard Russo, Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides, and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz. Many other of our selections have also won or have been nominated for numerous national and international awards. See all the selections and awards FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is our First Editions Club? What's the big deal about first editions? I live in another country -- can I join the First Edition Club? Can I give a subscription as a gift? How will the Odyssey make its selections? Why should I join the First Editions Club? What if I don't like a selection? What have been some recent selections? Do you ever offer signed firsts of books other than your monthly selections? How do I find out about other authors at the Odyssey How do I sign up for the First Edition Club?
What is our First Editions Club? As a member of our Odyssey Bookshop’s First Edition Club, you will receive a signed first edition every month. Each book will be a first printing of a newly published book, selected by our staff of booksellers for both its literary merit and its potential collectibility. We anticipate that most of our selections will be works of fiction, but non-fiction books will also be included when we believe it is likely that the first printing of the book will be of special value. The Odyssey Bookshop, founded in 1963, is the largest independent bookstore in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts, an area known for its arts and cultural innovations. The Odyssey hosts over 100 authors a year and our staff of professional booksellers are experts in the world of books and publishing. We see and read advance copies of books as early as six months prior to publication, and discuss upcoming books with representatives of the publishing industry. Most first editions are signed in our store, but when an author cannot come to the store, we will make arrangements to bring to books to the author. What's the big deal about signed first editions? Book Collecting. People have been collecting books for as long as books have been read. Readers sometimes become interested in a particular author or subject, but many people will collect a wide variety of books. To most collectors, the first printing of the first edition is the most desired edition. Having a first edition that is also signed by the author can be that much more rewarding, for both personal satisfaction and real market value. For example, Empire Falls the first Odyssey First Edition Club Selection, sold for $25.95 when Richard Russo visited the Odyssey. Then it won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and now, a signed first edition of the book could bring as much as $300. More recently, our January, 2006 selection was Kiran Desai's The Inheritance of Loss which was subsequently awarded the 2006 Man Booker Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in the world of fiction. Listings for that signed first editions of that book immediately jumped to between $400 and $750. Of course, not all books will have this appreciation in value, but a collection of signed firsts will greatly enhance any library. Be sure to see the Odyssey's Short Course on Book Collecting and Identifying First Editions. What does it cost to join? Absolutely nothing. All you pay is the publisher's list price on the book and a shipping charge and we'll send the book right to your home each month. Of course, if you live locally, you may pick up your selection each month instead. You may cancel your membership at any time. I live in another country -- can I join the First Edition Club? Yes, in fact we currently have members who live in Australia, Canada, and Singapore. We may just have to adjust the rates for shipping books to you, depending on where you live. We would be happy to provide you with an estimate for shipping. Send us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. Can I gave a subscription as a gift? Many of our members have given an Odyssey Signed First Editions membership as a gift to a loved one. Whether you give to it a spouse who treasures books, to a new college graduate who may want to begin to build a serious library, or to that special bibliophile friend, it's a unique gift that will be appreciated every month. How will the Odyssey make its selections? The Odyssey has become the premier bookstore in Western Massachusetts for author appearances and signings. Odyssey staff read advance copies of books months before their publication, and are keyed in to those books which are likely to make an impact in the publishing world. We also know the books from small publishing houses, and those which will have ‘short press runs.’ This is important, since a book with a first edition printing of 5,000 copies will, all other things equal, likely have greater value down the road that one with 200,000 copies. Why should I join the first editions club? There's no easier way to build a serious library of modern first editions. We aim our books not just at collectors but at anybody who makes reading a priority in his or her life. What's more, our club members will be among the first readers to discover upcoming writers and unearth literary gems. In addition, while the Odyssey does not advocate buying first editions solely for investment purposes, signed firsts often increase dramatically in value, especially those of authors who gain widespread recognition. Finally, a subscription to the first editions club will make a great gift for the special bibliophile in your life. What if I don't like a selection? You are always welcome to return any selection within two weeks of receiving it. We simply request that if you plan to return a book, it should be in its original condition, and you should notify us before you return it, by emailing Vanessa at firsteditions@odysseybks.com. We will refund the purchase price or give you store credit toward your next selection. What have been some recent selections? Click here to see all of our selections. Do you ever offer signed firsts of books other than your monthly selections? Yes. Each month, we send members an email describing not only our monthly Club pick, but a variety of other firsts as well. Some of these 'special offers' are for authors who are visiting the store, but sometimes the authors sign books at publisher offices in New York or Boston. Some of our recent special offers include new books by Salman Rushdie, Michael Cunningham, Michael Connelly, and Chick Palahniuk, Click here for the emails that have recently been sent out.
How do I find out about other authors at the Odyssey? It's easy. Sign up for our email list at the top of this page and you'll receive information every month about our calendar of author readings and other special events. When you sign up you will also be able to indicate your special interests, and receive notices about those events in those areas. How do I sign up for the First Edition Club Please use our secure online registration form. You may also call us at 800-540-7307. We can take your registration over the phone, or send you a brochure. You call also print the registration form and fax it to us at 413-532-3654. If you're a member, or just registering, and inspire someone else to join the First Edition Club, you will receive your next selection free. Just have your friend name you as their referral source and we will take care of the rest. For more information on the Odyssey Bookshop’s First Edition Club, please email us at firsteditions@odysseybks.com, or 800-540-7307 (local telephone number is 413-534-7307) and talk to Neil. Dedication The Odyssey First Edition Club is dedicated to Romeo Grenier, the founder of the Odyssey Bookshop, and a true lover of all things literary. Romeo immigrated to Holyoke, Massachusetts with his family from the province of Quebec in 1923. Although he received little formal education, he gradually learned English and became a passionate life-long reader, buying a book a week during the late 1930’s and 1940’s. In 1957, he began his bookselling career by bringing 500 Penguin titles into his drugstore. By 1963, the books were competing for space with the aspirin and toothpaste, and in November of that year, the Odyssey Bookshop opened its doors.
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