I came in one day to ask for a copy of Moravagine by Blaise Cendrars. A guy I met in San Francisco (who happens to work at Green Apple Books) had said it was his favourite book. After he gave me a brief description of the book while we lounged in my sister's living room I made a mental note to pick up a copy.
Chevalier's had to special order the book for me since they didn't have one in-house. Before leaving, staff member Liz remembered that I had been trying to set up an interview with Filis. Lo and behold the woman of the hour was there. I was led to the back of the store where I found Filis before a desk littered with books.
Filis tells me that she's owned the store since 1990. Gosh, almost 20 years! I dive into the interview and ask her what she's currently reading. "American Leonardo", she tells me. "I've been reading many books on art because I was a dosier at LACMA. It's non-fiction. I will only read non-fiction." She was adamant about stressing this fact then proceeded to explain the book specialty responsibilities in the store.
"Each of us is responsible for being the expert in particular genres so that when someone comes in and asks certain questions one of us will have the answer. I read all the non-fiction. Sue is responsible for all children's books, and Liz takes the wheel on fiction."
I was curious about "American Leonardo" and probe her for more details. "It's a fascinating story about this couple in the midwest who inherited a work of Leonardo DiVinci...yes, a couple in Kansas with a genuine DiVinci! Not many people believed them but turns out it was true."
Filis gets her hands on many early copies of books. "I'm tasked with purchasing the books that will be sold on these shelves so it's important that I get to know what I'm bringing in."
Her favourite book of all time is actually a work of fiction. "Oh I love Huckleberry Finn. It's an absolute classic in every sense! I used to be a teacher and taught it as part of my curriculum. I loved teaching it to my students." She hasn't read it in a while but it still holds a special place in her heart.
As a young child Filis loved Nancy Drew books. It's amazing how the Nancy Drew series has transcended generation after generation. Many readers I've encountered recall enjoying them early on in life. Filis also enjoyed the Bobsey Twins series.
Ok, so if I walked into the store and asked her to recommend some non-fiction reading, what would she toss my way? "I usually recommend biographies." She thought about the various biographies she's read over the years until I was met with a definitive nod. "Yes, I think one of the finest biographies in the last 5-10 years would have to be the one on John Adams by David McCullough. You should read it if you haven't already. Then there is the biography on Marie Antoinette by Antonia Fraser. That's another great one."
When asked what she would write about if she had a chance to author her own book Filis automatically agreed that it would be a biogarphy. Initially she was unsure of her subject but felt she would like to write about someone who we don't really know about. "I'd like it to be a figure in the art world...someone big within the art community but not well known in the mainstream."
I look around at all the books at her fingertips. I always see Liz cradling a book around the store. (She is currently reading the latest work by James Ellroy). I'd imagine that Filis must read a ton while on duty as well. However contrary to my conjecture Filis let's me know that she does not read at work. "I just can't bring myself to read when there are so many distractions around me. It's really hard for me. When I read I need complete calm and silence. No background music, no TV on, nothing."
So when does she find time to read? "Just before dinner...anytime between 4:30pm and 7:30pm." Filis and I start to laugh about how we pass out within minutes if we read in bed. I mean, c'mon! Reading in bed right before sleepytime is not practical at all! I get maybe 4 pages in if I'm lucky! Filis is the same way. She also laughs about reading in comfortable couches and chairs at home. Then I tell her about my Stranger in a Strange Land cram fest. "I chose the most uncomfortable chair in my apartment, a narrow, wooden chair. No way I could get comfortable and sleepy in that!"
We bond a bit more since she was a former Bruin herself. (English majors, what what!) I asked her what it was like to be an English major back then. Must've been more romantic...more practical, right? I definitely got a chuckle from her there. "Dear, an English degree was not practical then and certainly is not practical now." Sad but true. However, there are some great qualities that I took from those years of studying literature. There is the critical thinking and, well, the arm muscles we acquired from lugging around all those heavy books across campus. Then it hit me. THE NORTON ANTHOLOGY! Did Filis have to read the hefty series of books too? The moment I uttered the those three words her eyes grew wider and wider. We both burst out laughing at how HUGE each anthology was and found comfort in our shared complaints.
"Oh my, I felt the same way about Victorian literature! I never want to look at George Eliot ever again!" She started to have flashbacks of having to read Middlemarch in Professor Hillhouse's class. "He taught Victorian lit back then and it was absolutely awful!" I personally could not remember my Victorian Lit prof but remembered having to read alot of Victorian poetry. Filis didn't mind the poetry, actually. "I rather enjoyed Tennyson." We continue to share a few laughs of books that tortured us. Filis leans in and says, "And then there's Ulysses. If someone tells me they enjoyed that book, I tell ya, I will say it like that House Representative Joe Wilson from South Carolina: "You Lie!"
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