Literary Scavenger Hunt, week 2

A week ago, I reported on how I conquered week 1 of the Twin Cities Literary Scavenger Hunt. Since then, I've emerged victorious from week 2, which had the following question: Name the author who has been known to write longhand drafts of a popular mystery series at the St. Clair Broiler in St. Paul.

No, I'm not giving the answer. I don't do spoilers, people. Surely you have your own Google toolbar to help you with that.

Here's where I had to go to continue on this most enjoyable journey.

The University of Minnesota Bookstore in Coffman Union.

Let me pause for a moment and say that a few years ago--OK, well, maybe it was more like 25 years ago--I was a student at the U of M. I hadn't been to the bookstore since I graduated.

Things have changed. It's enormous. Huge. Books everywhere. Not just textbooks, but general reading books, and a big section with faculty books. Lordy! Heaven! And I only had 10 minutes! If the goal of the scavenger hunt is to get people in touch with these bookstores, then it's successful--I really want to go back when I have far more time and just browse.

Not just books--it's also fun to wander through the nostalgia-inducing U of M items.

Sigh. Those were the days.

The second part of the challenge was to visit a local landmark in the book world: Uncle Hugo's Science Fiction and Uncle Edgar's Mystery Bookstores.

In general, I'm not a mystery/sci fi reader, so I haven't had much reason to visit. But the Teens both like sci fi and are starting to show a little interest in mysteries, so this seemed like good timing to explore this shop.

It's a shame these aren't my genres. Because this is my kind of bookstore.

I've always thought neatness as a bookstore quality was highly overrated. Books can, and should, be messy and all over the place (I'm sure DH has a different opinion).

Books! Everywhere! New! Used (some for as little as $1)! Hardcover! Paperback! And this is just the sci fi part of the store!

The mystery part is just as delightful. Plus, apparently one of the owners has an ongoing fascination with Napoleonic ships, and keeps a section of books on that topic and wars in general. Hey, it's his bookstore.

I foresee trips with the Teens. This place is just too much fun.

So, another successful hunt. This week's question: In 1898, a 13-year-old boy named Harry ran away from his Minnesota home to serve as a drummer boy in the Spanish-American War. He didn’t make it out of Sauk Centre that day, but later, as the first American to win a Novel Prize for Literature, he traveled widely. What was his name?

I must say, it's the first question that I knew the answer to right off the bat.

But no spoilers. Sorry.

Comments

[Miss T]

Hugo's/Edgar's really is wonderful, even if you don't find anything you want. And, obviously, I agree with you on book placement--clearly your feeling about this is the reason you didn't have a heart attack when you saw my office. :o)

[kmkat]

You and I are tied. I knew this one but google just to be sure.

[kmkat]

Not that I am competitive or anything...

[Carrie K]

My kind of bookstore.

I had to Google madly to find out who you were talking about.