I love books so I’m super excited to say I have a new part-time job working in a local independent bookstore – Content Bookstore in Northfield, Minnesota.

Content opened about a year ago when a friend of mine, Jessica, purchased the bookstore known as Monkey See, Monkey Read, moved the inventory into a bigger space in downtown Northfield and reopened the store as Content – Purveyors of New and Used Books. When I first heard news of the name I wondered, “Does Content mean content as in feeling content or does it mean the content you find in a book or in a bookstore?”

I soon discovered the store’s name – Content – is in the form of a noun, as in the content of a book or a bookstore. That said, it’s clever that there is a double meaning in the name as so many people feel decidedly content while visiting a bookstore.

Well, I’m here to tell you that I’m feeling decidedly content working at Content. I started working last week and am already getting the hang of ringing up customers, shelving books, receiving inventory and helping customers find books. It’s a great feeling to help a customer find a book they are looking for, especially when the book search turns into a bit of a treasure hunt because the customer doesn’t have all of the info necessary to find the book easily. I’m also having great fun finding books that I want to add to my own collection.  I can already see that I might have a big problem in wanting to buy too many books.

Wait, there’s no such thing as too many books, is there?

Naw, I didn’t think so.

With that in mind, here’s a wonderful little book I discovered at Content that fits in with my love of Jane Austen and with all things funny and cute – A Guinea Pig Pride & Prejudice. Seriously. It’s Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice in a gift book sized format with great photos of guinea pigs dressed up as the book’s characters. The book is from Austen’s classic but highly abridged with page after page of photos to help tell the story. Imagine, if you will, Mr. Darcy in a top hat and tails. Or Elizabeth Bennet in a bonnet.

How could I resist? I ordered two copies of the book. While I was at it, I ordered two copies of A Guinea Pig Nativity as well. Both books are the brainchild of writer Alex Goodwin and designer Tess Gammell. I hope they have more guinea pig book ideas up their sleeves!