The Haunted Bookshop
@bookshopghost.bsky.social
Iowa City's home for 47,000 used/rare books, puzzles, games, and two famous cats. 😷 Masks required - 12-6 Central, Mon-Sat - https://www.thehauntedbookshop.com
Pinned
Welcome! Make yourself at home!
A few things to know:
1. In this house, love wins.
2. There are no signs on our one-stall bathroom.
3. There are two trusting, loving cats here. Be worthy of their trust.
4. We wear masks here.
5. We will continue to treat our guests with kindness and respect 📚🫂❤️
A few things to know:
1. In this house, love wins.
2. There are no signs on our one-stall bathroom.
3. There are two trusting, loving cats here. Be worthy of their trust.
4. We wear masks here.
5. We will continue to treat our guests with kindness and respect 📚🫂❤️
Reposted by The Haunted Bookshop
Looking for books to get for #climate curious friends & family this Christmas🎄?
Here are 6 of my favourites reads this year.
First up, Yale University historian Sunil Amrith's relentlessly edifying 'The Burning Earth'. A staggeringly comprehensive account of how we got to where we are! 🧵
Here are 6 of my favourites reads this year.
First up, Yale University historian Sunil Amrith's relentlessly edifying 'The Burning Earth'. A staggeringly comprehensive account of how we got to where we are! 🧵
December 3, 2025 at 5:18 AM
Looking for books to get for #climate curious friends & family this Christmas🎄?
Here are 6 of my favourites reads this year.
First up, Yale University historian Sunil Amrith's relentlessly edifying 'The Burning Earth'. A staggeringly comprehensive account of how we got to where we are! 🧵
Here are 6 of my favourites reads this year.
First up, Yale University historian Sunil Amrith's relentlessly edifying 'The Burning Earth'. A staggeringly comprehensive account of how we got to where we are! 🧵
Reposted by The Haunted Bookshop
Bookish Holiday Fun and Games For... YOU!
Now in its sixth year, for this #NewberryLibrary Advent Calendar, we'll play around with the collection! Cards, Board Games, Puzzles, Gambling...
What's up first?
CHESS!
December 1 (1/24)
Here's last year's extra-shiny offering:
bsky.app/profile/drka...
Now in its sixth year, for this #NewberryLibrary Advent Calendar, we'll play around with the collection! Cards, Board Games, Puzzles, Gambling...
What's up first?
CHESS!
December 1 (1/24)
Here's last year's extra-shiny offering:
bsky.app/profile/drka...
December 1, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Bookish Holiday Fun and Games For... YOU!
Now in its sixth year, for this #NewberryLibrary Advent Calendar, we'll play around with the collection! Cards, Board Games, Puzzles, Gambling...
What's up first?
CHESS!
December 1 (1/24)
Here's last year's extra-shiny offering:
bsky.app/profile/drka...
Now in its sixth year, for this #NewberryLibrary Advent Calendar, we'll play around with the collection! Cards, Board Games, Puzzles, Gambling...
What's up first?
CHESS!
December 1 (1/24)
Here's last year's extra-shiny offering:
bsky.app/profile/drka...
If you're in the USA and near my age, you remember being told that the proof that socialism couldn't work was the length of the bread lines in Russia.
(Yes, I know that's a problematic and erroneous statement, but the point remains:)
America has become the place a generation was taught to fear.
(Yes, I know that's a problematic and erroneous statement, but the point remains:)
America has become the place a generation was taught to fear.
"I have never seen the line this long at this food bank, This is 4x the size of every previous year...the line wraps around the building a second time..Everyone is freezing and an older lady in line had to be taken inside because she looked like she was about to pass out from being too cold..."
December 7, 2025 at 5:54 PM
If you're in the USA and near my age, you remember being told that the proof that socialism couldn't work was the length of the bread lines in Russia.
(Yes, I know that's a problematic and erroneous statement, but the point remains:)
America has become the place a generation was taught to fear.
(Yes, I know that's a problematic and erroneous statement, but the point remains:)
America has become the place a generation was taught to fear.
Just FYI, I have never been offered a bribe to put a book on display in my shop.
I think this person is confusing us with a certain website 😂
Of course bookshops look for extra lines of income, but if you think we'd let anyone take our curatorship away, you haven't met a real bookseller yet.
I think this person is confusing us with a certain website 😂
Of course bookshops look for extra lines of income, but if you think we'd let anyone take our curatorship away, you haven't met a real bookseller yet.
December 7, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Just FYI, I have never been offered a bribe to put a book on display in my shop.
I think this person is confusing us with a certain website 😂
Of course bookshops look for extra lines of income, but if you think we'd let anyone take our curatorship away, you haven't met a real bookseller yet.
I think this person is confusing us with a certain website 😂
Of course bookshops look for extra lines of income, but if you think we'd let anyone take our curatorship away, you haven't met a real bookseller yet.
Reposted by The Haunted Bookshop
Since I'm hearing from others that mail is already slower than normal for the season -
If your gift recipient likes audiobooks, you can give them a book (or a credit bundle) *and even schedule a notification email for the date of your choice*.
Bonus: libro.fm supports local bookshops! All the win!
If your gift recipient likes audiobooks, you can give them a book (or a credit bundle) *and even schedule a notification email for the date of your choice*.
Bonus: libro.fm supports local bookshops! All the win!
Buy audiobooks & support local bookstores
Libro.fm makes it possible for you to buy audiobooks directly through local bookstores.
libro.fm
December 6, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Since I'm hearing from others that mail is already slower than normal for the season -
If your gift recipient likes audiobooks, you can give them a book (or a credit bundle) *and even schedule a notification email for the date of your choice*.
Bonus: libro.fm supports local bookshops! All the win!
If your gift recipient likes audiobooks, you can give them a book (or a credit bundle) *and even schedule a notification email for the date of your choice*.
Bonus: libro.fm supports local bookshops! All the win!
📚🎁 Reminders for everyone looking for specific books to purchase online as gifts:
1. If you haven't called your local independently-owned book shop, try there first. (If you don't have one, try Bookshop.org)
2. Don't put it off - shipping time for Media Mail can be 12 days. Priority is 5 📦
1. If you haven't called your local independently-owned book shop, try there first. (If you don't have one, try Bookshop.org)
2. Don't put it off - shipping time for Media Mail can be 12 days. Priority is 5 📦
Bookshop.org: Buy books online. Support local bookstores.
A better way to buy books online. Every purchase financially supports local independent bookstores.
Bookshop.org
December 5, 2025 at 8:22 PM
📚🎁 Reminders for everyone looking for specific books to purchase online as gifts:
1. If you haven't called your local independently-owned book shop, try there first. (If you don't have one, try Bookshop.org)
2. Don't put it off - shipping time for Media Mail can be 12 days. Priority is 5 📦
1. If you haven't called your local independently-owned book shop, try there first. (If you don't have one, try Bookshop.org)
2. Don't put it off - shipping time for Media Mail can be 12 days. Priority is 5 📦
IOWA CITY - The what now? Win a THOUSAND DOLLAR shopping spree?
All you have to do to enter: Buy something in a Downtown or Northside Iowa City store on Saturday, December 6. (Buy things from more stores, get more chances to win.)
Guess who has over 3,000 gift items at pre-tariff prices?
WE DO!
All you have to do to enter: Buy something in a Downtown or Northside Iowa City store on Saturday, December 6. (Buy things from more stores, get more chances to win.)
Guess who has over 3,000 gift items at pre-tariff prices?
WE DO!
December 5, 2025 at 7:42 PM
IOWA CITY - The what now? Win a THOUSAND DOLLAR shopping spree?
All you have to do to enter: Buy something in a Downtown or Northside Iowa City store on Saturday, December 6. (Buy things from more stores, get more chances to win.)
Guess who has over 3,000 gift items at pre-tariff prices?
WE DO!
All you have to do to enter: Buy something in a Downtown or Northside Iowa City store on Saturday, December 6. (Buy things from more stores, get more chances to win.)
Guess who has over 3,000 gift items at pre-tariff prices?
WE DO!
True story: After 21 years behind this counter, I've seen many books through multiple owners.
More than a few times, I've quietly shared a little something about a deceased prior owner, like
"Oh, I knew the person who had this book last. He did a hilarious impersonation of David Attenborough."
More than a few times, I've quietly shared a little something about a deceased prior owner, like
"Oh, I knew the person who had this book last. He did a hilarious impersonation of David Attenborough."
One of the coolest things is buying a used OOP academic monograph and you know the previous owner.
Communities need used-book shops.
As the trends in our world are increasingly standardized and entrenched by "predictive" technologies that stifle innovation and reduce human actions into economic categories...
We need a full range of possibilities for readers and communities to explore and share.
As the trends in our world are increasingly standardized and entrenched by "predictive" technologies that stifle innovation and reduce human actions into economic categories...
We need a full range of possibilities for readers and communities to explore and share.
December 5, 2025 at 2:16 AM
True story: After 21 years behind this counter, I've seen many books through multiple owners.
More than a few times, I've quietly shared a little something about a deceased prior owner, like
"Oh, I knew the person who had this book last. He did a hilarious impersonation of David Attenborough."
More than a few times, I've quietly shared a little something about a deceased prior owner, like
"Oh, I knew the person who had this book last. He did a hilarious impersonation of David Attenborough."
"Today’s ADP report showing a loss of 120,000 small business jobs in November highlights the lasting damage of Trump... policies.... Trade wars, healthcare cuts, and tax breaks for big corporations have left Main Street businesses struggling to hire and grow."
www.nbcnews.com/business/eco...
www.nbcnews.com/business/eco...
Small businesses cut 120,000 jobs in November, ADP says
Economists had been expecting to see a slight overall gain in jobs. The data reflects a difficult business environment for smaller employers.
www.nbcnews.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:00 AM
"Today’s ADP report showing a loss of 120,000 small business jobs in November highlights the lasting damage of Trump... policies.... Trade wars, healthcare cuts, and tax breaks for big corporations have left Main Street businesses struggling to hire and grow."
www.nbcnews.com/business/eco...
www.nbcnews.com/business/eco...
We love getting phone calls (or emails or messages) from people searching for gifts ❄️🎁
N is literally Santa Claus' grandchild, so there's little we like better than sending N scurrying off to grab gift options, text pictures for you to choose from, pack boxes to ship....
(picture of N with Santa)
N is literally Santa Claus' grandchild, so there's little we like better than sending N scurrying off to grab gift options, text pictures for you to choose from, pack boxes to ship....
(picture of N with Santa)
December 4, 2025 at 6:42 PM
We love getting phone calls (or emails or messages) from people searching for gifts ❄️🎁
N is literally Santa Claus' grandchild, so there's little we like better than sending N scurrying off to grab gift options, text pictures for you to choose from, pack boxes to ship....
(picture of N with Santa)
N is literally Santa Claus' grandchild, so there's little we like better than sending N scurrying off to grab gift options, text pictures for you to choose from, pack boxes to ship....
(picture of N with Santa)
My favorite thing about this time of year is the challenge of keeping a serious face while J and I pack orders from our website.
"Are there any more Voids?"
"I'll check. I need to weigh Michelangelo anyway."
"Where's the lint roller? Someone dropped the Alpaca puppet in the dinosaur basket."
"Are there any more Voids?"
"I'll check. I need to weigh Michelangelo anyway."
"Where's the lint roller? Someone dropped the Alpaca puppet in the dinosaur basket."
December 3, 2025 at 7:59 PM
My favorite thing about this time of year is the challenge of keeping a serious face while J and I pack orders from our website.
"Are there any more Voids?"
"I'll check. I need to weigh Michelangelo anyway."
"Where's the lint roller? Someone dropped the Alpaca puppet in the dinosaur basket."
"Are there any more Voids?"
"I'll check. I need to weigh Michelangelo anyway."
"Where's the lint roller? Someone dropped the Alpaca puppet in the dinosaur basket."
Reposted by The Haunted Bookshop
A book from the 19th century that depicts the Rhine Valley by creating an impression of three-dimensionality and spatial distance.
@MasayukiTsuda2 #globalmuseum #books #travel #19thcentury
@MasayukiTsuda2 #globalmuseum #books #travel #19thcentury
December 2, 2025 at 7:02 PM
A book from the 19th century that depicts the Rhine Valley by creating an impression of three-dimensionality and spatial distance.
@MasayukiTsuda2 #globalmuseum #books #travel #19thcentury
@MasayukiTsuda2 #globalmuseum #books #travel #19thcentury
Dear All the Retail Websites That Aren't Ours:
How do I know if I want to trade access my inbox for 10% off... if you haven't even let me see your products yet?
How do I know if I want to trade access my inbox for 10% off... if you haven't even let me see your products yet?
December 3, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Dear All the Retail Websites That Aren't Ours:
How do I know if I want to trade access my inbox for 10% off... if you haven't even let me see your products yet?
How do I know if I want to trade access my inbox for 10% off... if you haven't even let me see your products yet?
❤️❤️❤️ libraries ❤️❤️❤️
Once again, ILL remains the purest representation of scholarly community. I use it so much I often write little notes back and forth with the librarians when I’ve borrowed a lot from their library. It’s the closest you can get to those old penpal schemes and I love it.
Requested a book through ILL over break. It arrived today. Libraries man.
December 3, 2025 at 1:10 AM
❤️❤️❤️ libraries ❤️❤️❤️
Don't know where you heard that orange cats share a single brain cell, but allow me to submit exhibit A in defense of orange cats:
That's a heat vent Esk is sleeping on.
That's a heat vent Esk is sleeping on.
December 3, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Don't know where you heard that orange cats share a single brain cell, but allow me to submit exhibit A in defense of orange cats:
That's a heat vent Esk is sleeping on.
That's a heat vent Esk is sleeping on.
Reposted by The Haunted Bookshop
2025 was one for the books. Specifically the Necronomicon.
December 2, 2025 at 8:40 PM
2025 was one for the books. Specifically the Necronomicon.
Reposted by The Haunted Bookshop
Tariffs to date have raised consumer good prices up 5%, so that makes a 4.1% increase.
Cash usage has declined significantly in 2025 with only about 14% of all consumer payments.
Deferred payments are not an indicator of economic health but rather increased debt.
Cash usage has declined significantly in 2025 with only about 14% of all consumer payments.
Deferred payments are not an indicator of economic health but rather increased debt.
economic.health
December 2, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Tariffs to date have raised consumer good prices up 5%, so that makes a 4.1% increase.
Cash usage has declined significantly in 2025 with only about 14% of all consumer payments.
Deferred payments are not an indicator of economic health but rather increased debt.
Cash usage has declined significantly in 2025 with only about 14% of all consumer payments.
Deferred payments are not an indicator of economic health but rather increased debt.
Can you spot the ISBN? 🤓
Let me tell you some useful secrets about International Standard Book Numbers:
1. The first number is based on the language of origin. It's not printed here, so that means it's 0 or 1, because English speakers sometimes decided to skip the I and just use SBN. Typical 🙄
Let me tell you some useful secrets about International Standard Book Numbers:
1. The first number is based on the language of origin. It's not printed here, so that means it's 0 or 1, because English speakers sometimes decided to skip the I and just use SBN. Typical 🙄
December 2, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Can you spot the ISBN? 🤓
Let me tell you some useful secrets about International Standard Book Numbers:
1. The first number is based on the language of origin. It's not printed here, so that means it's 0 or 1, because English speakers sometimes decided to skip the I and just use SBN. Typical 🙄
Let me tell you some useful secrets about International Standard Book Numbers:
1. The first number is based on the language of origin. It's not printed here, so that means it's 0 or 1, because English speakers sometimes decided to skip the I and just use SBN. Typical 🙄
NEWSLETTER SPONSORED BY MAJOR RETAILER:
Black Friday sales were up 9.1% over last year!
28 RETAILERS + 15 MANUFACTURERS IN MY INBOX:
We're extending our Black Friday/ Cyber Monday sales (that we started 2-3 weeks ago)... through Wednesday December 3!
🤔
Black Friday sales were up 9.1% over last year!
28 RETAILERS + 15 MANUFACTURERS IN MY INBOX:
We're extending our Black Friday/ Cyber Monday sales (that we started 2-3 weeks ago)... through Wednesday December 3!
🤔
December 1, 2025 at 8:46 PM
NEWSLETTER SPONSORED BY MAJOR RETAILER:
Black Friday sales were up 9.1% over last year!
28 RETAILERS + 15 MANUFACTURERS IN MY INBOX:
We're extending our Black Friday/ Cyber Monday sales (that we started 2-3 weeks ago)... through Wednesday December 3!
🤔
Black Friday sales were up 9.1% over last year!
28 RETAILERS + 15 MANUFACTURERS IN MY INBOX:
We're extending our Black Friday/ Cyber Monday sales (that we started 2-3 weeks ago)... through Wednesday December 3!
🤔
"Are eBooks putting you out of business?"
Guys, I have been watching since they introduced this new technology that makes entertainment so much more accessible to people who buy the device required...
and radio hasn't put us out of business yet.
"Oh, so no going out of business sale then?"
Guys, I have been watching since they introduced this new technology that makes entertainment so much more accessible to people who buy the device required...
and radio hasn't put us out of business yet.
"Oh, so no going out of business sale then?"
What’s the worst question someone can ask after you tell them your profession? For linguists, it’s definitely “how many languages do you speak?”, but I’m curious what else is happening to the rest of y’all out there?!
December 1, 2025 at 8:12 PM
"Are eBooks putting you out of business?"
Guys, I have been watching since they introduced this new technology that makes entertainment so much more accessible to people who buy the device required...
and radio hasn't put us out of business yet.
"Oh, so no going out of business sale then?"
Guys, I have been watching since they introduced this new technology that makes entertainment so much more accessible to people who buy the device required...
and radio hasn't put us out of business yet.
"Oh, so no going out of business sale then?"
Evening is cataloguing time (or try to steal a human's warmed-up office chair time, depending on which of us you ask 😸), so here I am with a stack of books.
The bibliographic part of this task is usually easy. Copy down author, title, publisher, date, printing/edition, ISBN if present.
Usually.
The bibliographic part of this task is usually easy. Copy down author, title, publisher, date, printing/edition, ISBN if present.
Usually.
December 1, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Evening is cataloguing time (or try to steal a human's warmed-up office chair time, depending on which of us you ask 😸), so here I am with a stack of books.
The bibliographic part of this task is usually easy. Copy down author, title, publisher, date, printing/edition, ISBN if present.
Usually.
The bibliographic part of this task is usually easy. Copy down author, title, publisher, date, printing/edition, ISBN if present.
Usually.
Nobody should expect you to read everything, especially not everything that is thematically or technically difficult.
Of course I will gladly talk with you about those books. As shared experiences, they have value, and...
They have characters other readers want you to meet.
You're invited 💌📚
Of course I will gladly talk with you about those books. As shared experiences, they have value, and...
They have characters other readers want you to meet.
You're invited 💌📚
November 30, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Nobody should expect you to read everything, especially not everything that is thematically or technically difficult.
Of course I will gladly talk with you about those books. As shared experiences, they have value, and...
They have characters other readers want you to meet.
You're invited 💌📚
Of course I will gladly talk with you about those books. As shared experiences, they have value, and...
They have characters other readers want you to meet.
You're invited 💌📚
Esky stood by the door with his ears up and paws washed, but between the snow and travel delays... not enough people came to see him.
Imagine going the whole day without being told that you are very soft and cute 🙀
So, for Esky's sake, we will be open Sunday from 12-6.
Be safe, be warm ❤️
Imagine going the whole day without being told that you are very soft and cute 🙀
So, for Esky's sake, we will be open Sunday from 12-6.
Be safe, be warm ❤️
November 30, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Esky stood by the door with his ears up and paws washed, but between the snow and travel delays... not enough people came to see him.
Imagine going the whole day without being told that you are very soft and cute 🙀
So, for Esky's sake, we will be open Sunday from 12-6.
Be safe, be warm ❤️
Imagine going the whole day without being told that you are very soft and cute 🙀
So, for Esky's sake, we will be open Sunday from 12-6.
Be safe, be warm ❤️
Reposted by The Haunted Bookshop
I'm going to do a little thread on how the money from books works for traditionally published authors because people have questions, and this is always useful info to share IMO. First, a big disclaimer that every contract is different, and there are a million factors that can change things. 1/
November 26, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I'm going to do a little thread on how the money from books works for traditionally published authors because people have questions, and this is always useful info to share IMO. First, a big disclaimer that every contract is different, and there are a million factors that can change things. 1/