Our Bookseller of the Month for January is Cameron Carlson. Each month, we ask a staff member a few questions about their relationship with books, and reading in general. Below are Cameron's responses.

1. What kind of reader are you?

I read everything, mostly nonfiction; history, 
journals, philosophy, and religious texts. I also enjoy non-American 
literature and American Noir. I read several books at once. I'm not sure 
how many I'm currently making my way through but definitely four books 
seriously.

2. Name three favorite titles that came out in the last three years.

The Map and the Territory by Michel Houellebecq, 
People Who Eat Darkness by Richard Lloyd Parry, and 
The Tiger by John Vaillant

3. What reading experience surprised you recently?

I expected Houellebecq's The Map and the Territory to be sort of 
nihilistic like Bret Easton Ellis' writing, based on his reputation, but I 
find it very honest and compassionate. Also, I picked up Patrick White's 
Voss, which I knew nothing about and was floored by his dense, 
medical precision with emotional language.

4. What upcoming book are you looking forward to?

The next book that I would buy based on an author's reputation, would 
be John LeCarre, out of curiosity. I think James Ellroy was undertaking a 
new series. Also, John Jeremiah Sullivan.

5. If you could spend a day with one living author, who would it be and why?

This is a difficult question for me to answer because I prefer to spend 
time with people I know well, and having interviewed some authors in the 
past, know that I am incapable of asking a fascinating, observant, and 
intelligent question in the moment. So this would have to be like who 
would I want to hang out with in a bar or in a storm shelter for a couple 
hours. Jim Harrison or Lydia Davis. Definitely Umberto Eco or James 
Salter. Joan Did's. Zadie Smith is really beautiful. Really anyone, now 
that I think about it.

Check out some of Cameron's favorite books on his recommendation page.