My Blind Date with a Book

Find out how my setup at Malaprop's Bookstore in Asheville went!

I’m a happily married woman of almost 20 years, but because I met my husband while we were still in high school, I never got to experience something I’ve always been intrigued by — getting set up on a blind date. To me, there’s something really romantic and appealing about meeting someone your friends or family think you’d be perfect with. Who would such a person have been? (Maybe it would’ve been my husband!)

On a recent spring break trip to Asheville, North Carolina, I got to experience the next best thing to a romantic blind date. At the independent book store Malaprop’s, in downtown Asheville, there’s a whimsical little section called “Blind Date with a Book.” Here, you’re presented with a mysterious shelf of wrapped books that each feature a little description on the front. Magical realism, world travel, beautiful, contemplative, beckons one. A novel that reads like short stories; prose that reads like poetry.

I spent most of my visit that afternoon perusing all the little descriptions and imagining the actual book behind the wrapping. Did I know this one already? Should I give that one a try? Should I select something safe, like A witty, charming, dry martini of a novel; stylish and elegant 1930s Manhattan; terrifically drawn characters, gorgeous prose, snappy dialogue and sharper observations? Or be adventurous with a book labeled as What if Bjork wrote a novel? Weird, ethereal, cavernous, gay, and playful. What if there was a global pandemic? (Uh-oh.) 

I like to think of myself as someone with wide-ranging literary tastes, but when it comes down to it, I definitely have my preferences. I didn’t want this blind date to be a waste of my time (and money). After some hemming and hawing, I narrowed it down to these two very different, very enticing contenders:

The book on the left was intriguing because it was a murder mystery set in Appalachia, and we were exploring that region on this trip. On the other hand, the book on the right seemed like a sure bet for a good time. 

I turned to my family for their opinion. They unanimously chose the mystery, which surprised me, but I guess my husband and kids all agreed there was something fitting about it. 

After purchasing the book, I unwrapped it eagerly and found myself the owner of One Foot in Eden by Ron Rash. This wasn’t something I’d be drawn to on my own, but after reading the first chapter, I knew we were going to get along just fine. Not only is the narration alluring and evocative, but I was heartened to see mentions of “cheerwine” and descriptions such as “the road curving around the mountain,” which had become all too familiar during our weeklong stay in the area. What a perfect souvenir!

I guess I’m proof that a blind date with a book really can lead to happily ever after. I’d like to see more bookstores adopt this fun concept!