Meet the Team: Cat

Each week for the next few weeks, a member of the 'Mostly Books' team is going to be quizzed about all things books.  They will talk about what it's like to work in a bookshop, which books they enjoy and will also provide a bit of background about themselves.   

This week, it's Cat! 

What's your full name?

Catherine Dix

How long have you worked at Mostly Books?

Three weeks.

What's your favourite genre of books and why?

I like a broad range but my favourites are horror, fantasy, history, historical fiction, biography and natural history. 

Name your favourite book.

Oh I can't possibly narrow it down to just one. There are different books for different moods and my house is bursting at the seams with favourites! I love the All Souls trilogy by Deborah Harkness. I've been a huge fan of Stephen King since I got hold of my Dad's copy of Salem's Lot when I was 11 years old, and scared myself witless. I re-read The Little Grey Men and Down the Bright Stream - B.B.'s tales of the gnomes Sneezewort, Baldmoney, Dodder and Cloudberry and their adventures in the countryside - whenever I need a 'comfort read'. I'm fond of Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast novels with their gothic setting and grotesque, eccentric characters. As for non-fiction, I'd recommend Christabel Bielenberg's The Past is Myself, Kate Summerscale's The Queen of Whale Cay, and Katherine Swift's The Morville Hours. 

What's your favourite thing about working at Mostly Books?

So far I feel it's a dream job, being surrounded by books and having an endless stream of people coming in that are keen to chat about books each day.

What are your main responsibilities at Mostly Books? 

I think at the moment, being so new to the role, my main focus is to get up to speed with learning about the procedures and systems but the interaction with customers and seeking to match them to books that they'll enjoy is great fun.

What upcoming books are you most excited about?

A close tie between Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King & Owen King, and the new Philip Pullman.

What do you like to do in your free time?

When I haven't got my head in a book, I'm often out walking my dog, Ernie, and I've recently taken up running.    

Tell us something that the Mostly Books customers don't know about you.

I'm currently studying for an English Lit degree with the Open University.  My final module starts in October and is focused on Children's Literature, so all being well I should be graduating next year.

Thanks Cat, it's been great to chat.

Cat works in the shop every Monday & Tuesday.