Part-time bookseller Camila Duke finds the bookstore restful compared to chasing her two boys, Phineas (age 7) and Cannon (age 4).
“I love the peace. I’m surrounded by books and people who love books. I’m usually surrounded by my family, which is lovely… but it’s a whole new world for me at Books & Books.”
Camila usually reads historical fiction and enthusiastically recommends Circe by Madeline Miller. She says she has been a fan of Greek Mythology, since Middle School. “This book brought it all back! The Odyssey was one of my favorite stories in which Circe had a small but important role. This book tells her story and captures the strength and magic of the goddess/witch Circe. I could not put this book down and read it in a day,”
Almost a native Conch, Camila moved to the Keys as a six-year-old, growing up on Little Torch Key. She left the Keys for college at Duke University in Durham, NC and lived in Philadelphia and New York City after graduation, earning a Masters in Elementary Education from New York University. She taught 2nd grade in NYC before deciding to move back to Key West. After teaching locally for a few years, she fell in love with a childhood friend (Evan Haskell), got married and started a family.
Her favorite thing about our island community is the island part. “I love raising my boys in a place where we can hop on our boat and explore as many islands and sandbars that we can find,” Camila says.
She’s such an island girl that alternate possible hometowns include Ibiza, off the coast of Spain. “Not so random,” she says. “It’s an island and I have family there.” And favorite vacation spot is Eleuthera in the Bahamas.
In addition to knowing what’s new and hot in historical fiction, you can count on Camila for a good recommendation of what kids are reading and enjoying these days.
~ Robin Wood, Associate Manager