Today's blog post is all about bookstores. Yes, we are a library, but you've got to love a good bookstore, or as the Neil Gaiman quote goes, "What I say is, a town isn't a town without a bookstore. It may call itself a town, but unless it's got a bookstore, it knows it's not foolin' a soul." (Same goes for a library, methinks.)
Beth recommends . . .
The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin is one of my favorite novels which explores the power of books to bring people together and improve their lives. A.J. Fikry owns a small independent bookstore which he runs from his home on Alice Island, a small fictitious island somewhere off the coast of New England. Amelia Loman is a sales rep from a book publishing company. She arrives at his bookstore, winter list in hand, to pitch the newly published titles, but A.J. is having none of it. Temporarily disillusioned with running his bookstore after the death of his wife, A.J. launches into a diatribe about book genres he does not like--which is hilarious and I immediately knew I'd enjoy this character. Amelia leaves, promising to see him in the spring. In the meantime a rare and valuable manuscript disappears and almost in its place an abandoned baby is found in the bookstore. This book is definitely a reader's delight. A short story recommendation is the precursor to of each of the novels thirteen chapter chapters. (I tell myself at some point I will gather and read each of these short stories.) Besides A.J. and Amelia, the rest of the characters in this book are also tied to writing, reading and books. Chief Lambiase is a police chief who starts a book club for his work colleagues; Daniel Parish is an author who has published several novels but his philandering lifestyle brings him to ruin; Ismay Parish is a high school English teacher, and the aforementioned baby might just grow up to be an author. This book has a touch of mystery, a book-centered romance, and lots of literary references. I think it appeals to a wide audience, but especially to those of us who may have been English undergrads. Even the main restaurant in town is Moby Dick themed. Too many literary references? You be the judge.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry was recently adapted into a film and the good news is that the film version is now available on Hoopla. I strongly encourage you to read the book first and if you love the book, I think you'll enjoy the film as well.
Also, if you love bookstores, you'll enjoy the following guide book which explores some really special bookstores around the world. This book contains great stories and photos. Take a trip by perusing the pages in this book:
Do You Read Me? edited by
Lose yourself in the pages of this showcase of some of the most beautiful, innovative, and successful bookstores around the world. Bookstores are powerful places with the freedom to deep-dive into their niche, from cooking to cartoons, architecture to anarchy. Do you read me? reconsiders the bookstore as a cornerstone of the community, where subcultures have the physical space to thrive. Bookstores are universally recognized as marketplaces of knowledge, curiosity, inspiration, and entertainment. They also promote communication and tolerance across cultures and have become destinations for both local communities and travelers. Within a changing media environment their role has been shifting, leading their overseers to pursue different ways to engage with their customers and build local--and sometimes even regional--support for their businesses. Do You Read Me? seeks out the most innovative and beautiful bookstores achieving this, sharing their concepts and celebrating book culture in all its glorious forms. Find this book in the library catalog Here
Finally, how about a couple movie recommendations? Recently I watched two films which focus on the bookstore theme, Hello Bookstore and The Bookshop. If you get a chance to watch either one of them, let me know what you think!
Find Hello Bookstore, The Bookshop and a surprise related DVD in the library catalog Here
Do you have a favorite book which focuses on a bookstore theme? Or perhaps you have a favorite bookstore?
Tell us about it in the comments!
Tell us about it in the comments!
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