Monday, November 9, 2015

Got books?

Wendy Welch and her husband, Jack, purchase an old Edwardian house in Big Stone Gap--a tiny Appalachian coal town in southwest Virginia--and almost on a whim, decide to turn the downstairs into a used bookstore. Opening a bookstore had always been one of their dreams, but they weren't exactly prepared for their dream to arrive so soon.
"We bought the house in July and planned to open shop in October; a quick turn-around meant the place could start paying us back for its purchase. Since we didn't have any investment capital, without remorse or pity, we culled our personal library for inventory...The books from our personal cull barely filled half of one room's shelves, yet three rooms waited. It didn't feel cozy or full of promise, more barren and tomblike...The book morgue that wanted to be a shop was our problem, waiting for our solution. But hook, crook, or sheer force of will, we would find more books--without going into debt for them."
5 things I loved about The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap: a memoir of friendship, community, and the uncommon pleasure of a good book by Wendy Welch:

  • It's a book about books...and a one-of-a-kind bookstore! Two of my favorite things. 
  • Welch's writing is humorous, honest and heartfelt. making this memoir a delightfully funny read.
  • Big Stone Gap itself and the sometimes quirky, always interesting, book-loving characters who live there.
  • Every chapter is headed by an awesome bookish quote. (And I love bookish quotes!)
  • At its heart, this story is about making your 'someday dreams' come true. Because...
"What if someday is today?"

Happy Reading!

Similar read: 
Three Things You Need to Know About Rockets by Jessica A. Fox (Which is about a girl and a dream, a bookstore in Scotland, and a fairy tale romance.)

6 comments:

  1. This sounds like a memoir I would enjoy. I'm a fan of bookish quotes for chapter headings, too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's definitely a memoir for bookish people! :)

      Delete
  2. I was browsing for books and saw this one...now you are reviewing it. Maybe I should give it a read...sounds like one I would enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. it's very enjoyable...and made me want to go to a used bookstore and browse. :)

      Delete
  3. This book sounds like a pure delight!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm a sucker for memoirs about books and bookstores, and this one is very well written, and funny, and just a good read.

      Delete