Title: The Bookshop Book
Author: Jen Campbell
Genre: Non Fiction, Books About Books, Contemporary
First published: October 2nd 2014
Finished reading: March 27th 2016
Pages: 273
“Because whether we’re in the middle of the desert or in the heart of a city, or the top of a mountain or on an underground train: having good stories to keep us company means the whole world.”
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first picked up my copy of The Bookshop Book, but since I have a weakness for books about books I decided to give it a go. This book written by Jen Campbell is a non fiction read about bookshops all over the world. It does read slow at points, but The Bookshop Book is by no means boring or dense. The author basically takes you on a worldwide bookshop tour, but the bookshop descriptions are mixed up with author interviews, random facts and other interesting bookshop stories that definitely make it worth reading. If you love wandering around in bookshops, spending time browsing for that perfect new or secondhand book, you will probably enjoy The Bookshop Book. I know I did: I loved reading about all those amazing-sounding bookshops all over the world, although it really made me wish I could open my own bookshop one day…And it also makes for a great excuse to travel more to visit all those bookshops mentioned.
Bookshops aren’t just buildings where books are sold; every bookshop has its own story and an unique way of connecting with their customers and the books they sell. Some bookshop decide to sell their books in original locations, other specialize in a certain genre or simply sell what they enjoy reading themselves. What do they have in common? Their love for books they want to share with you. The Bookshop Book is full of stories about the people behind the bookshops, author interviews, random bookish facts and other bits anyone who enjoys bookshops will be able to relate to. From books being sold inside barns, disused factories, boats and buses to a book tank and a book vending machine… They all have a place in this story. It’s a journey across six continents visiting over three hundred wonderful bookshops.
The Bookshop Book is meant for anyone who loves visiting bookshops wherever they go and like to read about the people behind the books. It’s not an actual story with a plot and more a mix of random facts and bookshop stories, but really interesting anyway. It might read a bit slow at points, but most of the stories and bookshops are really fascinating. I can honestly say this book made me wish I could travel the world visiting all those places Jen Campbell mentioned, and maybe open my own bookshop one day… Recommended if you like the genre.
I really want to read it but it’s a bit on the expensive side to be honest and my library doesn’t have it. I understand how it would make you want to travel 😀
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I would say definitely wait for the library to get a copy… It’s surely an interesting read but maybe not worth it if it’s too expensive.
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I don’t visit bookshops as often as I once did. The reason is there are much fewer of them than there used to be. This could be an interesting read and I’ll put it on my list to look at.
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Very true, that is also one of the issues this book addresses… A lot of regular bookshops seem to be disappearing, but luckily enough a lot of independant bookshops seem to be able to survive.
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