Karen's Reviews > The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore

I was reading an article the other day about a bookstore in our community called Phoenix Books that had been around for 43 years. It is located in San Luis Obispo, CA for anyone who might be considering coming to visit one day. They are also proud of their online presence. Still, back to their brick-and-mortar reality. That is amazing, when you consider this store has overcome big box stores and the pandemic. One of the comments said by an enthusiastic patron was…

“People love books. They are repositories of knowledge. They will never go out of style.”

That is so true. And, that is what we can say about bookstores, too. We love the feel and experience of being in a bookstore. The smell of it. Going down the aisles. Looking at all the stacks and shelves of books available at our fingertips. In many ways it is almost orgasmic. (Please excuse my enthusiasm, here!)

So, why not read a book about bookstores? Not that readers haven’t read books about bookstores before. But this one wants to tell us a different story about bookstores, in a way. Like the importance of the UPS driver (devoted to delivering books), or Benjamin Franklin (he amassed books for discussion), or how Jeff Bezos created Amazon Books (a different way of selling books). A distinct perspective look, at bookstores.

It even has a story about the tuxedo cat, WonTon who presided over a store (Chop Suey) in Richmond, Virginia that made its’ debut in Gary Shteyngart’s 2018 novel, “Lake Success.”

Of course, many of us who love books about bookstores, have read lots of stories about cats in bookstores. And, to be quite honest, I believe, it intrigues us. It also appeals to the heart in us. We are attracted to the stories – especially if cats are on the cover and are incorporated as a part of the story, too. Dogs on covers and within the story will captivate us, too.

Mostly, this is the story of how much we as readers hunger for knowledge within books. Just like what the enthusiastic patron of one of my community bookstores said above. Does that mean we need this book to give us this?

It definitely is a vigorous defense of books, and I love that about it. And, it has its fun little facts in history, too. But is it a great read?

Well…I think it is anecdotal, and interesting, and somewhat thought-provoking, thoughtful and maybe, just maybe, a little bit of an all right read.

Or…maybe a fun in-between book while reading the novel you are attempting to get through.

Either way, readers won’t be disappointed.