Wendy and her husband Jack have the well-known dream of opening their own bookstore. After several job changes and moves, they settle into a house in the small community of Big Stone Gap Virginia and set up shop. The story details the struggle to find their place, run a business, make a living, and form relationships. There is a lot of joy and hardship along the way, but they are now a successful staple of the community. This was really a delight. I loved how it explored the culture of small town life in a loving way. Their frustration that rural places often have self-fulfilling prophecies of "not being good enough" often perpetuates the problem. Residents often go see doctors in big cities or enjoy cultural experiences elsewhere while letting local businesses fail. The biggest export in places like this are college graduates. I love the example Welch gives of a lady in a knitting group hosted at the store. She is a retired preschool teacher and comments on a prominent New York City Neurosurgeon (who just won an award) "Oh, that's little Jimmy....I remember when he used to pick his nose". Everyone comes from somewhere:-) The parts on bookshelf anthropology were great. Grieving widows, divorced spouses, sons and daughters, all bring in boxes of books that can tell how a life was lived. Don't forget to check out pg. 179 for my favorite story about a character named Wee Willie. There are wonderful quotation headings for each chapter that relate directly to books or the subject of the upcoming pages. Really fun and endearing, another book about books that did not disappoint!! I did enjoy this book as a whole. But, I think I would have enjoyed it more if there were more stories about the residents of Big Stone Gap. I found that there was a bit too much about the bookstore and its struggles, although that was good to read, too. I just think there could have been less of that and more of the people they got to know. I loved hearing about the "Last Cowboy" and the other quirky people.
What do You think about A Minha Pequena Livraria (2013)?
I really liked the weird little facts about running a small bookstore :)
—Lily
Delightful. A very fun read. Makes me want to take a road trip...
—pianokid12
Full of anecdotes-some funny, some poignant. Read for Book Club.
—naya85
