The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop: A Memoir, a History
10 journalers for this copy...
I got this good-condition ex-library hardcover from an online seller. Love books about books!
This one spends more time on bookstores, libraries, and history of same than it does on specific titles-the-author-loved, though there is some of that as well. It opens with the line "When I walk into a bookstore, any bookstore, first thing in the morning, I'm flooded with a sense of hushed excitement." A feeling that's probably familiar to most book-lovers! He goes on to explain that he shouldn't feel that way, as he's spent so much of his life working in or visiting bookstores - but a passion is a passion, right?
He comments on how "uniquely durable" a book is, not needing batteries, able to be read even after sustaining damage, and capable of being read, re-read, and passed along to others many, many times. (Later on this is contrasted with e-book readers - but I gather the author wrote this fairly early in the days of e-books; the industry has moved on a bit since then, though I'm glad to see that the rise of Kindles hasn't resulted in a loss of hardcopy books.)
Some of his memoirs tickled memories of my own, such as the bit about the "Weekly Reader", a grade-school/junior-high publication that I recall fondly. For me its main attraction was the list of books you could order, and I remember the same sense of delight that the author describes when that package appears in class with new books to read...
The author talks about "formative books", noting that those can include "trivial" books as well as classics; whatever it was that first piqued someone into delving into books counts as formative, even if they grew beyond it as time passed. "Those silly horse books" were among *my* early favorites too {wry grin}.
The segments on history include some delightful quotes from early writers - often complaining about the state of books and book-sellers, even as early as the first century BC. Some things never change...
There are tidbits about home libraries, including the author's plaint about books not yet read: "I would like to read these books, but they've become part of the furniture."
Choosing gift books for others, arguments about children's books, censorship, favorite bookstores (including a couple in my general area - added to my things-to-do list!), and much more!
This one spends more time on bookstores, libraries, and history of same than it does on specific titles-the-author-loved, though there is some of that as well. It opens with the line "When I walk into a bookstore, any bookstore, first thing in the morning, I'm flooded with a sense of hushed excitement." A feeling that's probably familiar to most book-lovers! He goes on to explain that he shouldn't feel that way, as he's spent so much of his life working in or visiting bookstores - but a passion is a passion, right?
He comments on how "uniquely durable" a book is, not needing batteries, able to be read even after sustaining damage, and capable of being read, re-read, and passed along to others many, many times. (Later on this is contrasted with e-book readers - but I gather the author wrote this fairly early in the days of e-books; the industry has moved on a bit since then, though I'm glad to see that the rise of Kindles hasn't resulted in a loss of hardcopy books.)
Some of his memoirs tickled memories of my own, such as the bit about the "Weekly Reader", a grade-school/junior-high publication that I recall fondly. For me its main attraction was the list of books you could order, and I remember the same sense of delight that the author describes when that package appears in class with new books to read...
The author talks about "formative books", noting that those can include "trivial" books as well as classics; whatever it was that first piqued someone into delving into books counts as formative, even if they grew beyond it as time passed. "Those silly horse books" were among *my* early favorites too {wry grin}.
The segments on history include some delightful quotes from early writers - often complaining about the state of books and book-sellers, even as early as the first century BC. Some things never change...
There are tidbits about home libraries, including the author's plaint about books not yet read: "I would like to read these books, but they've become part of the furniture."
Choosing gift books for others, arguments about children's books, censorship, favorite bookstores (including a couple in my general area - added to my things-to-do list!), and much more!
I'm sending this to BCer glade1 in North Carolina as part of the US/Canada wishlist-tag game. Enjoy!
Received in the mail Saturday. Thanks for the tag!
This is a quick, fun read. With an overview of the history of books and bookselling, as well as reminiscences about his own life among books, the author covers a lot of ground in this small volume. Lots of fun for any bookaholic!
This is reserved for waterfalling in the Wish List Tag game. Hope to get it sent today or tomorrow.
This is reserved for waterfalling in the Wish List Tag game. Hope to get it sent today or tomorrow.
Sent via Media Mail to waterfalling as a Wish List Tag. Enjoy!
Arrived in today's mail. Thanks so much for the tag.
Interesting read.
Sent on as requested from NonFic VBB.
Thanks for sending this my way! I'm looking forward to reading it!
*Note to self: when finished, possibly save for the Biography of Things Bookbox.
*Note to self: when finished, possibly save for the Biography of Things Bookbox.
So...when can I buy my own bookshop?
I loved this fun and inspiring memoir about the author's experiences in various roles as book "pusher". Many of his experiences and memories were fun and relatable---like the one about the Weekly Reader. I remember my teachers using them as a reward. If we got our stuff done, then she'd hand out those or the Scholastic flyers and we'd spend the last half hour of the day looking through them. I'd forgotten about that anticipated joy until reading his similar memories. He also shared a neat anecdote about booksellers setting up outside the walls of European cathedrals during Medieval times. One can still visit the bookseller set up within the campus of Winchester Cathedral---outside the main walls of the cathedral. Just be sure to have cash as he doesn't accept a card!
Many of the stories he shared were fun to imagine---like Hemingway's contact "Bernard B." who smuggled banned books into the US in a very interesting way or Sylvia Beach who outsmarted the Nazis who tried to confiscate the contents of her Paris bookstore.
It was fun to read about his favorite bookstores around the world. My favorite here in NW Arkansas is Once Upon a Time Books in Tontitown. There are others that offer a more romantic atmosphere for book hunting, but OUTB has a huge selection of antique hardbacks at excellent prices. I always find treasures when I go there. My favorite overseas bookstore is The Minster Gate bookshop in York, England. It's got several floors of books arranged by subject and they're even stacked on the rickety stairs! The ghosts of many hundreds of years permeates that building---I can't wait to go back!
I was surprised by some of the statistics he shared. For instance, I didn't agree with his claim that 90% of people still go to a brick and mortar store to shop for books. I think the ease and selection of sites like Amazon make for a much larger percentage than <10%. I wonder if things have really changed so much since 2006 when this was published, but some parts seem outdated---like his claim that the ebook died a quick death. One statistic that I do believe but am still shocked by is that the average book has a run of 3,000-5,000 copies with no reprints. Wow. I had no idea a publisher would spend the time for so little copies printed.
I'm glad I got a hold of this fun little book...but it really did make me want to own my own bookshop!
I loved this fun and inspiring memoir about the author's experiences in various roles as book "pusher". Many of his experiences and memories were fun and relatable---like the one about the Weekly Reader. I remember my teachers using them as a reward. If we got our stuff done, then she'd hand out those or the Scholastic flyers and we'd spend the last half hour of the day looking through them. I'd forgotten about that anticipated joy until reading his similar memories. He also shared a neat anecdote about booksellers setting up outside the walls of European cathedrals during Medieval times. One can still visit the bookseller set up within the campus of Winchester Cathedral---outside the main walls of the cathedral. Just be sure to have cash as he doesn't accept a card!
Many of the stories he shared were fun to imagine---like Hemingway's contact "Bernard B." who smuggled banned books into the US in a very interesting way or Sylvia Beach who outsmarted the Nazis who tried to confiscate the contents of her Paris bookstore.
It was fun to read about his favorite bookstores around the world. My favorite here in NW Arkansas is Once Upon a Time Books in Tontitown. There are others that offer a more romantic atmosphere for book hunting, but OUTB has a huge selection of antique hardbacks at excellent prices. I always find treasures when I go there. My favorite overseas bookstore is The Minster Gate bookshop in York, England. It's got several floors of books arranged by subject and they're even stacked on the rickety stairs! The ghosts of many hundreds of years permeates that building---I can't wait to go back!
I was surprised by some of the statistics he shared. For instance, I didn't agree with his claim that 90% of people still go to a brick and mortar store to shop for books. I think the ease and selection of sites like Amazon make for a much larger percentage than <10%. I wonder if things have really changed so much since 2006 when this was published, but some parts seem outdated---like his claim that the ebook died a quick death. One statistic that I do believe but am still shocked by is that the average book has a run of 3,000-5,000 copies with no reprints. Wow. I had no idea a publisher would spend the time for so little copies printed.
I'm glad I got a hold of this fun little book...but it really did make me want to own my own bookshop!
Journal Entry 11 by elizardbreath at A Bookcrosser in A BookCrosser, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Released 5 yrs ago (6/20/2018 UTC) at A Bookcrosser in A BookCrosser, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Releasing to the Biographies of Things Bookbox.
To the finder of this book:
This book is gift, no strings attached, from me to you. You may keep it forever, pass it along to a friend, or release it into the wild to be found by someone else.
If you are new to BookCrossing, welcome! Enjoy the site, the book, and the BookCrossing community. I hope you'll join us...it's free! If you do, please consider using me, elizardbreath, as your referring member. You can even remain anonymous if you wish!
I hope you'll make a brief journal entry so all the previous and future readers can track this book's journey.
Thanks, and Happy BookCrossing! :)
To the finder of this book:
This book is gift, no strings attached, from me to you. You may keep it forever, pass it along to a friend, or release it into the wild to be found by someone else.
If you are new to BookCrossing, welcome! Enjoy the site, the book, and the BookCrossing community. I hope you'll join us...it's free! If you do, please consider using me, elizardbreath, as your referring member. You can even remain anonymous if you wish!
I hope you'll make a brief journal entry so all the previous and future readers can track this book's journey.
Thanks, and Happy BookCrossing! :)
This book made a short stop in Colorado before continuing on in the Biography of Things bookbox - still traveling in honor of maryzee
I selected this book from the Biographies of Things bookbox. Thank you!
I read the first few chapters of this book but didn't find it as interesting as I had hoped. I'm releasing it in the Bookish Book Box to its next reader.
Released in the Bookish Book Box (in honor of MaryZee).
This was actually on my wishlist so I'm claiming it from the Bookish Bookbox and marking my wish as granted. Thanks for sharing it!
Journal Entry 19 by hobbit at Bookbox, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Monday, July 31, 2023
Released 8 mos ago (8/1/2023 UTC) at Bookbox, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
I suppose owning a bookstore is almost every book lover's dream, or has been at some point. At this point in my life, I'll skip such a deep commitment and just enjoy reading about bookstores. This was a (mostly) interesting read and fulfilled a bit of that dream vicariously.
I'm putting it back into the Bookish book box to find another reader.
I'm putting it back into the Bookish book box to find another reader.
Chosen from the Bookish Book Box.
Fun read. I tried to talk my mother into buying the local bookstore when it went out of business. She would have nothing to do with it. LOL! Looking for another reader.
Surprise for LaVeggioCoffee from my mother and myself as a Thank you for all the boxes of books she has sent us. Keeping my mom sane...
Thanks so much for the surprise book and "Coffee makes things happen" journal.
This looks like a book I will definitely enjoy - adding to MT TBR
Much appreciated :-)
****Just realized this one is on my wishlist......
This looks like a book I will definitely enjoy - adding to MT TBR
Much appreciated :-)
****Just realized this one is on my wishlist......