The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop: A Memoir, a History

by Lewis Buzbee | Biographies & Memoirs |
ISBN: 1555974503 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingGoryDetailswing of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 1/14/2017
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10 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Saturday, January 14, 2017
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!

Journal Entry 2 by wingGoryDetailswing at Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Released 7 yrs ago (1/17/2017 UTC) at Nashua, New Hampshire USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I'm sending this to BCer glade1 in North Carolina as part of the US/Canada wishlist-tag game. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 3 by wingglade1wing at Greensboro, North Carolina USA on Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Received in the mail Saturday. Thanks for the tag!

Journal Entry 4 by wingglade1wing at Greensboro, North Carolina USA on Monday, May 8, 2017
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.

Journal Entry 5 by wingglade1wing at Greensboro, North Carolina USA on Thursday, May 11, 2017

Released 6 yrs ago (5/10/2017 UTC) at Greensboro, North Carolina USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent via Media Mail to waterfalling as a Wish List Tag. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 6 by wingwaterfallingwing at Rockledge, Florida USA on Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Arrived in today's mail. Thanks so much for the tag.

Journal Entry 7 by wingwaterfallingwing at Rockledge, Florida USA on Friday, September 29, 2017
Interesting read.

Journal Entry 8 by wingwaterfallingwing at Raleigh, North Carolina USA on Monday, February 5, 2018

Released 6 yrs ago (2/5/2018 UTC) at Raleigh, North Carolina USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent on as requested from NonFic VBB.

Journal Entry 9 by wingelizardbreathwing at Bella Vista, Arkansas USA on Monday, February 12, 2018
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.

Journal Entry 10 by wingelizardbreathwing at Bella Vista, Arkansas USA on Sunday, February 25, 2018
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!

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! :)

Journal Entry 12 by winginnaewing at Aurora, Colorado USA on Tuesday, July 3, 2018
This book made a short stop in Colorado before continuing on in the Biography of Things bookbox - still traveling in honor of maryzee

Journal Entry 13 by rhythmbiscuit at Northglenn, Colorado USA on Friday, October 5, 2018
I selected this book from the Biographies of Things bookbox. Thank you!

Journal Entry 14 by rhythmbiscuit at Northglenn, Colorado USA on Friday, October 8, 2021
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.

Journal Entry 15 by rhythmbiscuit at Northglenn, Colorado USA on Friday, October 8, 2021

Released 2 yrs ago (10/8/2021 UTC) at Northglenn, Colorado USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Released in the Bookish Book Box (in honor of MaryZee).

Journal Entry 16 by Chicvolley99 at Denver, Colorado USA on Monday, November 22, 2021
Received in the Bookish Bookbox.

I will release this back into the box.

Journal Entry 17 by Chicvolley99 at Denver, Colorado USA on Friday, November 26, 2021

Released 2 yrs ago (11/26/2021 UTC) at Denver, Colorado USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Released in the Bookish Bookbox

Please enjoy!

Journal Entry 18 by hobbit at Poughkeepsie, New York USA on Monday, December 13, 2021
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.

Journal Entry 20 by wingheartthumperwing at Hutchinson, Kansas USA on Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Chosen from the Bookish Book Box.

Journal Entry 21 by wingheartthumperwing at Hutchinson, Kansas USA on Friday, February 2, 2024
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.

Journal Entry 22 by wingheartthumperwing at Binghamton, New York USA on Monday, February 5, 2024

Released 1 mo ago (2/4/2024 UTC) at Binghamton, New York USA

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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...

Journal Entry 23 by wingLaveggioCoffeewing at Binghamton, New York USA on Friday, February 9, 2024
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......

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