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Notes from a Public Typewriter
A collection of confessional, hilarious, heartbreaking notes written anonymously on a public typewriter for fans of PostSecret and Other People's Love Letters.
When Michael Gustafson and his wife Hilary opened Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan, they put out a typewriter for anyone to use. They had no idea what to expect. Would people ask metaphysical questions? Write mean things? Pour their souls onto the page? Yes, no, and did they ever.
Every day, people of all ages sit down at the public typewriter. Children perch atop grandparents' knees, both sets of hands hovering above the metal keys: I LOVE YOU. Others walk in alone on Friday nights and confess their hopes: I will find someone someday. And some leave funny asides for the next person who sits down: I dislike people, misanthropes, irony, and ellipses ... and lists too.
In Notes from a Public Typewriter Michael and designer Oliver Uberti have combined their favorite notes with essays and photos to create an ode to community and the written word that will surprise, delight, and inspire.
When Michael Gustafson and his wife Hilary opened Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan, they put out a typewriter for anyone to use. They had no idea what to expect. Would people ask metaphysical questions? Write mean things? Pour their souls onto the page? Yes, no, and did they ever.
Every day, people of all ages sit down at the public typewriter. Children perch atop grandparents' knees, both sets of hands hovering above the metal keys: I LOVE YOU. Others walk in alone on Friday nights and confess their hopes: I will find someone someday. And some leave funny asides for the next person who sits down: I dislike people, misanthropes, irony, and ellipses ... and lists too.
In Notes from a Public Typewriter Michael and designer Oliver Uberti have combined their favorite notes with essays and photos to create an ode to community and the written word that will surprise, delight, and inspire.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published March 27, 2018
25 people are currently reading
3819 people want to read
About the author
Michael Gustafson
1 book7 followersMichael Gustafson is the co-owner of Literati Bookstore, an independent bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Literati was named the 2019 Bookstore of the Year by Publishers Weekly. Notes from a Public Typewriter has been featured on NBC News, NPR's All Things Considered, and was a 2019 Michigan Notable Book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 391 reviews
June 1, 2018
Love the premise behind this short, quick but surprisingly meaningful book. Literati bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan , and a typewriter that anyone can use. Notes and messages, thoughts people live behind. I just kept thinking what would I type if no one knew who was typing and leaving the message. Some were funny, some poignant, some celebratory, some surprisingly intimate.
There is a little more than just these notes though, such as the fate of many Indie bookstores. How he and his wife came to own the shop, and what the building had been in the past. Interesting reading.
These few messages stood out for me.
As a mother this one made me chuckle.
My son thinks that I am a genius because I know how to type.......
Finally he is impressed with me.
Another amusing one that I can imagine many student typing, especially in today's techie world.
If I had to write a five paragraph essay on this thing, I would withdraw from middle school.
I was impressed with his comma usage though.
Last but not least a sentiment many of us share.
Maybe one day we will write enough books and read enough words to understand each other.
I hope.
So many more and such a wonderful way to spend a little time, to be reminded of the power of words.
There is a little more than just these notes though, such as the fate of many Indie bookstores. How he and his wife came to own the shop, and what the building had been in the past. Interesting reading.
These few messages stood out for me.
As a mother this one made me chuckle.
My son thinks that I am a genius because I know how to type.......
Finally he is impressed with me.
Another amusing one that I can imagine many student typing, especially in today's techie world.
If I had to write a five paragraph essay on this thing, I would withdraw from middle school.
I was impressed with his comma usage though.
Last but not least a sentiment many of us share.
Maybe one day we will write enough books and read enough words to understand each other.
I hope.
So many more and such a wonderful way to spend a little time, to be reminded of the power of words.
October 19, 2018
“Where’s the power button?” Note left on our typewriter
What a fun read. I wanted to own this wonderful book store where the owner left a typewriter on one of the tables in one of the rooms in his store, along with typewriting paper for people to use freely. What a great idea! If you are ever in Ann Arbor, Michigan, it would be fun to go to this Literati Bookstore.
People would sit down at the table in front of the typewriter from time to time and write messages, which this author saved. But don’t think that this book is just filled with musings from people, because it isn’t. Instead the author has a lot to talk about which I found just as interesting, if not more so. Mostly it was about his store and the people who came into it to buy books or use his old typewriter. They wrote term papers, letters to friends or family, or just notes.
I thought of my old Underwood typewriter that I used to write my journal on as well as letters to friends and family, and term papers. I had it during my first marriage, and took it with me when I divorced. Then it followed me around Berkeley to each apartment or house that I had rented. I remember its death when I dropped it on the wooden floor of my apartment at 1890 Arch Street in Berkeley, CA. Apartment 203. When I picked it up off the floor, the carriage was bent. What a sad day. By then word processors were the rage, and they typed beautiful letters, so I bought one and threw my typewriter away. Still, I wish that I had at least saved that big heavy clunky typewriter, because it was my friend.
What a fun read. I wanted to own this wonderful book store where the owner left a typewriter on one of the tables in one of the rooms in his store, along with typewriting paper for people to use freely. What a great idea! If you are ever in Ann Arbor, Michigan, it would be fun to go to this Literati Bookstore.
People would sit down at the table in front of the typewriter from time to time and write messages, which this author saved. But don’t think that this book is just filled with musings from people, because it isn’t. Instead the author has a lot to talk about which I found just as interesting, if not more so. Mostly it was about his store and the people who came into it to buy books or use his old typewriter. They wrote term papers, letters to friends or family, or just notes.
I thought of my old Underwood typewriter that I used to write my journal on as well as letters to friends and family, and term papers. I had it during my first marriage, and took it with me when I divorced. Then it followed me around Berkeley to each apartment or house that I had rented. I remember its death when I dropped it on the wooden floor of my apartment at 1890 Arch Street in Berkeley, CA. Apartment 203. When I picked it up off the floor, the carriage was bent. What a sad day. By then word processors were the rage, and they typed beautiful letters, so I bought one and threw my typewriter away. Still, I wish that I had at least saved that big heavy clunky typewriter, because it was my friend.
January 21, 2019
Short and sweet. I absolutely love this idea. Now I have to put Ann Arbor, Michigan on my list of places to go just so I can leave a message on this typewriter. ❤️
November 16, 2018
Notes from a Public Typewriter is a charming little red hardcover book edited by bookstore owner, Michael Gustafson and graphic design artist, Oliver Uberti. In Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2013, when he and his wife open Literati Bookstore, Michael Gustafson puts out a light blue Olivetti Lettra 32, inserts clean paper and leaves it for customers. One of the notes typed on the first day: “’Thank you for being here’. I didn’t see the typer’s identity, so it appeared as if the typewriter itself was thanking me. As though the dusty machine was happy to be used again.”
Collated are a myriad of comments, pleas, words of wisdom, quips, aphorisms, secrets, worries, jokes, advice, poetry, confessions, proposals, simple observations, with their quirky misspellings and overtypings, that are arranged in a semblance of order under cleverly titled chapters. The typewriter, the store, the people, the wall, love, frustration, sorrow, local personalities, heartbreak, hope, humour and even a bit of mystery all get their turn.
Some of the illustrations require the reader to turn the book upside down. Two years after they opened, Oliver Uberti, responsible for the store’s logo, began painting the sixty-foot side wall of the store: selected notes from the typewriter had the public fascinated as he painted them, and make for a tourist attraction. Literati, Ann Arbor, Michigan definitely seems worth a visit!!
Some samples:
“Where’s the power button?” and “Avoid identity theft. Use a typewriter. They are much harder to hack.” (two among several that will amuse readers of a certain vintage)
“Life, like this typewriter, has no backspace. Type strongly and don’t look back.”
“We had a date night and chose to come to Literati. Please do not tell our children we came here without them.”
“I wrote a letter to Santa today so he doesn’t think we only talk to him when we want something.”
This is such an original and intriguing concept. Selecting the notes to be included from the thousands accumulated can have been no easy task, but what a wonderfully varied collection this is! Combined as they are with essays and photos, they make a delightful but also moving and often thought-provoking read.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Scribe Publications Australia.
Collated are a myriad of comments, pleas, words of wisdom, quips, aphorisms, secrets, worries, jokes, advice, poetry, confessions, proposals, simple observations, with their quirky misspellings and overtypings, that are arranged in a semblance of order under cleverly titled chapters. The typewriter, the store, the people, the wall, love, frustration, sorrow, local personalities, heartbreak, hope, humour and even a bit of mystery all get their turn.
Some of the illustrations require the reader to turn the book upside down. Two years after they opened, Oliver Uberti, responsible for the store’s logo, began painting the sixty-foot side wall of the store: selected notes from the typewriter had the public fascinated as he painted them, and make for a tourist attraction. Literati, Ann Arbor, Michigan definitely seems worth a visit!!
Some samples:
“Where’s the power button?” and “Avoid identity theft. Use a typewriter. They are much harder to hack.” (two among several that will amuse readers of a certain vintage)
“Life, like this typewriter, has no backspace. Type strongly and don’t look back.”
“We had a date night and chose to come to Literati. Please do not tell our children we came here without them.”
“I wrote a letter to Santa today so he doesn’t think we only talk to him when we want something.”
This is such an original and intriguing concept. Selecting the notes to be included from the thousands accumulated can have been no easy task, but what a wonderfully varied collection this is! Combined as they are with essays and photos, they make a delightful but also moving and often thought-provoking read.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Scribe Publications Australia.
November 12, 2020
Yes, I usually only read fiction, however this little tome combined two of my favorite loves: bookstores and typewriters. I’ve always loved the vellichor of bookstores and could spend hours happily loosing track of time in them. Typewriters were an early love for me – ever since I received a ‘real’ portable typewriter the Christmas I was seven years old.
This is the story of an independent ‘community’ bookstore.
The Literati Book Store located in Ann Arbor, Michigan was the realized dream of a young couple, Mike and Hilary Gustafson.
On the morning the store opened, Mike Gustafson set out a typewriter for anyone to use. It was an experiment that paid off in spades. The typewriter became part of the store’s identity and is now part of the store logo. All types of notes were found left on the machine. Love notes, jokes, haikus, confessions, quotations, and personal philosophies. Over time there were so many anonymous notes that the owner decided to share some of them on social media and store newsletters. Eventually customers, friends and family encouraged him to compile them into a book. And “Notes from a public typewriter” was born.
Thousands and thousands of notes have been left at the store. Some funny, some poignant, always ‘real’, they may touch your heart or tickle your funny bone.
People vent their frustrations, share their melancholy, lament their losses, and celebrate their joys.
The store hired an artist to paint some of the notes on the exterior of the building. It is now a very popular place for photo opportunities and attracts many. It has even been a wedding venue!
I have to confess… this is the first book I’ve read in ages. A strange statement from a book blogger right? Although I own thousands of hardcover books, I now usually always read on my Kindle and by far prefer that format, however this lovely little book wouldn’t have converted well to any ‘E’ format. Packed with irregular spacing and myriad pictures, this is a book to be treasured in paper form.
If you want a first hand account of the Literati Book Store story, there is a short video on the store’s website. Literati Book Store now has over 18 thousand Instagram followers and over 9 thousand Twitter followers. In an age when independent bookstores are suffering from a slow demise, the Literati Book Store in Ann Arbor, Michigan seems to have found a niche all their own and are successfully celebrating their achievements.
This book will be available for purchase on March 27th and would make an ideal gift either for friends and family or …yourself. ISBN 978 1538 729113
Thanks to Morgan Swift/Hachette Book Group who sent me a lovely hardcover of this book for review purposes.
This is the story of an independent ‘community’ bookstore.
The Literati Book Store located in Ann Arbor, Michigan was the realized dream of a young couple, Mike and Hilary Gustafson.
On the morning the store opened, Mike Gustafson set out a typewriter for anyone to use. It was an experiment that paid off in spades. The typewriter became part of the store’s identity and is now part of the store logo. All types of notes were found left on the machine. Love notes, jokes, haikus, confessions, quotations, and personal philosophies. Over time there were so many anonymous notes that the owner decided to share some of them on social media and store newsletters. Eventually customers, friends and family encouraged him to compile them into a book. And “Notes from a public typewriter” was born.
Thousands and thousands of notes have been left at the store. Some funny, some poignant, always ‘real’, they may touch your heart or tickle your funny bone.
People vent their frustrations, share their melancholy, lament their losses, and celebrate their joys.
The store hired an artist to paint some of the notes on the exterior of the building. It is now a very popular place for photo opportunities and attracts many. It has even been a wedding venue!
I have to confess… this is the first book I’ve read in ages. A strange statement from a book blogger right? Although I own thousands of hardcover books, I now usually always read on my Kindle and by far prefer that format, however this lovely little book wouldn’t have converted well to any ‘E’ format. Packed with irregular spacing and myriad pictures, this is a book to be treasured in paper form.
If you want a first hand account of the Literati Book Store story, there is a short video on the store’s website. Literati Book Store now has over 18 thousand Instagram followers and over 9 thousand Twitter followers. In an age when independent bookstores are suffering from a slow demise, the Literati Book Store in Ann Arbor, Michigan seems to have found a niche all their own and are successfully celebrating their achievements.
This book will be available for purchase on March 27th and would make an ideal gift either for friends and family or …yourself. ISBN 978 1538 729113
Thanks to Morgan Swift/Hachette Book Group who sent me a lovely hardcover of this book for review purposes.
August 12, 2018
Oh my heart. I did NOT expect to cry during a book about a typewriter in a bookstore. But here I am with tears still in my eyes. What a precious jewel of a book.
June 30, 2018
bell peppers with fig jam
are better than expected
don't be scared.
are better than expected
don't be scared.
May 25, 2019
Heart-felt, honest, poignant and philosophical. The cloak of anonymity allows for confessions, jokes and introspection to be shared via a public typewriter.
How I now yearn to hear the clackety, clackety tapping of keys and pinging to herald line's end. What would you type?
I'm sorry.
The butler didn't do it.
How I now yearn to hear the clackety, clackety tapping of keys and pinging to herald line's end. What would you type?
I'm sorry.
The butler didn't do it.
January 16, 2020
“That’s the thing about ink… in all its messy, smudgy, imperfect beauty. Ink lasts.”
I stumbled upon this treasure last weekend while attempting not to peruse the shelves at one of our favorite bookstores. I mean it. We were there for trivia night. But accidents happen. I spotted this book, picked it up to flip through it, and knew it was a magical thing that I needed to have in my life.
The book is just what the title claims it to be: Notes from a public typewriter. In Ann Arbor, Michigan, Literati bookstore owner Michael Gustafson keeps a typewriter out for customers to use, should they choose to. The book includes short chapter introductions from Gustafson along with snippets of people’s souls left behind on the typewriter paper. Unlike Facebook, where we can share freely but without anonymity, the typewriter allows people to truly unload their hearts without judgement. The results are often touching, sometimes funny, and occasionally heartbreaking.
I enjoyed all aspects of this book: Gustafson’s thoughtful additions, the meaningful glimpses of authentic lives, and the artistic photography. I cannot think of a single person who I wouldn’t recommend this to. My only complaint was that it was over too soon!
I stumbled upon this treasure last weekend while attempting not to peruse the shelves at one of our favorite bookstores. I mean it. We were there for trivia night. But accidents happen. I spotted this book, picked it up to flip through it, and knew it was a magical thing that I needed to have in my life.
The book is just what the title claims it to be: Notes from a public typewriter. In Ann Arbor, Michigan, Literati bookstore owner Michael Gustafson keeps a typewriter out for customers to use, should they choose to. The book includes short chapter introductions from Gustafson along with snippets of people’s souls left behind on the typewriter paper. Unlike Facebook, where we can share freely but without anonymity, the typewriter allows people to truly unload their hearts without judgement. The results are often touching, sometimes funny, and occasionally heartbreaking.
I enjoyed all aspects of this book: Gustafson’s thoughtful additions, the meaningful glimpses of authentic lives, and the artistic photography. I cannot think of a single person who I wouldn’t recommend this to. My only complaint was that it was over too soon!
July 17, 2018
Poingnant, funny, beautiful...will reread many times
November 1, 2018
4.5 stars. Very good collection of thoughts and other bits of writing from the publicly available typewriter in an Ann Arbor, Michigan, indie bookstore.
November 2, 2019
3.5 stars.
The Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is one of my fave indie stores in the area. The husband and wife owners put out an old fashioned typewriter for customers to use. Did people use it? Yes, they did. This little book is a compilation of some of the notes, poems, advice, cries for help, and other tidbits that people left for each other.
Is it a tad gimmicky? Yes, but it also made me happy. People want to connect. To not feel alone. And this little book reminds us of the power of words, of books, and each other. Lovely.
The Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is one of my fave indie stores in the area. The husband and wife owners put out an old fashioned typewriter for customers to use. Did people use it? Yes, they did. This little book is a compilation of some of the notes, poems, advice, cries for help, and other tidbits that people left for each other.
Is it a tad gimmicky? Yes, but it also made me happy. People want to connect. To not feel alone. And this little book reminds us of the power of words, of books, and each other. Lovely.
May 21, 2023
this was such a touching little book 🥹🥹🥹
i loved it so much i actually shed a few tears upon turning the last page.
this was compiled and edited by the owners of the Literati Bookshop in Ann Arbor. it documents the notes written by the people coming and going into their shop, sitting at the public typewriter and leaving sentiments for all the world to see. they also talk about how, as a couple, they started this store together as it has always been their dream to open one ever since they bonded over books during their first date.
it makes me want to find someone and start a little bookstore of my own too. i mean, how romantic would that be. 😭😭😭
this book got me feeling so sentimental, and it now holds a special place in my heart 🥹♥️
i loved it so much i actually shed a few tears upon turning the last page.
this was compiled and edited by the owners of the Literati Bookshop in Ann Arbor. it documents the notes written by the people coming and going into their shop, sitting at the public typewriter and leaving sentiments for all the world to see. they also talk about how, as a couple, they started this store together as it has always been their dream to open one ever since they bonded over books during their first date.
it makes me want to find someone and start a little bookstore of my own too. i mean, how romantic would that be. 😭😭😭
this book got me feeling so sentimental, and it now holds a special place in my heart 🥹♥️
March 6, 2021
I enjoyed this little book.
"with each new book and each
opportunity to see someone,s
he ar t and learn from their
mind, I become more hopeful
that the future _*our future_-
will be okay if we keep sharing"
Classified as "Essays & Correspondence," Notes From a Public Typewriter is beautifully presented, with gorgeous text and photos. I love the whole idea of it, the story of a bookstore, and the stories within the bookstore and its guests.. and words shared with typewriters. I'm particularly fond of the marriage proposal and the Violin Monster.
Next time I make it to Ann Arbor, a visit to Literati Bookstore is top of my list.
I received a copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing via a Goodreads Giveaway. Much thanks for this delightful book. I am a delighted book lover.
"with each new book and each
opportunity to see someone,s
he ar t and learn from their
mind, I become more hopeful
that the future _*our future_-
will be okay if we keep sharing"
Classified as "Essays & Correspondence," Notes From a Public Typewriter is beautifully presented, with gorgeous text and photos. I love the whole idea of it, the story of a bookstore, and the stories within the bookstore and its guests.. and words shared with typewriters. I'm particularly fond of the marriage proposal and the Violin Monster.
Next time I make it to Ann Arbor, a visit to Literati Bookstore is top of my list.
I received a copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing via a Goodreads Giveaway. Much thanks for this delightful book. I am a delighted book lover.
October 12, 2018
Working in a public library has, by and large, broken me of the habit of just meandering through the stacks, open to whatever strikes my fancy. This is unfortunate. Fortunately, though, working in a public library also frequently involves my being in those stacks, whether it's beelining for a book a patron wants, pulling a book to fulfill a hold, or seeking out books to fill a gap in a display.
And it was one such occasion that led me to the serendipitous find of Notes from a Public Typewriter. I'm not sure there's any other way to find this because by quirk of Dewey decimal system, it sits between job-seeking books and professional development books, in near a tiny section about handwriting where many people would probably never see it. I'm so glad I found it.
Notes from a Public Typewriter is a collection of snippets gleaned from the typewriter housed in the Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It's just as random as you'd expect such a collection to be, but what elevates this little tome is its careful editing and curation, each chapter introduced with an anecdote about bookstore life and the people who frequent them--both owners and customers alike--with selections carefully selected to highlight the theme of that chapter. Photographs of people using the typewriter or snapshots of a page on the typewriter are interspersed throughout, breaking it up and bringing it to life. Sometimes the entries are laid out playfully, like the two-page spread that pairs "Everyone has a superpower. The trick is to find it" with "hello... i am very gay ;)" establishing a conversation between pieces that may or may not otherwise exist except for within the pages of this book.
The excerpts range from the quirky ("bell peppers with fig jam are better than expected. don't be scared.") to the poignant ("I will find someone someday.") to the utterly lovely ("I walked in expecting to fall in love with books, not the person I walked in with.") It's a tiny slice of humanity, carefully curated. Collections like these found art collections can sometimes have filler content or lack interest without context, but nearly every page has something that evokes a response from a reader, whether that's a smile or a tug at the heart or goosebumps (my own responses to each of the three excerpts above).
It's as much about humanity in general as it is about the written word and bookstores as community, safe spaces. One entry reads, "Maybe one day we will write enough books and read enough words to understand each other. I hope." Notes from a Public Typewriter takes us a step closer to that, I think. I hope.
And it was one such occasion that led me to the serendipitous find of Notes from a Public Typewriter. I'm not sure there's any other way to find this because by quirk of Dewey decimal system, it sits between job-seeking books and professional development books, in near a tiny section about handwriting where many people would probably never see it. I'm so glad I found it.
Notes from a Public Typewriter is a collection of snippets gleaned from the typewriter housed in the Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It's just as random as you'd expect such a collection to be, but what elevates this little tome is its careful editing and curation, each chapter introduced with an anecdote about bookstore life and the people who frequent them--both owners and customers alike--with selections carefully selected to highlight the theme of that chapter. Photographs of people using the typewriter or snapshots of a page on the typewriter are interspersed throughout, breaking it up and bringing it to life. Sometimes the entries are laid out playfully, like the two-page spread that pairs "Everyone has a superpower. The trick is to find it" with "hello... i am very gay ;)" establishing a conversation between pieces that may or may not otherwise exist except for within the pages of this book.
The excerpts range from the quirky ("bell peppers with fig jam are better than expected. don't be scared.") to the poignant ("I will find someone someday.") to the utterly lovely ("I walked in expecting to fall in love with books, not the person I walked in with.") It's a tiny slice of humanity, carefully curated. Collections like these found art collections can sometimes have filler content or lack interest without context, but nearly every page has something that evokes a response from a reader, whether that's a smile or a tug at the heart or goosebumps (my own responses to each of the three excerpts above).
It's as much about humanity in general as it is about the written word and bookstores as community, safe spaces. One entry reads, "Maybe one day we will write enough books and read enough words to understand each other. I hope." Notes from a Public Typewriter takes us a step closer to that, I think. I hope.
March 21, 2018
Notes From a Public Typewriter, edited by Michael Gustafson and Oliver Uberti, releases on March 27/18 - and I have a copy of this delightful book to giveaway to one lucky reader, courtesy of Grand Central Publishing.
Notes is a collection of missives left in the typewriter at Gustafson's business - The Literati Bookstore - an indie bookshop in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
When Gustafson opened his store in 2013, he included a typewriter as a community building experiment.
"What if people could walk into a bookstore and type anything they wanted? Would they write Haikus, confessions, or declarations of love?Would they contemplate the meaning of life? Would they make fart jokes? Would people even know how to use a typwriter?"
The answer is yes to all of the above. Notes From a Public Typewriter is a collection of those thoughts, desires, confessions, hopes, dreams and more. The notes range from heartbreaking to joyful with some laughs mixed in. There are many poignant entries, connection made and lost. All left anonymously. And it's impossible to put down. I read each entry and imagined who would have wrote it? Why they wrote it? Did things change in their lives?
Here's a sampling:
"So much more effort. And no delete key. Kind of how life used to be.."
"Why does this thing have a hashtag symbol? They didn't have Twitter then #weird"
"Sometimes I get lost just to assure myself someone cares enough to find me."
Gustafson includes his own thoughts in short essays throughout the book. I like his voice and ideas. And to those who live in Ann Arbor, lucky you - this sounds like a wonderful bookstore - and more.
Notes From a Public Typewriter is a slim volume at just over 150 pages. But, there is lots of food for thought between the covers. What do you think you would type?
Fans of PostSecret and Found would enjoy this book.
Notes is a collection of missives left in the typewriter at Gustafson's business - The Literati Bookstore - an indie bookshop in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
When Gustafson opened his store in 2013, he included a typewriter as a community building experiment.
"What if people could walk into a bookstore and type anything they wanted? Would they write Haikus, confessions, or declarations of love?Would they contemplate the meaning of life? Would they make fart jokes? Would people even know how to use a typwriter?"
The answer is yes to all of the above. Notes From a Public Typewriter is a collection of those thoughts, desires, confessions, hopes, dreams and more. The notes range from heartbreaking to joyful with some laughs mixed in. There are many poignant entries, connection made and lost. All left anonymously. And it's impossible to put down. I read each entry and imagined who would have wrote it? Why they wrote it? Did things change in their lives?
Here's a sampling:
"So much more effort. And no delete key. Kind of how life used to be.."
"Why does this thing have a hashtag symbol? They didn't have Twitter then #weird"
"Sometimes I get lost just to assure myself someone cares enough to find me."
Gustafson includes his own thoughts in short essays throughout the book. I like his voice and ideas. And to those who live in Ann Arbor, lucky you - this sounds like a wonderful bookstore - and more.
Notes From a Public Typewriter is a slim volume at just over 150 pages. But, there is lots of food for thought between the covers. What do you think you would type?
Fans of PostSecret and Found would enjoy this book.
October 15, 2018
Not my run-of-the mill reads. What a nice surprise, this was a real delightful book. It’s amazing what people would write … given the chance. How profound, funny or moving just a couple of lines can be.
It reminded me the experience of reading of Humans of New York: Stories, as if the reader could glimpse people lives though a few words or one photograph.
Thank you to my GR friend Diane S. whose review put this book on my radar. 3.5 stars rounded up
Fav. Quotes:
The most poignant notes are found on rainy Saturday nights. Notes on sobriety. Notes on divorce. Notes on loneliness. I don’t judge; I replenish the paper.
It reminded me the experience of reading of Humans of New York: Stories, as if the reader could glimpse people lives though a few words or one photograph.
Thank you to my GR friend Diane S. whose review put this book on my radar. 3.5 stars rounded up
Fav. Quotes:
The most poignant notes are found on rainy Saturday nights. Notes on sobriety. Notes on divorce. Notes on loneliness. I don’t judge; I replenish the paper.
So much more effort, and no delete key
Kind of how life used to be …
Why does this thing have a hashtag symbol? They didn’t have Twitter. #weird
Before spellcheck, there was spelling.
A bookstore is larger than the universe. After all, the universe only contains what IS.
I wrote a letter to Santa today so he doesn’t think we only talk to him when we want something.
In loving memory of
my older daughter Rachel,
who died of cancer at age 26, a year before
this store opened.
I would get her lots of cookbooks, but …
I can’t.
January 19, 2019
Notes From a Public Typewriter is warm and endearing and delightful and totally unexpected. How can such a short book pack such a strong punch?! It made me want to open a bookstore, like yesterday. And the best part is that my daughter took it right off my hands to read it the minute I was done. All the feels! Highly recommend.
April 22, 2019
This is an adorable little book about the human experience, typewriters, and how the awesome the Literati bookstore in Ann Arbor is. I enjoyed it. That is all.
(Actually, that's not all- be warned there's some mild swearing and innuendos, if you're not into that sort of thing. I'm not into those sorts of things myself, but I didn't find this book to be offensive.)
(Actually, that's not all- be warned there's some mild swearing and innuendos, if you're not into that sort of thing. I'm not into those sorts of things myself, but I didn't find this book to be offensive.)
October 9, 2018
What happens when you put out a typewriter and invite strangers to start talking? Little bits and bobs of the human condition. This is a charming, yet contemplative little book about the need we have to speak, scream, sometimes cry and connect with other people.
September 25, 2019
Ahoy there mateys! I heard about this book from Matey Charley @ booksandbakes1. Who doesn’t love a true story involving bookstores and typewriters? So the editor, owns his grandfather’s 1930s Smith Corona typewriter. There be a cute story in that. Then in 2013, him and his wife opened up the Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan. There be a cute story in that. In said bookstore, Gustafson put out a typewriter and empty white page. This be the cute story of the messages and stories arising from what visitors to the bookstore have typed on it. Throughout are lovely recollections from the editor about his life and the bookstore. The book be short and I read it in one sitting. I thought it was lovely. Equally lovely is the design of the book and how all of the quotes are laid out. Beautiful. Arrr!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
March 24, 2020
What if people could walk into a bookstore and type anything they wanted?
The owners of the Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan decided to see what would happen when they set up a typewriter for anyone to use in their new bookstore.
This is a collection of the things people have typed over the years.
It would be an interesting thing to try at your library, I think.
The owners of the Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan decided to see what would happen when they set up a typewriter for anyone to use in their new bookstore.
This is a collection of the things people have typed over the years.
It would be an interesting thing to try at your library, I think.
March 31, 2018
I may be biased, because I consider Literati Bookstore my local indie bookstore, even though it's an hour's drive away. I may be biased because on January 15, 2016, Richard Polt, author of "The Typewriter Revolution" was at Literati doing a book signing event. The event and book fired me up to use the 1961 Smith-Corona Coronet Automatic my aunt found for me at her church's second-hand sale for less than ten bucks, and have since rescued seven other typewriters from estate sales and thrift stores (a 1926 Royal 10 currently sits on my work desk, used to address envelopes and do my not-quite-daily writing practice page).
Putting all that aside, this little gem of a book provides more than the novelty of a typewriter in a bookstore. It is an insight into the hearts and minds of a community, and a very refreshing, heart-felt one that reveals human nature in its best light, unlike social media which tends to reveal a darker side of our species. Perhaps this is why analog (typewriters, books, vinyl records, etc.) is still alive for both young and old.
The notes will make you laugh, cry, and say, "aww." The stories will reveal aspects of what makes the human community precious.
You don't need to spend hours (and dollars) in bookstores or own typewriters to enjoy this book. But if you do, you'll appreciate it all the more.
Putting all that aside, this little gem of a book provides more than the novelty of a typewriter in a bookstore. It is an insight into the hearts and minds of a community, and a very refreshing, heart-felt one that reveals human nature in its best light, unlike social media which tends to reveal a darker side of our species. Perhaps this is why analog (typewriters, books, vinyl records, etc.) is still alive for both young and old.
The notes will make you laugh, cry, and say, "aww." The stories will reveal aspects of what makes the human community precious.
You don't need to spend hours (and dollars) in bookstores or own typewriters to enjoy this book. But if you do, you'll appreciate it all the more.
July 20, 2018
This is a sweet book. It's short -- you could read it in an hour if you wished, but why would anyone want to? There's no reason to rush to find out what happens, because nothing happens. There's just this old manual typewriter in a book store in Ann Arbor, MI, and people write on it.
The book is a short collection of some of the best pieces that have been written on this typewriter, interspersed with short essays by the bookstore owner, which are mostly about owning an independent bookstore.
Ann Arbor being a university town, a lot of what appears on the typewriter (but not in the book, thank goodness) is along the lines of "Go, wolverines!" But what appears in the book is much more delightful: wistful memories, proposals of marriage, poetry, and statements like "If I had to write three paragraphs on this thing, I would drop out of middle school." My all-time favorite piece is this query: "Why is there a hashtag on this machine? It was made long before Twitter."
The book is a short collection of some of the best pieces that have been written on this typewriter, interspersed with short essays by the bookstore owner, which are mostly about owning an independent bookstore.
Ann Arbor being a university town, a lot of what appears on the typewriter (but not in the book, thank goodness) is along the lines of "Go, wolverines!" But what appears in the book is much more delightful: wistful memories, proposals of marriage, poetry, and statements like "If I had to write three paragraphs on this thing, I would drop out of middle school." My all-time favorite piece is this query: "Why is there a hashtag on this machine? It was made long before Twitter."
Read
April 25, 2019Come to our upcoming Author Visit!
Michigan Notable Books: Notes from a Public Typewriter
Tuesday, May 21 at 6pm - All Ages
2019 Michigan Notable Books Author Michael Gustafson presents his award-winning book, Notes from a Public Typewriter. When Gustafson and his wife, Hilary, opened Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, they put out a typewriter for public use. Since then, thousands of notes have been left and were compiled to be featured in this book. Gustafson's presentation is an ode to community and the written word that will surprise, delight, and inspire. Sponsored by Michigan Humanities Council.
Michigan Notable Books: Notes from a Public Typewriter
Tuesday, May 21 at 6pm - All Ages
2019 Michigan Notable Books Author Michael Gustafson presents his award-winning book, Notes from a Public Typewriter. When Gustafson and his wife, Hilary, opened Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, they put out a typewriter for public use. Since then, thousands of notes have been left and were compiled to be featured in this book. Gustafson's presentation is an ode to community and the written word that will surprise, delight, and inspire. Sponsored by Michigan Humanities Council.
April 14, 2018
The perfect book to read straight through on a rainy Saturday morning, bottomless coffee in hand. I was completely charmed.
November 27, 2018
The simplest words can evoke the most complex feelings. Thank you, Sandy, for sharing this with me. I loved it.
January 21, 2019
Quick read, great stories from an old typewriter left in a bookstore :-)
April 11, 2019
A beautiful little book. I loved it.
September 5, 2025
The title, “NOTES from a PUBLIC TYPEWRITER,” is exactly what this book is about. The true authors are anonymous. The editors, Michael Gustafson and Oliver Uberti, will have to suffice.
In 2013, Gustafson along with his wife Hilary decided to open a bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan, at a time when many bookstores were struggling or closing their doors. They had no idea if they would have any customers. It was truly a leap of faith.
They persevered and succeeded where others have failed.
One thing that sets this bookstore apart from other bookstores is an old, manual typewriter. The public typewriter starts its day with a blank sheet of paper. It’s a place where people can sit down and anonymously express themselves.
The book is divided into sections. My personal favorite is entitled, “The Violin Monster.” Who knew werewolves could play music?
Some authors are quite poetic like this example, “I raced the snowflakes to see who would fall first.”
Others are confessional, “The hardest thing about loving someone so broken is you might fall to pieces yourself.”
The book brought back my own memories of learning how to type on my dad’s teal blue, Olivetti. My first note to him was, “Dear Dad, Can I get my allowance early so I can go to the movies?”
His response was, “Dear Daughter, You must first clean your room and empty the cat’s litterbox.” I wish I still had that typewriter!
Personally, I’d love to visit the Literati Bookstore and leave a note on their typewriter. “Thank you for sharing your stories.”
In 2013, Gustafson along with his wife Hilary decided to open a bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan, at a time when many bookstores were struggling or closing their doors. They had no idea if they would have any customers. It was truly a leap of faith.
They persevered and succeeded where others have failed.
One thing that sets this bookstore apart from other bookstores is an old, manual typewriter. The public typewriter starts its day with a blank sheet of paper. It’s a place where people can sit down and anonymously express themselves.
The book is divided into sections. My personal favorite is entitled, “The Violin Monster.” Who knew werewolves could play music?
Some authors are quite poetic like this example, “I raced the snowflakes to see who would fall first.”
Others are confessional, “The hardest thing about loving someone so broken is you might fall to pieces yourself.”
The book brought back my own memories of learning how to type on my dad’s teal blue, Olivetti. My first note to him was, “Dear Dad, Can I get my allowance early so I can go to the movies?”
His response was, “Dear Daughter, You must first clean your room and empty the cat’s litterbox.” I wish I still had that typewriter!
Personally, I’d love to visit the Literati Bookstore and leave a note on their typewriter. “Thank you for sharing your stories.”
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