39. A book that involves a bookstore or library

[Chinook]

I can’t believe I waited so long to read 84, Charing Cross Road. It’s so charming and so short! I polished it off durin one session of nursing Maddie to nap. But then, I’d only heard of it here and never seen a copy and the lack of ebook meant I didn’t have access all those years in Korea.

[Kym]

Chinook wrote: "I can’t believe I waited so long to read 84, Charing Cross Road. It’s so charming and so short! I polished it off durin one session of nursing Maddie to nap. But then, I’d only heard ..."

That's the one I've chosen for this prompt as well - you've inspired me to get to it sooner rather than later. Thanks!

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads)]

It just occurred to me while catching up on this thread that The Eyre Affair and the rest of the Thursday Next series would count for this prompt.

Also, for those who like YA fantasy and fairy tale re-writes, The Princess Companion: A Retelling of The Princess and the Pea involves a library pretty heavily in the story. (I'm sure most Beauty and the Beast retellings would as well.)

[Jacqueline]

84, Charing Cross Road is beautiful. It was the one I’d originally read for the prompt but then kept reading more books about libraries and bookshops. I always find that I have a run of things. At the moment it’s the Australian Outback.

[Chinook]

Yes, I took out the group read pick as well, I just got to this one first. I’ll probably still read the other.

[Sylvia]

Ohhhh I just finished You by Caroline Kepnes. Creepy good. Make ya think real hard if your single and dating. I love when i find a book for a prompt that keeps with my genre.

[Kristin]

Nicole wrote: "for nonfiction:
Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops

That's the one I chose, and if you've already read it, I saw there is a sequel to it.

Of the others on the list I've read, Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World and it's sequel Dewey's Nine Lives: The Legacy of the Small-Town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions were both enjoyable books that I would recommend.

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, was good too, although I didn't like the ending as much as the rest of the book. Had I read it this year, I might have put it in the ugly cover category instead, I remember the neon yellow on white being rather unappealing to the eyes.

[Ami]

I have two recommendations for those looking to fulfill this prompt.
"The Good Luck of Right Now" by Matthew Quick is quirky and enlightening. It also fulfills Death & Grief and Mental Illness prompts if you are using one book for several prompts.

"Camino Island" by John Grisham is about a heist of Fitzgerald's manuscripts and takes place in both settings. Quick read too!

[The Reading Raccoon]

I used The Book Case by Nelson DeMille. It’s short but he’s one of my favorite authors.

[Rachel]

I read Words in Deep Blue for this one.

[Tania]

I finally decided on Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein based on the recommendations for this prompt, and I loved it - also did not realize until I started reading it that I already love that author, he writes the John Ceepak Mystery Series for adults too

[Debbie]

I am reading Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones. Second book in the series for this prompt. The first (actually all) the books in the series would work as well... Alcatraz vs. The Evil Librarians Series: (Alcatraz vs. The Evil Librarians, The Scrivener's Bones, The Knights of Crystallia, The Shattered Lens, The Dark Talent)

[Szilvia]

How to Find Love in a Bookshop

Yes, it is a cute read, and you might even shed a few tears. :)

[Chandrima]

Will wrote: "Would Matilda work for this? I know she likes to read a lot, but I don't remember how big of a role the library plays in the story."

I think it does because there is a mention of a library and how much she loved to go there and read!

[Carolina]

I just read “The bookseller “ by Cinthia Swanson and it’s really good and fits nicely for this one. Definitely recommend!

[Tytti]

Marga wrote: "I'm still deciding whether I liked it or not, but The Library of Unrequited Love fits!"

Funny, I just read it yesterday. But I have already filled this prompt, so I would have to find another one for it...

[Emma]

I am thinking of reading The Last Equation of Isaac Severy, it seems like it should work and could be an interesting one. If anyone has read it I am interested in hearing what you thought.

[R.L.]

Angela Sunshine wrote: "Marianne wrote: "The storied life of A.J. Fikry"

I love this book!"

Thanks for recommending Dear Fahrenheit 451. Definitely going to my pick for this prompt!

Thanks for the reAngela Sunshine wrote: "The Diary of a Bookseller

Dear Fahrenheit 451: A Librarian's Love Letters and Break-Up Notes to the Books in Her Life"

Angela Sunshine wrote: "Marianne wrote: "The storied life of A.J. Fikry"

I love this book!"

[Dee]

Just finished The Bookshop of Yesterdays for this prompt.

[SadieReadsAgain]

I read The Thirteenth Tale for this, which not only has a bookshop setting at times, but is about an author and talks a lot about the power of words and books. Ticking this prompt off like a pro.

This book hooked me in from the very start and I couldn't stop reading it. When I wasn't reading it I was thinking about when I next could. The writing absolutely captivated me, and I completely submerged myself in the dysfunctional world of the Angelfield family and their damaged tangle of relationships. I felt for the characters, and desperately wanted to know the truth hidden under the burnt mess of their story. No book is without its flaws, and I could have lived without the neat ending, but honestly this book could have ended with "...and it was all a dream..." and I'd have still loved it. L O V E D I T

[Teri]

I agree, Sarah, The Thirteenth Tale is one of my favorite books I've read in the past decade. I felt the same way about it.

[Johanne]

Promptly adding The Thirteenth Tale to TBR...

[Teri]

Johanne wrote: "Promptly adding The Thirteenth Tale to TBR..."
You won't be sorry.

[Brian]

Richard Brautigan's The Abortion is incredible. A main setting/character is the library of unpublished manuscripts.

[Johanne]

So just got The Thirteenth Tale from the library, but I have a massive stack of books to read so... could it be used for other prompts than this?

[Jess]

It has twins in it too if you need to fulfil that prompt. Not sure about any others.

[Johanne]

Oh I have something else I want to read for twins, but thanks. I must stop being tempted by books I don't already have in that tbr mountain... I need to read those (too many are library books) and it gets harder to fill the remaining categories.

[Teri]

The Thirteenth Tale could be used for recommended by another PS challenge person. Since you got it from the library, it could be your borrowed book. Or book you meant to read in 2017, or country you are fascinated by if you are fascinated by England. You probably have all of these categories already full since they are the easier ones.

[Johanne]

Teri wrote: "The Thirteenth Tale could be used for recommended by another PS challenge person. Since you got it from the library, it could be your borrowed book. Or book you meant to read in 2017, ..."

Yes, I have all those filled. But thanks anyway :) I´ll probably just read it when I get to it, or return it and borrow it again. It sounds really good.

[SadieReadsAgain]

How about villain/antihero, death/grief or favourite prompt from previous year?

Failing that, read by a stranger in a public place? I'm a stranger, and I read it in a public place!

[Johanne]

Well, I've got all of those, but thanks :) I will just read it regardless. I mostly have the hard ones (for me) left, like pseudonym, bestseller from graduation year etc.

[Beatrice]

By Your Side by Kasie West

[Tina]

I've already done this prompt, but I just finished The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai which was interesting.

[Aly]

Y'all, I need help. Would you say that The Name of the Wind counts for this?
A lot of the Kvothe's main focus is on getting into the library at the university, spending time there, what he wants to do while he's there, etc.
Lemme know! Thanks :)

[Tracy]

Ha! I'm having too much fun looking back at all the books I planned to read this year that I won't have time to finish while I'm procrastinating and posting in these threads. My brain is just too zoomy to settle down and read today and I REALLY think I need to put down Blood Meridian for a day or 2 and pick up a few other things to get me back on track.

For a bookstore or Library... so many options. I went with The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu: And Their Race to Save the World’s Most Precious Manuscripts

[Candice]

The Time Traveler's Wife

Just in case you want to read more than one book about time travel!

[Sneha]

Trying to check whether Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch fits the description?

I read it for two authors, then thought about a movie you have already seen (but hasn't released yet). How about a book on time travel?

Also think there is a BBC adaptation as well..Any thoughts??

[Stevie]

Good Omens absolutely fits for a bookstore! Though unfortunately I wouldn't count it for a movie as the upcoming adaptation is a TV mini-series and the BBC adaptation was a radio dramatization.
I don't think time travel fits either unless maybe you count prophesies as a type of time travel?
It would count for a book about a villain or anti-hero given crowley is a demon and adam is the anti-christ though.

[Tabitha]

Recommending The Tethered Mage by Melissa Caruso for this challenge. I read it for a different challenge(Read Harder 2018's 'first book in a new-to-you YA or Middle Grade Series') but it fits for this one too as parts of it involve both a bookstore and a library.