The Gilmore Guide to Books

Connecting Books and Readers One Review at a Time

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Reviews
    • Reviews by Author
    • Reviews by Title
    • Reviews by Genre
  • Podcast
  • Policies
    • Review Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Policy

The Bookshop

November 20, 2015

The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald
Published by Mariner Books
Publication date: September 15th 1997
three-half-stars

the bookshop

The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald
Published by Mariner Books
Publication date: September 15th 1997
three-half-stars

November is a quiet month for new book releases so I try and use the time to read books I missed earlier in the year or just things that catch my eye. And by that I mean, anything in this mini-bookcase, which is now comprised of books coming out in 2016 and all the things that came out this year that I didn’t read (yet). I know, it’s a little crazy, but it is organized (sort of).

And yes, that is a Jane Austen action figure watching over my books for me.
And yes, that is a Jane Austen action figure watching over my books for me.

 

Anyway, it’s already known that I have a weakness for books about books. If it has bookshop, book or library in the title than I’m probably going to want to read it—even though that hasn’t always worked out. I’m happy to report that in the case of The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald it did.

Florence Green lives in a small town on the English coast. After her husband dies she decides to use her inheritance to open a bookshop because their town is without either a book store or a library. It’s the early 1960s and she’s hopeful the time is right to bring books to her village, but she is surprised when she meets with resistance from one of the town’s wealthy women. For reasons she cannot fathom Mrs. Gamart doesn’t like her and doesn’t like any of her decisions and seems determined to shut her down.

The Bookshop is a tiny book, weighing in at 123 pages and not likely to take more than an afternoon to read and yet, it does exactly what it needs to do in that time and space. It is a quintessentially British novel peopled with places and a cast that is reminiscent of Dickens, Trollope, and Wilde: an overbearing matron, a haunted shop, a waifish child from an overpopulated family, hard economic times, a largely useless barrister, and a reclusive aristocrat. At its center is Florence, plucky and of good cheer. She hires Christine, a ten-year-old wisp of a girl with the will of a major who soon marshals the store and its patrons into order.

In the wrong hands The Bookshop could be the worst of treacly slop, but Fitzgerald feels no compunction to sugarcoat reality. Instead, with the dry humor that is the best of the Brits she tells a story that is endearing in its fiction but sad in its truth. The kind that, when it ends, leaves a wistful desire for more.

three-half-stars

Related Posts

  • Related Posts
  • Same Genre
  • 3.5 Star Books
column
A Column of Fire by Ken Follett
Monday
It’s Monday, August 7th: What Are You Reading?
secret
The Secret Keeper
splendid
The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson
witchfinder
The Witchfinder’s Sister
Finding Camlann
curiosities
A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny
Housebreaking: A Novel
water
The Water Knife
exciting
Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan
indelible
Indelible: A Novel by Adelia Saunders
followers
Followers: A Novel
better sister
The Better Sister by Alafair Burke
behaved
A Well-Behaved Woman
kingdom
Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny

10 Comments
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: 1960s, book store, England

Comments

  1. Sarah's Book Shelves says

    November 20, 2015 at 4:51 am

    This sounds like a nice little one to slip in! Love this bookcase…you’re not going to have any lack of choices through the end of the year. As for what’s on the bookshelves – Penny Vincenzi!! I used to read her stuff all the time…so juicy! I haven’t read her in awhile. Love May Fail didn’t work out so well for me, despite a strong start. I loved Reunion – was one of my Best Books of 2014!

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      November 20, 2015 at 9:36 am

      This seals it- that you even know who Penny Vincenzi is final confirmation that we are related. I loved her earlier stuff- so much detail and strong women. Then she started getting more into romance-y. I’m hoping this one is a return to her old style.

      Reunion just moved to my December reading list thanks to you!

      Reply
  2. Lynn @ Smoke & Mirrors says

    November 20, 2015 at 9:03 am

    I am the same way regarding book titles with book, library bookshop, etc.! I actually picked this book up very cheaply at a library booksale several years ago and have yet to read it, or anything else written by Penelope Fitzgerald. Glad you liked it and now hopefully I’ll get to it sooner rather than later! 🙂

    Reply
  3. Eva says

    November 20, 2015 at 10:50 am

    I share this affliction and it seems like I’ve been burned a couple of times recently. I won’t lie – when I saw the titles of this book I thought that maybe I would skip it because of my recent experiences. But after reading the post, it sounds like this one might be alright!

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      November 20, 2015 at 2:22 pm

      Eva, I have been so burned that I’ve given up, but because this is more a novella than a novel I went with it. It is quirky, but part of what I loved was that it doesn’t end well, it ends more realistically and I appreciated that.

      Reply
  4. Lory @ Emerald City Book Review says

    November 21, 2015 at 3:07 am

    I was so happy earlier this year to get all my books-in-waiting organized in a new bookcase near my bed. Now I have to make sure it doesn’t overflow! I’ve been meaning to read some Penelope Fitzgerald and this is a great recommendation, thanks.

    Reply
  5. Andi (@estellasrevenge) says

    November 21, 2015 at 7:26 pm

    I feel like I’ve had this on my TBR at some point, or maybe I just eyeball it whenever I’m in the used bookstore. I’m so glad to know you liked it. This looks like fair game for my next #15in30 (or 31, or 28) challenge.

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      November 22, 2015 at 2:47 pm

      It’s perfect for that- not going to change your world, but not quick fluff either. Made me a little sad.

      Reply
  6. Kerry M says

    November 22, 2015 at 5:20 am

    I’ve never read any of Fitzgerald’s works, though I always see her on the shelf when looking for the Fitzgerald of the F. Scott variety. This sounds like it might be a great place to start; a book about a bookstore is right up my alley.

    Reply
  7. Tara @ Running 'N' Reading says

    November 23, 2015 at 2:34 pm

    Catherine, I am going to earmark this one for my next Readathon day; since it’s only 123 pages, it’s a great choice! I’m excited! Thank you for sharing this one!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Save time and subscribe via email

No time to keep checking for new reviews? Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. No spam!

Currently Reading

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle
by Emily Nagoski
The Dutch House
The Dutch House
by Ann Patchett
Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me
Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me
by Adrienne Brodeur

goodreads.com

Affiliate Disclosure

I’m an affiliate for Indiebound and Amazon. If you click on a link that takes you to any of these sites and make a purchase I’ll earn a small fee, which goes towards the costs of maintaining this site. Your support is appreciated. Thank you!

Archives

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License.

Theme Design By Studio Mommy · Copyright © 2023

Copyright © 2023 · Beyond Madison Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in