RAE’S READS

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This year (2025) finds me with 53 years of teaching “under my belt.” I have taught all levels from pre-K “(library lady” or “book lady”–volunteer) to juniors, seniors, and graduate students enrolled in my Advanced Writing class at the university where I have just completed 34 years. My first paying teaching job was junior high, and I spent 13 years with ages 12-13, the “difficult years.” I had some of the “funnest” experiences with this age group. When I was no longer the “young, fun teacher,” I taught in an elementary school setting before sixth graders went on to junior high, teaching language arts blocs, an assignment that was a “dream-fit” for me. After completing graduate school in my 40s, I went on to community college, then university teaching. This past fall I accepted a part-time teaching job at Apogee Gulf Coast Schools in its first year at the Alvin campus. After my Better Half died n 2022, I achieved a lifelong dream: opening a bookstore of my own, Rae’s Reads. A year later, I sold the house we had lived in for 47 years and moved into the bookstore. My goal is to circulate and repurpose books. Just as teaching is “in my blood,” so is a passion for reading, writing, libraries, and everything bookish. This blog will be open to anyone who loves books, promotes literacy and wants to “come out and play.”

NEW CHALLENGE: BOOKS ABOUT BOOKSTORES AND LIBRARIES

Since January 2019, I have been generally reading Books about Books. Some of my favorites featured bookstores. Here is a list of “Books about Bookstores and Libraries” I have read since January 1st.

  1. The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George (reviewed earlier on PWR)
  2. The Library Book by Susan Orlean, which is my Third Tuesday Book Club’s selection for October and “The Gulf Coast Read” for this year here on the Texas Gulf Coast (reviewed earlier on PWR)
  3. The Bookshop on the Corner, an audiobook by Jenny Colgan
  4. The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson (reviewed on PWR)

What are some really good books set in bookstores and libraries? Take advantage of the reply section to add some books to my challenge. I think I will read as many books of this nature as I can before the end of 2019.

Who loves the setting of bookstores and libraries? Who will join me in my new challenge?

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9 responses to “NEW CHALLENGE: BOOKS ABOUT BOOKSTORES AND LIBRARIES”

  1. Jee Wan Avatar
    Jee Wan

    Which of the 4 did you enjoy most? Have you read Mr Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan? For me, it was between a pick and a so-so read. Many readers loved it though 😊

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    1. Rae Reads Avatar
      Rae Reads

      I heard of Mr. P’s Bookstore, but what I read ABOUT it made me feel meh about actually reading it, so I passed.
      The Library Book was definitely best written, most sophisticated/researched, but for awwww-ness, The Little Paris Bookstore where the darling old man could find a book and prescribe it for what ailed the customers on his Book Barge was delightful.

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  2. Deb Nance at Readerbuzz Avatar
    Deb Nance at Readerbuzz

    I’ll have to take a look and see what I can add to that list. I’ve seen one—-is it called The Body in the Library?—-on a lot of bloggers’ posts lately. Let’s see what else I can find.

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  3. Deb Nance at Readerbuzz Avatar
    Deb Nance at Readerbuzz

    Here we go:
    The Bookish Life of Nina Hill
    Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore
    The Bookseller of Kabul
    Mr. Dixon Disappears and Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sanson
    The Night Bookmobile
    The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami
    The Fantastic Flying Booksof Mr. Morris Lessmore
    The Archivist
    Paris by the Book
    Possession
    The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend
    The Uncommon Reader

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    1. Rae Reads Avatar
      Rae Reads

      At your suggestion, I read Broken Wheel and loved it. I didn’t put on the post because I was referring to books I had read since Jan 2019 only; this said, your books you have read about bookstores and libraries have given me some leads. I am going to continue this challenge until New Year’s Day.

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  4. carhicks Avatar
    carhicks

    I also love books dealing with bookstores and libraries. There are lots of cozy mysteries that fit this bill. I liked The Bookshop of the Broken Hearted, but it received many mixed reviews. The Bookshop on the Shore is the next in the Jenny Colgan series. I loved the Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay. The last one I am going to mention is The Secrets of Paper and Ink by Lindsay Harrel. Good luck Rae.

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    1. Rae Reads Avatar
      Rae Reads

      You really ought to keep count of how many bookstore books you read. I am having fun doing just that!

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      1. carhicks Avatar
        carhicks

        I should go back and see how many I have read in 2019.

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  5. Rae Reads Avatar
    Rae Reads

    Yeah, like my experience, you might be pleasantly surprised. I had read more than I thought!

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