Davolls General Store

 Dartmouth, MA

Opened in 1793!!!

This spot has so many items but the main sections are books and a cafe. A great visit to browse and sit for a bit to read, catch up with neighbors, and snack. Also the usual book club and author readings. If you love Irish music, they have a monthly jam session. https://www.davolls.com/

Partners Village Store and Kitchen

 Westport, MA

Providing a wide variety of local authors as well as best sellers. As I was browsing, a friendly customer offered some book suggestions. The kitchen does well especially in the summer months with outdoor dining. It provides breakfast and lunch. I highly recommend the Rachel. It feels like many bookstores need other items to supplement their offerings. Many offer cards and gifts. This store offers so much more including live music, artists, festivals with alpacas…as well as authors and book clubs. This community center opened in 1979.  https://partnersvillagestore.com/our-store

Collecting bookends

The more books I purchase the more interested I get in bookends. There are quite a few out there that have no heft to them?! Why bother or are they just meant as decorative? As I browse new and used bookstores as well as thrift stores I take a glance around to see if they have any unique designs. Thrift stores may only have one of the pair which can be disappointing. If I like it enough I still am interested in buying it. I posted a part of my collection below including one that my mother made. Can’t get more precious than that. I wish after all these years I was more diligent about getting and keeping bookmarks from the various stores I have been to. I wonder if someone out there has quite a collection of those.

Island Books

 Middletown, RI

Sounds like a book by Elin Hilderbrand! The store is located on Aquidneck Island there lies the name. Voted best in state since 2016! A nice variety to appeal to locals and tourists. It isn’t a huge space however they do a nice job with their displays. Here and there you will find a staff recommendation with some details about the pick.

 https://islandbooksri.indielite.org/

Historical Fiction

 

I started reading another book related to World War Two. Have you noticed how many books are related to this particular war? Those which I recall reading Arne enjoying:

Sarah’s Key

Nightingale 

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Book of Lost Names

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas 

The Book Thief

I researched how many books there are. I couldn’t count them there was so many. It seems there is more of a fascination with this war than any other historical event. If you disagree show me the stats. I also have several in my tbr bookcase.

The Children of Willesden Lane

 Book Review 

4.2/5*

By Mona Golebek

You MUST do the audio version! It has piano music as well as sounds like trains in the background. I had planned on picking the book up from the library after hearing the author speak. It sounded like an amazing true story. Although it took me a while to get around to it, I am glad I did. Sometimes I feel like I have read enough books about World War Two. This one is worth it. The main character is sent alone by train from Vienna to London. Her mom told her to continue playing the piano. It will help her get through the separation.

Memoirs of Celebrities

 I feel like I can learn something from reading nonfiction. Do memoirs count? I’m thinking some do but some are just pure entertainment. Right now I am reading Phil Collin’s Not Dead Yet. I enjoy his music so I chose his book. There is so much behind the scenes that I never knew about. I never realized how many different things he accomplished over the years. 

I enjoyed Jerry Seinfeld, Paul Reiser, Molly Shannon and Betty White’s. I had high expectations from Doris Robert’s memoir Are You Hungry Yet. I loved Everyone Loves Raymond including her character. It certainly wasn’t funny, a little bland. I absolutely hated Tim Allen’s also.