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. 

From Baghdad, With Love

 Book Review 

By Jay Kopelman

4/5*

Sweet-yet-sad. Love-violence. Heartwarming-tragic.

The dichotomy of puppy adoration and war is the theme of this true story. A marine finds a weeks-old dog alone in a building. He knows the rules against keeping it but… He goes through so many hoops to try and get this dog home to America. In the meantime there is a brutal war occurring. The description of some incidences are depressing.

Secret Lives of Bookstore Owners and Librarians

 Book Review 

5/5*

By James Patterson

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the stories of so many booksellers and librarians. This book would not be for everyone. It gives insight into where they came from, how they chose their careers and how fulfilling it has been for them. At first I was not going to give it a full 5* because it was only talking about the positives. There was also the negatives such as the banning of books and the fight for freedom to read. One story talked about her inexperience leading to only making $50 on opening weekend.