Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
St. Martin's Press (2012), Hardcover, 304 pages
Description
An inspiring true story about losing your place, finding your purpose, and building a community one book at a time. Wendy Welch and her husband had always dreamed of owning a bookstore, so when they left their high-octane jobs for a simpler life in an Appalachian coal town, they seized an unexpected opportunity to pursue thier dream. The only problems? A declining U.S. economy, a small town with no industry, and the advent of the e-book. They also had no idea how to run a bookstore. Against all odds, but with optimism, the help of their Virginian mountain community, and an abiding love for books, they succeeded in establishing more than a thriving business - they built a community. The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap is the little bookstore that could: how two people, two cats, two dogs, and thirty-eight thousand books helped a small town find its heart. It is a story about people and books, and how together they create community.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member careburpee
This book, frankly, was a surprise for me. I picked it up and agreed to review it mostly because I am a sucker for books about books and bookish people. What I didn’t expect was that it would actually be so well written, solidly edited, funny, heart-warming, and informative.
Wendy Welch and her
Perhaps what sets this book above others of its kind is the added insight that Wendy gives into some of the lesser know aspects of owning a bookstore. I love the stories she tells about the more emotional aspects, such as those people who bring in book collections of those loved ones who have passed away, and what it is like to be the store owner who must on the one hand transact the business of divesting the bereaved of the books, but on the other hand be sensitive to the fact that this is a part of a loved one that the person is letting go of. There are many, many such personal stories in this book, each of them singular and touching and showing a different aspect of their lives not only as owners of the bookstore, but as members of their unique community. I mistakenly assumed that life in a small town bookstore would become routine and expected the book might get a bit soporific at times, but Wendy showed me that their life is full of rich relationships and lessons learned, and I enjoyed the chance to experience Big Stone Gap and their book store right along side them.
Wendy and her husband also use their bookstore to host many other types of activities that enriched their community, and her sharing these events adds a good deal of interest to the book. In addition, Jack and Wendy went on a tour of other indie bookstores, the narrative of which makes for some good reading. Finally, she shares lots of reviews of her favorite books to recommend, as you might expect from someone who spends her days surrounded by and selling books.
This is a solid read about a couple with a dream, how their marriage weathers the making of their business, life in a small town, friendship, selling books, and a few life lessons learned along the way. Wendy’s lovely writing will touch your heart and your funny bone in turns, making this a read for many moods. I definitely recommend this one.
Wendy Welch and her
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Scottish husband, Jack Beck, bought a charming, huge Victorian home in the town of Big Stone Gap, West Virginia, with the sole intent of transforming it into a used bookstore. Unfortunately, they had a couple of things working against them. Big Stone Gap is not exactly an area that welcomes strangers into its midst and its economically depressed state does not make it a prime zone in which to open a business. However, the Beck-Welch team was undaunted and Wendy, in her breezy, humorous style carries her readers through their many experiences as they built their inventory of books and friendships.Perhaps what sets this book above others of its kind is the added insight that Wendy gives into some of the lesser know aspects of owning a bookstore. I love the stories she tells about the more emotional aspects, such as those people who bring in book collections of those loved ones who have passed away, and what it is like to be the store owner who must on the one hand transact the business of divesting the bereaved of the books, but on the other hand be sensitive to the fact that this is a part of a loved one that the person is letting go of. There are many, many such personal stories in this book, each of them singular and touching and showing a different aspect of their lives not only as owners of the bookstore, but as members of their unique community. I mistakenly assumed that life in a small town bookstore would become routine and expected the book might get a bit soporific at times, but Wendy showed me that their life is full of rich relationships and lessons learned, and I enjoyed the chance to experience Big Stone Gap and their book store right along side them.
Wendy and her husband also use their bookstore to host many other types of activities that enriched their community, and her sharing these events adds a good deal of interest to the book. In addition, Jack and Wendy went on a tour of other indie bookstores, the narrative of which makes for some good reading. Finally, she shares lots of reviews of her favorite books to recommend, as you might expect from someone who spends her days surrounded by and selling books.
This is a solid read about a couple with a dream, how their marriage weathers the making of their business, life in a small town, friendship, selling books, and a few life lessons learned along the way. Wendy’s lovely writing will touch your heart and your funny bone in turns, making this a read for many moods. I definitely recommend this one.
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LibraryThing member bragan
A memoir about the experiences of the author and her husband opening and running a used bookstore in a small town in the Appalachians. She talks about pretty much everything you can imagine a small-town bookstore owner might have to talk about: the struggles it took to get the business off the
Through it all, Welch comes across as both warm-hearted and level-headed (even if she cheerfully admits that jumping headfirst into this particular business venture was both crazy and naive), and she clearly loves the life she's living and the people she's living it with.
I'm really, really easy for books about bookstores, so I may be biased, but I enjoyed it a lot. Like many (possibly most?) bibliophiles, I've entertained the occasional idle daydream about running a bookstore. Unlike Welch and her husband, I have far too much common sense (and am aware that I have far too little business sense) to ever for a minute consider actually doing it. But living that dream vicariously for a little while through these fine folks -- while they, of course, do all the real-world work! -- was a pleasant experience, and one that's left me smiling.
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ground, the headaches of small-town politics and the warmth of small-town community, the day-to-day details of a bookseller's life, thoughts on books and bookselling and the role of used books and print books in today's world, personal anecdotes and stories (some amusing, some heart-warming, some sad) about customers who come to the shop to buy and trade or just to talk. And probably a lot more stuff that I'm forgetting, too.Through it all, Welch comes across as both warm-hearted and level-headed (even if she cheerfully admits that jumping headfirst into this particular business venture was both crazy and naive), and she clearly loves the life she's living and the people she's living it with.
I'm really, really easy for books about bookstores, so I may be biased, but I enjoyed it a lot. Like many (possibly most?) bibliophiles, I've entertained the occasional idle daydream about running a bookstore. Unlike Welch and her husband, I have far too much common sense (and am aware that I have far too little business sense) to ever for a minute consider actually doing it. But living that dream vicariously for a little while through these fine folks -- while they, of course, do all the real-world work! -- was a pleasant experience, and one that's left me smiling.
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LibraryThing member khiemstra631
Fans of Adriana Trigiani will surely know the name Big Stone Gap and will enjoy this opportunity to learn more about this Appalachian town. Author Wendy Welch and her husband decided to move there and open a used book store on the first floor of an old house. Trigiani attended their grand opening,
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and a display of her books is featured in their store. The book also details some parts of Trigiani's books that are "real", like the Mutual Pharmacy. But mostly, it's the story of how "people not from here" went about building a business and becoming local. As someone who deals with donations of used books on a regular basis, I found much of the book very familiar. It's really not so much a story about books as it is one about relationships. A great read for anyone who enjoys reading, in whatever format. Show Less
LibraryThing member eachurch
I enjoyed the first two-thirds of the book. However, after Welch reveals that she received a book contract, I thought the story deteriorated. The last third felt like filler. Early parts of the book were charming but overall it was a rather light read.
LibraryThing member whitreidtan
If you love books, at some point in your life, you've probably entertained, seriously or not, the idea of owning a bookstore or working in a library. I mean, if you love books, truly love books, what could sound like a bigger road to bliss than working surrounded by them all day every day? But
Welch worked in a soul sucking job in Washington, D.C. when she and Beck realized that she wanted nothing more than to get out of the snake pit in which she was spending her days. When the job became untenable, they upped stakes and moved to the carefully chosen Big Stone Gap with the idea of starting a bookstore there. They were complete bookstore newbies without any experience behind them that could have prepared them for all they experienced as they prepared to open the Tales of the Lonesome Pine Book Store on the first floor of their charming old Victorian home. They made mistakes, ill-conceived as well as serendipitous. They struggled and succeeded and learned a lot along the way. There was a steep, financially taxing learning curve to owning their own bookstore and even now, they don't make much but they are comfortable and content and that is more than enough.
From the genesis of the bookstore idea through to its actual functioning existence, this memoir takes readers each step of the way. The chapters, roughly chronological, each revolve around different aspects of owning and running an independent bookstore. Welch details their attempts at marketing the store on a shoestring and the ways in which their chosen location of a small town gave them both gifts and stumbling blocks as they strove for acceptance in a community that was not always too open to outsiders. There are sweet anecdotes and the brief introduction of bookstore regulars and other characters who wander into the store and contribute to the ongoing story of Tales of the Lonesome Pine Book Store. Welch talks about taking a trip to visit other independent bookstores to see how they ran their businesses and the ways in which that vacation changed and enriched their small store. Written very conversationally, as if Welch is talking to a customer or friend (or both), the book definitely has charm. It is, however, also a bit thin for its length and somewhat repetitious as well. Having worked at an independent bookstore, I was already familiar with much of what Welch recounted and many of her stories were stories I've already lived. Perhaps familiarity breeds contempt but I found several patches of the tale dull and disappointing. Despite this, the book was a nice read but perhaps not of great interest outside of the small world of book fanatics.
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daydreams don't include the reality of actually doing it, being responsible for running a business and making a living amongst books. And if you do go ahead and do it, it's not as easy or idyllic as it would seem. Not that it's without its joys and benefits, certainly, but it is a business (and generally a small business at that) and comes with the attendant worries of all businesses plus some specifically tailored to the book business. Even so, Wendy Welch and her husband Jack Beck decided to follow their hearts and open up a small new and used bookstore in Big Stone Gap, Virginia without knowing exactly what they were in for. In this memoir of their adventure, Welch has chronicled the ups and downs, lessons learned, friendships made, and the ways in which they not only succeeded but found happiness living and working among books every day.Welch worked in a soul sucking job in Washington, D.C. when she and Beck realized that she wanted nothing more than to get out of the snake pit in which she was spending her days. When the job became untenable, they upped stakes and moved to the carefully chosen Big Stone Gap with the idea of starting a bookstore there. They were complete bookstore newbies without any experience behind them that could have prepared them for all they experienced as they prepared to open the Tales of the Lonesome Pine Book Store on the first floor of their charming old Victorian home. They made mistakes, ill-conceived as well as serendipitous. They struggled and succeeded and learned a lot along the way. There was a steep, financially taxing learning curve to owning their own bookstore and even now, they don't make much but they are comfortable and content and that is more than enough.
From the genesis of the bookstore idea through to its actual functioning existence, this memoir takes readers each step of the way. The chapters, roughly chronological, each revolve around different aspects of owning and running an independent bookstore. Welch details their attempts at marketing the store on a shoestring and the ways in which their chosen location of a small town gave them both gifts and stumbling blocks as they strove for acceptance in a community that was not always too open to outsiders. There are sweet anecdotes and the brief introduction of bookstore regulars and other characters who wander into the store and contribute to the ongoing story of Tales of the Lonesome Pine Book Store. Welch talks about taking a trip to visit other independent bookstores to see how they ran their businesses and the ways in which that vacation changed and enriched their small store. Written very conversationally, as if Welch is talking to a customer or friend (or both), the book definitely has charm. It is, however, also a bit thin for its length and somewhat repetitious as well. Having worked at an independent bookstore, I was already familiar with much of what Welch recounted and many of her stories were stories I've already lived. Perhaps familiarity breeds contempt but I found several patches of the tale dull and disappointing. Despite this, the book was a nice read but perhaps not of great interest outside of the small world of book fanatics.
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LibraryThing member Sullywriter
An engaging and enjoyable memoir, one that will especially appeal to bibliophiles and lovers of bookstores like myself. I found the author's style occasionally annoying. Her obvious attempts to be clever grated on my nerves as was her need to remind readers of her advanced education. After seeing A
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Prayer for Owen Meaney on her "Top Ten Classics That Shouldn't Be" list, I wouldn't trust her judgement enough to ask for a recommendation. Show Less
LibraryThing member amandamay83
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book through First Reads. All opinions are my own.
This was an enjoyable, easy read. It made me want to run down to my own local used bookstore and buy a huge pile of books. (Nevermind the piles I already have to read.) The stories of their customers both
The book was really just a delight. It made me want to pack my bags and take a trip to Virginia, purely to stop at their shop, pet their cats, and join them on Needlework Night.
I think any book-lover will enjoy this. It's the perfect cheer-you-up-on-a-rainy-weekend read.
This was an enjoyable, easy read. It made me want to run down to my own local used bookstore and buy a huge pile of books. (Nevermind the piles I already have to read.) The stories of their customers both
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cracked me up (small town people seem to be the same no matter the state) and broke my heart a little (I cried more than once). I especially enjoyed one of the final chapters, wherein the author lists her favorite--and least favorite!--books. It was like sitting down for a chat with an old friend.The book was really just a delight. It made me want to pack my bags and take a trip to Virginia, purely to stop at their shop, pet their cats, and join them on Needlework Night.
I think any book-lover will enjoy this. It's the perfect cheer-you-up-on-a-rainy-weekend read.
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LibraryThing member lindap69
"We read books & tell stories to find each other" Wendy Welch. This is a definite find for lovers of people, books, bookstores and communities where people know and care about each other.
LibraryThing member libraryclerk
Really liked the way it made you feel like you were right there.
LibraryThing member dono421846
Engaging account of experiences starting and running a used book store. The thematic treatment is at times uneven: at points it is about the bookstore, at others the community in which the bookstore happened to exist. Granting an interrelationship, viewing the bookstore through the community is a
We're told of financial challenges, but not many details (e.g., the author had outside employment, but we're not told doing what or how much that paid), so it was difficult to follow along on the path toward the store's solvency, and thus empathize with the author's concerns. We hear nothing, for example, about the food aspect of the bookstore's operations, other than that it exists.
I could have done without the last chapter when she lists books she likes and dislikes, which came off as a bit self-indulgent. If she wanted to give a "personal touch," it would perhaps have made better sense to give the oft-mentioned shortbread recipe! But despite these shortcomings, the overall impression is very pleasant.
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different story than viewing the community through the bookstore, and these separate threads were not consistently distinguished.We're told of financial challenges, but not many details (e.g., the author had outside employment, but we're not told doing what or how much that paid), so it was difficult to follow along on the path toward the store's solvency, and thus empathize with the author's concerns. We hear nothing, for example, about the food aspect of the bookstore's operations, other than that it exists.
I could have done without the last chapter when she lists books she likes and dislikes, which came off as a bit self-indulgent. If she wanted to give a "personal touch," it would perhaps have made better sense to give the oft-mentioned shortbread recipe! But despite these shortcomings, the overall impression is very pleasant.
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LibraryThing member lycomayflower
A pleasant memoir about starting a used bookstore during "the death of the book." Some nice anecdotes, a few head-nodding moments about reading and books, and a handful of laugh-out-loud passages. Enjoyable, but somehow I never settled into the book as much as I would have liked. In the best
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memoirs of this sort, I start to feel a real kinship with the narrator and become deeply invested in their story. I never did that here, though I'm not entirely sure why, as nothing about the narrator's voice is irritating or off-putting. Recommended (despite my wee reservation) to anyone who thinks bookstores are pretty darn neat and would like to see them stick around. Show Less
LibraryThing member margaret.pinard
Lots of great insights, lots of funny and heartwarming stories, as one would expect from an ethnographer cataloguing her experience setting up shop in an insular Southern mountain town.
Around the Reading Rekindled chapter though, it seemed to drag a bit and thereafter started swooping in and out of
Around the Reading Rekindled chapter though, it seemed to drag a bit and thereafter started swooping in and out of
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pontificating and actual information. Could've been my frame of mind though, too, as I was suffering from allergies and looking for something to distract me from that, while on a moving train, so... About 75% a perfect read, so very worth it! Show Less
LibraryThing member jillrhudy
A wonderful surprise. As a librarian in the region, I am expected to wade through "local writing" that is varying degrees of horrendous, but the writing in this book is a delight. The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap is about much more than starting and maintaining a bookstore, and the
I have visited the bookstore personally and it is an astonishingly quirky little browser's paradise--like walking into a place you have seen often in your dreams. If you see the bookstore first, the book will seem familiar, and if you read the book first, you'll feel you've already been in the little bookstore.
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fascinations of the bluestocking life in general. It's about making new friends in small towns where outsiders might normally be unwelcome, about how to adapt to and even contribute to a unique culture, and about how--having done the family thing right--to craft a life for your family that fits, even if that life is in a tiny town in the mountains of Virginia. Making a life that answers the cries of our souls is something that few of us are privileged to do.I have visited the bookstore personally and it is an astonishingly quirky little browser's paradise--like walking into a place you have seen often in your dreams. If you see the bookstore first, the book will seem familiar, and if you read the book first, you'll feel you've already been in the little bookstore.
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LibraryThing member MargaretPinardAuthor
Lots of great insights, lots of funny and heartwarming stories, as one would expect from an ethnographer cataloguing her experience setting up shop in an insular Southern mountain town.
Around the Reading Rekindled chapter though, it seemed to drag a bit and thereafter started swooping in and out of
Around the Reading Rekindled chapter though, it seemed to drag a bit and thereafter started swooping in and out of
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pontificating and actual information. Could've been my frame of mind though, too, as I was suffering from allergies and looking for something to distract me from that, while on a moving train, so... About 75% a perfect read, so very worth it! Show Less
LibraryThing member jwood652
The improbable story of a married couple who buy a charming old house in a small Appalachian town, opening a used bookstore on the first floor, is it fact or fiction? Two outsiders with no bookstore experience, in a very small, close knit community in a supposedly uneducated region, surprisingly it
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is the author's account of their true experience. Full of anecdotes about the customers, the convoluted journey to learning the book business, and the community they eventually became a part of, this is a delightful book. You'll be tempted to make a road trip to Big Stone Gap Virginia to experience the little bookshop and meet Jack and Wendy. Show Less
LibraryThing member jwood652
The improbable story of a married couple who buy a charming old house in a small Appalachian town, opening a used bookstore on the first floor, is it fact or fiction? Two outsiders with no bookstore experience, in a very small, close knit community in a supposedly uneducated region, surprisingly it
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is the author's account of their true experience. Full of anecdotes about the customers, the convoluted journey to learning the book business, and the community they eventually became a part of, this is a delightful book. You'll be tempted to make a road trip to Big Stone Gap Virginia to experience the little bookshop and meet Jack and Wendy. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jeannine504
Wendy Welch, the author, and her Scottish mate, Beck, decided one day to walk out of their corporate lives and open a bookstore. They are peace-loving, people-loving, pet-loving highly educated Quakers who manage to succeed in a business that is fading from the landscape.
This book gets a little
This book gets a little
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preachy at times, but she's a really good story-teller. Sometimes you'll laugh, sometimes you'll get a catch in your throat. Show Less
LibraryThing member UberButter
The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap: A Memoir of Friendship, Community, and the Uncommon Pleasure of a Good Book by Wendy Welch
★ ★ ★ ★
I have been on quite the book slump the last couple months. I am happy to say that I have finally found a book to help me get out of this slump!
Wendy and
I received this ARC book and was excited by the title alone. A story about a used bookstore (one of my favorite places)? I’m there! And it did not disappoint. From the beginning I absolutely adored the author, Wendy, and her Scottish husband. I wanted to rush to Virginia to visit their bookstore and meet these people. I feel like I could relate to these people and I can imagine spending my day in their shop while having tea and finding some great books to read. The couple quickly learned that their job was more than selling books but being an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on. They would become more than the “new people” who moved into a small town but a part of a family and community. Not only did I enjoy the memoir quite a bit but I love the books that the author mentions. As if I needed more book recommendations, she had a lot of great ones that I am eager to get to!
This may not be a high action memoir but definitely a favorite for me. A delightful surprise and worth the read. This book will be released in October 2012. I know many people that would enjoy this gem.
★ ★ ★ ★
I have been on quite the book slump the last couple months. I am happy to say that I have finally found a book to help me get out of this slump!
Wendy and
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her husband, Jack, decided to start a used bookstore with no business experience, in a time where e-books start showing their popularity, and in a small town with 5000 people residing in it. They weren’t sure they would make it nor did many of its residents but they did and what an adventure it was. I received this ARC book and was excited by the title alone. A story about a used bookstore (one of my favorite places)? I’m there! And it did not disappoint. From the beginning I absolutely adored the author, Wendy, and her Scottish husband. I wanted to rush to Virginia to visit their bookstore and meet these people. I feel like I could relate to these people and I can imagine spending my day in their shop while having tea and finding some great books to read. The couple quickly learned that their job was more than selling books but being an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on. They would become more than the “new people” who moved into a small town but a part of a family and community. Not only did I enjoy the memoir quite a bit but I love the books that the author mentions. As if I needed more book recommendations, she had a lot of great ones that I am eager to get to!
This may not be a high action memoir but definitely a favorite for me. A delightful surprise and worth the read. This book will be released in October 2012. I know many people that would enjoy this gem.
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LibraryThing member bookswoman
True story of a husband and wife who open a "used book" bookstore in a small town in the Appalachians. Wendy chronicles the ups and downs of starting anew in a town neither knew before and where no one knows them. There is suspicion and distrust to overcome. Some of the best pieces are about the
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things they did to get people into the store. Well written, interesting and I'm glad I read it. Show Less
LibraryThing member murderbydeath
So here's a deep, dark secret: I would love to own a bookstore someday.
I have this bookstore planned out in my mind almost to the last detail, although I sometimes fluctuate between whether to go all-inclusive or specialise in mystery fiction and also between all new books or a combination
All of this to say that when Nothing Better than a Good Book mentioned this memoir of a couple starting a used bookstore in a small Virginia town, I had to go out and immediately order it. This was a great opportunity to read about someone else's experience trying to do the same thing I daydream about doing myself someday .
I found a lot of good stuff in here. A lot of things I knew, being the child of a shop (flower) owner and the wife of a business owner, but a lot of stuff too that I never took into account, like the amount of emotional baggage that can often accompany a crateful of used books or just how much a bookshop can become a community center.
There's also a fair amount of philosophising most of which was interesting and some of it a little bit defensive but all of it mostly spot-on. Most of her defensiveness comes up when talking about ebooks and really, any bookseller would get defensive on this topic because people insist on viewing 'ebooks vs. paper' as a competition instead of what it is: a choice, an option. I understand where she's coming from, but she protested just a bit too much.
This is solidly a memoir about starting a bookshop and it's on the meatier side of the spectrum; it wasn't a slog at all but it wasn't a quick read either. I had sort of expected her to veer off topic once in awhile but the focus remained tightly on starting the bookshop and the first five years of keeping it running. I found it highly informative and interesting. Now if I can just get my husband to read it....
I have this bookstore planned out in my mind almost to the last detail, although I sometimes fluctuate between whether to go all-inclusive or specialise in mystery fiction and also between all new books or a combination
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new/used.All of this to say that when Nothing Better than a Good Book mentioned this memoir of a couple starting a used bookstore in a small Virginia town, I had to go out and immediately order it. This was a great opportunity to read about someone else's experience trying to do the same thing I daydream about doing myself someday .
I found a lot of good stuff in here. A lot of things I knew, being the child of a shop (flower) owner and the wife of a business owner, but a lot of stuff too that I never took into account, like the amount of emotional baggage that can often accompany a crateful of used books or just how much a bookshop can become a community center.
There's also a fair amount of philosophising most of which was interesting and some of it a little bit defensive but all of it mostly spot-on. Most of her defensiveness comes up when talking about ebooks and really, any bookseller would get defensive on this topic because people insist on viewing 'ebooks vs. paper' as a competition instead of what it is: a choice, an option. I understand where she's coming from, but she protested just a bit too much.
This is solidly a memoir about starting a bookshop and it's on the meatier side of the spectrum; it wasn't a slog at all but it wasn't a quick read either. I had sort of expected her to veer off topic once in awhile but the focus remained tightly on starting the bookshop and the first five years of keeping it running. I found it highly informative and interesting. Now if I can just get my husband to read it....
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LibraryThing member thornton37814
Single sentence review: I would prefer to visit the bookstore than read about it.
Longer review: Wendy Welch and her husband Jack decide to open a used bookstore in a small Virginia town. Everyone thinks they are nuts. No one expects it to last. Their resources were few. At first they mostly relied
Longer review: Wendy Welch and her husband Jack decide to open a used bookstore in a small Virginia town. Everyone thinks they are nuts. No one expects it to last. Their resources were few. At first they mostly relied
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on their own books and yard sale books. When they open, they also begin receiving books for trade. She recounts their difficulties. My favorite chapter in the book gave details on a multi-state bookstore tour they made. She gave high praise to Square Books and to the town of Oxford, Mississippi, which made me very happy since it is in my home state and is a place I enjoy visiting when I'm in Oxford. The book bogs down a bit in the details of owning and operating a bookstore, but I suspect it might be attractive to someone considering going into the used book business. One chapter is a list of recommended reads. I questioned some of the choices and agreed with others. Ultimately I would rather be browsing the shelves of the bookstore while petting one of those adorable foster kittens in their online virtual tour than reading about it. Fortunately it's not that long of a drive, so I may actually be able to visit. Show Less
LibraryThing member SESchend
Fun, light read that was fun and engaging and made me want to both visit the author and the bookstore.
LibraryThing member DebbieMcCauley
Wendy Welch and Scottish folk singer husband Jack Beck purchase an old house in the small town of Big Stone Gap in Virginia and turn the first floor into a used bookstore. Recovering from a toxic work environment and low on funds, Wendy scours garage sales for stock and the couple cull their own
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collection of books. Classed as 'outsiders' in the small town, nobody believes they will last long. With time and a lot of work they eventually integrate themselves into the local community. Each chapter covers different aspects of what it's really like to own a bookshop (and live upstairs!). The couple are Quakers and the book is a bit religious in places, also the stories, whilst entertaining, do ramble on somewhat. The first half was better than the second. Show Less
LibraryThing member witchyrichy
I get out to Southwest Virginia at least once a year but never made it to the bookstore at Big Stone Gap. Sadly, it was sold this summer and will revert to a private home. Wendy Welch's memoir of opening and operating the bookstore was an honest and loving tale of the challenges of moving into a
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close knit community. It could well be a foundational document for others who wish to do the same with lots of "lessons learned" about creating and growing a customer base. Organized in essay style that generally followed the chronology of the store as well as their eventual welcome into the community, the book takes its time and drags a bit in the middle as Welch comes to some understanding of her own role in connecting with her neighbors. It was a nice story, however, and made me nostalgic for this beautiful part of my state. Show Less
LibraryThing member jonerthon
A straightforward story giving what the title promises, and a lovely personal take on being both a small business owner and the new family in town. Welch and her husband moved to escape a toxic job environment in a big city, and pursued a somewhat impulsive dream to open a bookstore and get to know
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their new town. If you have interest in rural America, this also is instructive on how local economies fight the good fight against chain retail, and are notching some wins. Show Less
Original publication date
2012
Physical description
304 p.
ISBN
1250010632 / 9781250010636
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Among the Gently Mad: Strategies and Perspectives for the Book-Hunter in the 21st Century by Nicholas A. Basbanes