Helpful Score: 4
Just an utter delight to read. It's a book about a person's passion for books. The title is a misnomer. This isn't about a brick and mortar bookstore, but a mobile book bus run by a shy librarian who moves to the Scottish Highlands. We never get a good physical description of the heroine, but apparently she is far more attractive than she gives herself credit for because more than one man in the story finds her intriguing despite her tendency to make herself small and unobtrusive. I don't really care for chick-lit books, but this I think would be consider very good chick-lit. I wasn't left feeling like I wasted a few hours of my time on silly shallow characters. This is heartwarming without being too sappy and predictable. It's the kind of book you can read if you need a pick me up. Anyone who loves books, and I imagine that's why you're on this site, can relate to the heroine's love of books. There's a lively cast of colorful characters and a bit of sweet romance.
A big shout out to the author for having an Indian secondary character. The UK is multicultural place and it's about time authors who write stories set in the UK depict the modern society in which these characters live.
This is my first book by this author. I'm definitely reading more of her work.
A big shout out to the author for having an Indian secondary character. The UK is multicultural place and it's about time authors who write stories set in the UK depict the modern society in which these characters live.
This is my first book by this author. I'm definitely reading more of her work.
Helpful Score: 2
This is one great book! I think its the story of what all of us avid readers would love to live. Having your own cozy bookshop or rather, "Book Van". All you know is books, watching others read the books you suggest to them, seeing men read, kids, a whole community because of your bookshop or again, "Book Van".
I loved the setting in Scotland and the old Scottish farmers, the pub and the village. The descriptions of everything, of everyone, its a great dream, deff a great story. It grabbed me and held me till the last page..Midnight trains, romance in the moonlight, a handsome Russian, books, books and more books. Leaving books in a secret place for a handsome stranger to find..Ohh I really liked this story.
I loved the setting in Scotland and the old Scottish farmers, the pub and the village. The descriptions of everything, of everyone, its a great dream, deff a great story. It grabbed me and held me till the last page..Midnight trains, romance in the moonlight, a handsome Russian, books, books and more books. Leaving books in a secret place for a handsome stranger to find..Ohh I really liked this story.
Helpful Score: 1
As a constant reader, I could hardly wait to start and read this book. It seemed to be the perfect setting. Nina Redmond's library career was shortened by cutbacks in the town library system. Nina is one of those wonderful librarians who can find a book for every reader -- or even non-reader.
Nina decides to sell books from the van she buys and transforms. While traveling from one neighborhood to another, she offers her wares and seems to change the community. Having been in business myself, I found her instant success to be a bit farfetched. Nina is fortunate to be able to find a comfortable barn-home on the property of a rather grouchy landlord.
The odd thing about this book is that the sum-and-total of this book is less than its parts. The story of an introspective, bookish woman emerging from her cocoon to try out life was interesting. However, the men she interacted with were awful. The first man was a foreigner who was attracted to Nina and visa versa. Just before something significant happens between the couple, Nina finds out he has a son and a girlfriend in his home country. Thank goodness, Nina is horrified and reels back. However, she thinks it was all her fault (he didn't tell Nina and she's taking the blame).
Then, the grumpy landlord and Nina get together and have unabashed sex, even though Nina knows that John is still married (though he is getting a divorce and his wife has run off with an interior decorator). John has seemed indifferent and angry with Nina for most of the book. But she decides that he is a sweet soul after all and falls in love with him. What is Nina's problem?
This is the first of three Scottish Bookshop series books, but I don't plan to read the others. Nina is immature and needy. She doesn't need a boyfriend/husband, she needs therapy. Someone that thinks she is to blame when she is treated badly by men, needs help discovering why she is attracted to hateful men.*
* Yes, I happen to be a therapist.
Nina decides to sell books from the van she buys and transforms. While traveling from one neighborhood to another, she offers her wares and seems to change the community. Having been in business myself, I found her instant success to be a bit farfetched. Nina is fortunate to be able to find a comfortable barn-home on the property of a rather grouchy landlord.
The odd thing about this book is that the sum-and-total of this book is less than its parts. The story of an introspective, bookish woman emerging from her cocoon to try out life was interesting. However, the men she interacted with were awful. The first man was a foreigner who was attracted to Nina and visa versa. Just before something significant happens between the couple, Nina finds out he has a son and a girlfriend in his home country. Thank goodness, Nina is horrified and reels back. However, she thinks it was all her fault (he didn't tell Nina and she's taking the blame).
Then, the grumpy landlord and Nina get together and have unabashed sex, even though Nina knows that John is still married (though he is getting a divorce and his wife has run off with an interior decorator). John has seemed indifferent and angry with Nina for most of the book. But she decides that he is a sweet soul after all and falls in love with him. What is Nina's problem?
This is the first of three Scottish Bookshop series books, but I don't plan to read the others. Nina is immature and needy. She doesn't need a boyfriend/husband, she needs therapy. Someone that thinks she is to blame when she is treated badly by men, needs help discovering why she is attracted to hateful men.*
* Yes, I happen to be a therapist.
Oh my, I loved, loved, loved this book! Not only is it about books, but also about taking chances in life and becoming the person you really should be. And yes, it has a little romance in it, but it's really a book about finding your strength, speaking your mind, and not being pushed aside.
Nina Redmond is a librarian who is let go when the small library she works in closes. She has always wanted to own a bookshop, or even a bookmobile, so she finds an old van that she buys in Scotland. The story is filled with quirky characters, heartwarming interactions with town folks, a little romance with a train engineer, and even an unfortunate relationship with her landlord. (That was a disappointment to me, far too predictable and so out of character for Nina.)
This is book that makes you smile, cry, laugh, and cheer on the woman who finally makes her way in life, doing what she has always wanted to do. YAY!
Nina Redmond is a librarian who is let go when the small library she works in closes. She has always wanted to own a bookshop, or even a bookmobile, so she finds an old van that she buys in Scotland. The story is filled with quirky characters, heartwarming interactions with town folks, a little romance with a train engineer, and even an unfortunate relationship with her landlord. (That was a disappointment to me, far too predictable and so out of character for Nina.)
This is book that makes you smile, cry, laugh, and cheer on the woman who finally makes her way in life, doing what she has always wanted to do. YAY!
Jenny Colgan's books are such a joy to read, this is another delightful one. I would love to have the bravery that Nina has, buying a van to sell books out of, and heading to Scotland. A fun, relaxing read.
I fell in love with this book! Nina Redmond is one of the most delightful characters I have read in a very long time. The fact that she is a librarian helps. I wanted to be one and my daughter is one. But she loses her job and goes for her dream, that of having a bookstore in a van. It would be kind of like a bookmobile, but you buy the books. She goes to Scotland to find a van and though it scares her, she buys it. She already had a ton of books when the library she worked for (and closed) gives her a big start. Her talent is finding the right book for the right person. There is so much to feast on in this book, from the Midsummer's Eve party to the poetry exchange from a train engineer, a fabulous cottage that looks like it's been done by a London Interior Designer to all the different types of men around there. It is a charming book, yet it has a lot of grit and real life in it. I highly recommend it!
Nina Redmond is a librarian with a gift for finding the perfect book for her readers. But can she write her own happy-ever-after? When Nina finds her job as a librarian eliminated, she embarks on her life-long dream of owning her own book shop. Always timid by nature, she totally uproots her life and moves to Scotland to run a mobile bookstore and encounters new people and experiences that she didn't believe possible for her.
When Nina Redmond loses her perfect job in the city library, she is at first devastated. Moving from the city, she finds a quiet little village in the Scottish Highlands. This is a place that needs a library so Nina buys a van to convert into a mobile library and take books to people in their own neighborhoods. Thus. she changes one life after another through the power of storytelling, watching people of all ages reading, reading, reading. Nina is shy and quiet until it comes to choosing books. Because her passion is finding perfect books for people she finds contentment here.
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As Nina adapts to life in a rural environment she helps many patrons including her grumpy landlord who needs help delivering a lamb. She enjoys picnics with a train conductor who reads her poetry. With each new person, Nina discovers adventure and magic in the tiny village that she is begins to call home.
This heartwarming read gives those who choose it a lighthearted look at life with books. Not everything goes smoothly for Nina but there are numerous experiences that make one smile and, when you love books like Nina, you understand what motivates her. Many characters of different backgrounds combine with a little romance. Nothing much is written about Nina's appearance but more than one man finds her attractive and she may find a happy ending for herself. Do pick up this fun read because it will lighten your heart.
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As Nina adapts to life in a rural environment she helps many patrons including her grumpy landlord who needs help delivering a lamb. She enjoys picnics with a train conductor who reads her poetry. With each new person, Nina discovers adventure and magic in the tiny village that she is begins to call home.
This heartwarming read gives those who choose it a lighthearted look at life with books. Not everything goes smoothly for Nina but there are numerous experiences that make one smile and, when you love books like Nina, you understand what motivates her. Many characters of different backgrounds combine with a little romance. Nothing much is written about Nina's appearance but more than one man finds her attractive and she may find a happy ending for herself. Do pick up this fun read because it will lighten your heart.
This was recommended by a friend who read it for her book club. Marvelous tale about a librarian, obsessed with books,who is let go from her job in England,and dares to try something new in her life. She travels to Scotland, buys an old van and converts it into a bookshop, and moves to the little town where she bought the van. She has a best friend of a roommate in England that cheers her on all through the story. Two railroad train engineers, who help her bring her stash of books into Scotland. One she has a romantic flirtation with. And the curmudgeonly owner of a ranch where she is renting a place to live , who finally starts to come around buy the end of the story. If you like âtake me awayâ stories, this is for you!
Great book; loved it.
I look forward to reading #2. This is a nice uplifting pallet cleaner in between more intense books. I loved the brave main character and the love story since it was faulted and real. Scotland description is awesome too. Mostly about passion of books with a bit of romance in between, enjoyed a lot.
Sweet heartwarming story about a woman who loses her job and chases a dream. She buys a travelling van and has a travelling bookstore, and moves to a new town. Good characters, some a little quirky. good chick lit book.
This was such a cute book about a woman following her dream, even though it may scare her. She is living my dream, so I saw a lot of myself in her.
Enjoyable book about not being afraid to make drastic changes in your life because they just might turn out OK! I enjoyed the book about after about 1/3 of the way into it, and then it really got going. Ending was OK, but felt a bit rushed First book I have read by this author and wouldn't mind picking up another. If you love books, it is fun to watch Nina try to match the perfect book to each person...something us book lovers can relate to!
I loved this light, easy read. Nina, although ditzy at times, was a lovely character with a passion for books & a heart for adventure! There's nothing easy about starting a new life in a new country with an idea that isn't tried & true. Moist of us never take the chances Nina took just to be happy! I loved the innocence of this story. I can't wait to read more from Jenny Colgan!
Adorable, sweet book. She does what I'd love to do, get a van and make a moving bookshop! In the days of electronic everything for reading, this book shows how wonderful and magical holding a physical book can be. And the power that all those endearing books have in our lives and memories.
I'm going to have to find more books by Jenny Colgan. Her style of writing appeals to me and begs for a cozy fire, a cup of hot chocolate, some cookies and a warm blanket.
I'm going to have to find more books by Jenny Colgan. Her style of writing appeals to me and begs for a cozy fire, a cup of hot chocolate, some cookies and a warm blanket.
