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.
Kimberly N. (kimberlyrav) -
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.
