We spoke of Fantasies and Bravery then Cottages and Colors. While I am dreaming, I might as well dream big. What could be better than owning a book store? Imagine Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail. The pics I have seen of the Little Boho Bookshop in Bayonne. Shakespeare and Company in Paris. The Storied Life of AJ Fikry. The Little Paris Bookshop. Even Barnes and Noble. Putting books into the hands of many types of readers. Wow, what an awesome way to spend a life. (I am also enamored with libraries, but that is another story.)
I think I would like to own a bookshop with both new and used books. Used ones might be more affordable for some readers and would give new life to older books. New ones, ah new ones, carrying the joy of untold stories. Just the thought of a brand new book to read makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. There is something calming and sedate about reading. It lets you be solitary without being lonely or alone. To be the one that helps a reluctant reader find just the vehicle to ignite the joy of reading would be a labor of love.
There is much talk about the word gap between children of different socioeconomic groups. Maybe we could help close that gap with story hours and reading. Maybe the Basset and the bunny could soothe some souls. There would, of course, be coffee and tea and comfy chairs in nooks and crannies. And the typewriters. I need the typewriters. In Shakespeare and Company, there are many typewriters of varying ages and colors throughout the levels and tucked away in small spaces. There is something womb-like and soothing about reading in a small space. What would I name it? Books and Crannies? Maybe more like Books and Grannies. Lol. We shall see. As Rachel Maddow says, “Watch this space.”
We “hear” language spoken before we learn to read. If the language we hear at home is not intelligent, instructive, and constructive then our ability to read is crippled. I always found it exciting to learn how a word I had heard was spelled. It’s like hearing a painting and then seeing it! Words are little paintings to be seen and heard.
Yes, my grandson already uses words like actually because he has heard his parents speak well. Matt is an English teacher and Jen is an English-teacher-turned-counselor.
We have a local bookstore that has been here for decades. It carries mostly used paperbacks of all genres. But at a used book price, read it, take it back and get credit towards another one. Our local library also also has a traveling bookmobile. And in some cases the library actually rents popular books because they can’t afford to buy them.
Wow, good to know. I will have to do some research into how these work.