Footnotes from the World's Greatest Bookstores: True Tales and Lost Moments from Book Buyers, Booksellers, and Book Lovers

As an avid reader and self-confessed bibliophile, I love reading about books, libraries, and of course bookstores. FOOTNOTES FROM THE WORLD'S GREATEST BOOKSTORES is a treasure that I will savor again and again. There is no real order to this catalog of beloved bookstores around the globe but to me, that's part of this book's charm. I can flip through pages and land on some wondrous place located thousands of miles away or perhaps closer to home. The footnotes are often charming themselves, at times laugh out loud funny, and even a little outrageous.The artwork on each page is beautiful, featuring watercolor depictions of famous and well-loved bookstores around the world. As I read, I listed some stores that I told myself I must visit someday.There is a certain sense of poignancy in reading this book, because as one reads about the independent bookstores that continue to survive, there is a sense of mourning for those that didn't make it and are long gone. I often tell myself and those that care to listen that a world without bookstores would be a terrible, lonely world bereft of all that warmth and sense of anticipation - I feel so alive when I walk into a bookstore - there's something magical about the experience. This book keeps me optimistic that brick and mortar bookstores, no matter the challenges (the irony that I am posting this on Amazon is not lost on me here), will endure, God willing. If you love books and the bookstore experience, treat yourself to this lovely gem - you won't be sorry.

This was a present for my book lover who's lived all over the States.He would've loved it on it's own but being able to visit stores from where he's been was a great treat that,made it impossible for him to put this down.He was especially enjoyed the Garrison Keillor forward.A wonderful intro from a talented storyteller.The book opens vertically & the pages open horizontally so you're looking at bookshelves like you're in a bookstore,while thumbing through the illustrated pages of bookstores. It's quite enchanting.The illustrations are wonderful.Makes you feel like you are walking down an intimate street with anticipation discover surprise treasure.Covers everything from JK Rowlings inspiration for Hogwarts in Portugal to,Bethlehem's first & continuously running bookstore from before America's independence.If you're a book lover or just nostalgic for the rare breed of small, independently owned bookstore,This is a must have & rare treat.

This is such a lovely book. I like the way each store is described in a literary way. The cute drawings add so much to the message, too. I hope that these stores survived the closings of covid!!

This book was a fun and delightful read. It's the perfect escape. Loved reading about different celebrities and the different bookstores. Perfect for book lovers and readers.

After some tests at school, I used to trot off to the bookstore near my house in return to my efforts and persistence toward that. I was unable to buy all books I crave for. I had to struggle against my lust to read all books. It was tough agony for a little child to bear. I remember those bittersweet moments when I got close to the resister. The middle-aged man was friendly but didn’t seem to guess those issues inside of me. Because of that, I was always happy to step in the bookstore but had to step out in thirsty for left books in there. I longed to live for good in bookstores, I long to be buried in bookstores like Michael Cunningham. (Don’t take me wrong. He is alive now.) I cannot peruse all books so I had to compromise with myself. This book seems to me as the precious reservoir for me in this sense. The author Bob’s gathered a variety of tales related to bookstores across the world and provided those with his exquisite illustrations. Particularly I was enchanted by the eloquent, rarely frank confession from bookstore owners. They reveal the attractive anecdotes with celebrities and crippling publishing industry. But as always those people in reading are not mortified. I was able to feel some undefeated hope about books. I’d like to engrave Garrison Keillor’s words. “But everything is ripe for revival.” I’m with him. Because I cannot trample on my dream in my childhood easily. I cannot imagine the world without books.

I love this book! If you love book stores this book gives you many delightful short histories on many famous and well loved bookstores. Great illustrations too!

Like this book a lot. Bought it for a teacher friend. I know she will like it.

This is a very attractive book, with well-written comments and anecdotes about each entry, accompanied with lovely illustrations by the author. However, I agree with several other people criticizing the book for lack of flow, with no organization at all. No Table of Contents/Index, nor any sort of groupings by location or theme. Additionally, I was disappointed not to find two of my all-time favorite bookstores: the Book Loft in Old German Town in Columbus, Ohio and Acres of Books, closed several years ago. Both bookstores in which you could get blissfully lost. I will still enjoy this book, but could have loved it even more.

Delightful! Totally worth it

As ilustrações são lindas e o livro em si já é uma obra de arte. A capa dura com o detalhe em tecido, a qualidade do material tudo muito caprichado, você irá se surpreender!

I was pleasantly surprised by the beauty of this book. Imagine a folding wall paper calendar and a postcards box hybrid, with almost eighty beautiful paintings of bookstores from around the world, each with snippets or quotes from famous people, or anonymous customers, about them. This is what you get when you buy this book. What Woody Allen said about a bookshop in this book, "Everybody's fantasy of what the ideal bookshop is.", we can say about all the others included in it.

Prompt service, but disappointing book.

bought for my wife now her bucket list awesome