Bookshops: A Reader’s History

Carrión, in his essential work Bookshops: A Reader’s History, explores the history of the bookstore from Athens to chain stores. Should you be accustomed to reading book reviews, scouting potential books, and reading voraciously, this book is a much-needed reminder of the process of books. As readers, we often forget that a book isn’t merely the act of reading but rather a process that starts with the writer’s inspiration and ends with the bookstore. Not only are books a conduit for salacious and intriguing ideas but so too are bookstores responsible for providing an avenue between the reader and the author. Carrión hits on the dire need for a reminder of this importance. He mentions the “disappearing” bookstore and that the attraction is no longer the books but the aesthetic or attractive. And this idea is a “sign of the times.” As people move into a digital age, the written word has moved away from books as physical items to books as a theoretical idea solely meaning the written word. Therefore, Carrión makes a case for the importance of bookstores by exploring their vast history. Himself an expert in the field, he represents the perfect voice to bring this need to public attention. If you are a book lover, I would recommend this book. Not only does Carrión transport you to the locations and douse you with history, he also makes the read entertaining by maintaining a strikingly intelligent conversation with the reader.