The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap: A Memoir of Friendship, Community, and the Uncommon Pleasure of a Good Book

by Wendy Welch

Book Overview

An inspiring true story about losing your place, finding your purpose, and building a community one book at a time. Wendy Welch and her husband had always dreamed of owning a bookstore, so when they left their high-octane jobs for a simpler life in an Appalachian coal town, they seized an unexpected opportunity to pursue thier dream. The only problems? A declining U.S. economy, a small town with no industry, and the advent of the e-book. They also...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1250010632
• ISBN13: 9781250010636
• Release Date: October 2012
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 291 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.8" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Quick, fun read

If you read a lot and frequent book stores, you will enjoy Wendy Welch's story of becoming a part of an Appalachian community. I especially liked the quotes before each chapter. There is a bit of self-edification but it is mostly poking fun at oneself.

Did Not Like This Book

I did not like this book although I wanted to, obviously, since I bought it. There is something in the main character that reeks of self righteousness. It was a feeling of, "look at me, I am bringing literacy to a bunch of rubes" type mentality that turned me off. It was the people of the community that got them started by bringing books to them, and the main characters sister who had the idea in the first place. They never were financially successful as Wendy took an outside job for health insurance and her husband led travel tours in Scotland. The bookstore was more of a hobby not a business.