In an "easy and relaxed" writing style, Judy Hoff shares her delight in owning and operating the Book Nook for nineteen years in Schenectady, New York (1983-2002). With a small loan from her parents and no retailing experience, she opens her used tiny 200 square foot bookstore, but within four years more than quadruples the Book Nook's space to 900 feet — still considered small -- and transforms it into a full service store selling new books only. Humorous anecdotes abound, reflecting Judy's love of books and her customers.
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: This is an entertaining, reverent memoir devoted to all things literature. Hoff recounts her time as a bookstore owner, delving into the mechanics of the field while cementing the crucial role that books play in our collective communities.
Prose: Hoff shapes tender reminiscences of her bookstore, in fond—and oftentimes funny—language that will evoke the smell of dusty pages and the texture of a new hardcover for readers.
Originality: Readers will appreciate Hoff’s candid memories and her celebration of a bookseller’s life, from the growing pains of her business to the thrill of helping customers discover new reading material to the eventual closing of her store.
Character/Execution: Hoff’s love for literature seeps through the pages of her memoir, as she details the history of her bookstore ownership, the eccentricities of the business and her customers, and her affectionate recollections of book-related events throughout the years.
Date Submitted: January 30, 2024
