THE BOOKSHOP A History of the American Bookstore

Jay Myers narrates this fascinating audiobook about American bookstores with enthusiasm for its subject, neutrality toward its facts, and admiration for its stories. The wealth of topics discussed is astounding: early bookstores, past and present bibliophiles, particular bookstores' scents, and more. Myers's pacing is leisurely, and he highlights meaningful quotes, such as the one from a bookseller who points out the industry "has been a dying business for 5,000 years." Whether he's recounting anecdotes from Ben Franklin about early publishing, sharing the difficulties of today's independent bookstores as they try to survive amid behemoths like Amazon, or illuminating the passions of authors like Ann Patchett, who own their own bookstores-- listeners can count on Myers to maintain their engagement. S.W. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2024]