The Bookseller at the End of the World

by Ruth Shaw, Emma Clifton

A rich, immersive, funny and heartbreaking memoir of the charming bookseller who runs two tiny bookshops in the remote village of Manapouri in Fiordland, in the deep south of New Zealand.

'An extraordinary story.' Shaun Bythell, The Diary of a Bookseller

Ruth Shaw weaves together stories of the characters who visit her bookshops, musings about favourite books, and bittersweet stories from her full and varied life.

She's sailed through the Pacific for years, been held up by pirates, worked at Sydney's Kings Cross with drug addicts and prostitutes, campaigned on numerous environmental issues, and worked the yacht Breaksea Girl with her husband, Lance.

Underlining all her wanderings and adventures are some very deep losses and long-held pain. Balancing that out is her beautiful love story with Lance, and her delightful sense of humour.

This will make you weep and make you laugh and make you want to read more books - and make you want to visit Ruth and her two wee bookshops.

'Shaw's writing is pragmatic and restrained; her voice is so strong and assured that when grief appears you gasp at its intrusion and your heart stops a second.' Alexa Dretzke, Readings Hawthorn

'Amazing!' Jack Tame, Newstalk ZB

'A fascinating, funny and moving story.' Nicky Pellegrino, New Zealand Woman's Weekly

'Shaw can write about these peaks and troughs [of her life] without a skerrick of maudlin introspection or mawkishness. Battered and emotionally bruised, she marches on. In a word, dauntless, and it's exactly this quality that makes this memoir so readable.' Chris Moore, NZ Listener

'Utterly charming and filled with equal measures of heartbreak and humour, Ruth Shaw's memoir will have you booking the first flight to New Zealand to share a cup of tea at her Wee Bookshops. Shaw has been a cook, a nurse, sailor and world traveller, and endured
immeasurable loss. But with Lance, the love of her life, Shaw has found her place bookselling in Fiordland.' Booksellers' Choice Australia

'Compelling. Shaw tells her own story free of over-sentimentality or self-pity; she's straightforward, frequently humorous... Her resilience, optimism and willingness to help others is to be admired; her remarkable story is to be read and reflected upon as it adds another vital perspective to a NZ life.' Dionne Christian, Sunday Star Times

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Books About Books, Audiobook, Book Club, Travel

267 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2022

About the author

Ruth Shaw runs two wee bookshops in remote Manapouri in the far south of New Zealand.

Reviews

[Daren · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is often hard to reconcile someone you meet briefly, in (relatively) old age with the story of their life. I briefly met Ruth Shaw (but not husband Lance) at her Two Wee Bookshops at Manapouri when on a trip down south. I didn't have an in depth conversation - there were a number of people manoeuvring for position in the small shop, while she waited outside - nearer to the children's bookshop than the one I was in. It isn't generally possible to tell what a person has been through in their life from how the present to you - much like a book and its cover.

This is a simply presented book with alternating chapters on Ruth's autobiographic tales and of short anecdotes about her customers from the bookshop. This book took me through the range of emotions - some of the experiences in the author's life were brutal, and it must have taken a lot of bravery to have shared them in such a detailed manner. Some of her experiences have been adventurous and dangerous, and therefore exciting, but wow, they would have been terrifying at times too. She also shows her determination and ability to succeed in spite of the odds against her.

I wouldn't like to spoil this for other readers, but among her many adventures, those mentioned on the back of the book are only few - being held up by pirates in the seas of Indonesia in a small yacht, working in Kings Cross (Sydney) with prostitutes and drug addicts tied her up with the NSW corruption charges against the vice cops who ran the drug dealers and were responsible for the murders of people who got in the way (many were given long prison terms when internal affairs concluded the Wood Royal Commission).

The author has always had a connection with the sea, and that runs through her autobiography, from her time in the Navy, crewing on various yachts, solo journeys in her own yacht, skippering boats for Fiordland travel (Real Journeys) around Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound & Lake Manapouri and setting up her own ecology tourism business with Lance in Fiordland and the subantarctic islands. She also had a huge list of land based jobs all over New Zealand as well as Papua New Guinea and Australia, often as a cook, but also other more diverse things such a her time running a pig farm and as mentioned above a youth welfare officer.

I am trying really hard not to spoil other things in here, so will leave it at that, but keep an eye out for a copy of this one if you are visiting New Zealand, I can't see how you won't be enthralled by it the way I was.

5 stars

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought a signed copy of this AT the Bookshop at the End of the World, sold to me by Lance, the enthusiastic and loving husband of the author, who assured me this would be one of the best books I will ever read. I loved my time talking to Lance! The bookshop is located in the small village of Manapouri, New Zealand (!!) on the edge of Fiordland. Since I was there and talked to him I of course had to buy it and read it, and I am glad I did!

The book alternates between stories of Ruth's life, her memoir prior to the bookstores called Two Wee (the national bird is the Tui! ha!) and stories of many people whom she has met in the bookstores over the years. My initial impression was that it was going to be a (merely?) sentimental book by an older lady bookseller (review written by an older man, check), which would have be fine, but man, she lived quite the dramatic life. I won't tell much about it, but she survived some brutal things.

Early on she met Lance, too, and they were engaged to be married. Her parents wanted a Catholic wedding and Lance, who was not Catholic, agreed, but the priest said they had to raise any children Catholic. Lance resisted, saying kids need to make their own choices, and . . the deal was off, and Lance took off, and so did Ruth, going their separate ways on the High Seas, sailing on the Pacific (she met headhunters in a port in New Guinea, was robbed by pirates, got into gambling), until decades and many relationships later, they met again. . . a love story!

It's a wild and endearing story, well-told and engaging, harsh and sweet and funny, so to just think of Ruth and Lance as two old folks in a wee bookstore. . . well they are, but you have NO idea what lives they lived!

[Diane Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a memoir of a woman who had quite an adventurous life after an idyllic childhood. A broken engagement to her first love, rape, pregnancy, giving the child up for adoption, another child who died just after birth, 4 marriages, several different careers, danger, travel.....and then ending up with her first love anyway, 20 years later. Through it all she read books that helped her escape. At the age of 70, she opened up Two Wee Book Shops in Manapouri, New Zealand, literally the end of the world.

This is all told in a chatty, matter-of-fact way without sensationalism, interspersed with anecdotes about her customers. It was a great way to spend a couple of days of my reading time. Recommended to book lovers everywhere. There are some great pictures on the internet if you want to take a look at her shop.

[Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cannot resist second-hand bookshops. The old Hard To Find bookshop in Onehunga was my favourite place in Auckland, and Fiordland is one of the most special places on Earth, so I was primed to love this book. And the first chapter wraps you up like a big hug as it tells you to settle in for a big cozy read.

Ruth's life is undoubtedly an extraordinary tale. It's just not told very well.

It kills me to say this. I REALLY want to give this five stars, I do, as Ruth has crammed five lives of fearless adventure and brave resilience into her peripatetic 75 years, but I just don't think the writing does justice to her remarkable life.

After a very promising start the writing becomes blunt and dead, with abrupt sentences stating bald facts and reciting incidents briefly and often devoid of depth of description and emotion. I didn't feel I was seeing the real Ruth or getting an understanding of the impact or context around the numerous events that life threw at her. I accept that many of these recollections would have been traumatic to write about in detail, but if I'm reading a memoir then I really want to get to know the author.

Ruth's life constantly changes tack and speeds off into a fascinating new adventure, but we get very little sense of who the author is or a true appreciation of the many daring challenges that are passed over so quickly.

And then out of nowhere you get a gut-punch of trauma as heartache strikes. I felt quite floored when these incidents occurred as Ruth's openness and honesty endears a lot of compassion from the reader, despite the distance at which she keeps us.

As I read (and admittedly devoured the book in a few sittings) I became more frustrated that we were only seeing a pencil sketch of this ballsy woman, when there was clearly a vibrant and deeply layered painting lying hidden. This is clearly a life deserving of a treatment like Gerald Durrell's magnificently rich series of autobiographical books. In the meantime I have now added to my bucket list a visit to her wee bookshops in Manapouri. And maybe, over a cup of tea in her garden, some of the real Ruth might be revealed.

[Sam (she_who_reads_)]

This is such a gem of a memoir! Equal parts inspiring and intensely emotional, I absolutely devoured it.
Ruth Shaw's memoir doesn't flinch or shy away from exploring some of the most harrowing experiences a woman could experience in her lifetime, which I wasn't necessarily expecting in a book about a bookseller, but was beautifully written and something I think will resonate with a lot of readers.
There is also a sense of adventure- Ruth Shaw has had one heck of interesting life- and whimsy.
Interspersed with anecdotes from her two Wee Bookstores, there is a lot of charm to be found in these pages.
Would definitely recommend checking this one out, but due to some of her experiences, there are some trigger warnings that you should be aware of if you require them.

A huge thank you to Allen & Unwin for sending a review copy my way

(Trigger warnings: loss of a child, abortion, sexual and physical violence, drug use)

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deeply beloved, straight-talking grandma from the far-south recounts her 'adventurous' and often traumatic life while sharing the stories of her bookstore customers she has lovingly witnessed. 5/5

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a life Ruth Shaw has led. She's had a wild time sailing around the pacific, had a series of interesting and challenging relationships, some ending in tragedy, she's had terrific highs and some terrible lows. It is a life lived fulsomely and she has written her story in this book. She's ended up with three very cute bookshops in Manapouri at the every bottom of New Zealand, it is an isolated and lovely place tucked in beside a lake. This book tells Ruth's story alongside tales of the goings on in the bookshop.

Through turbulent times, when she had no money to keep herself fed, through times of being scared and alone and at the mercy of the ocean or a dodgy man, Ruth's belief in herself, her ability to adapt and fit in has been the secret of her interesting and varied life. Going from crisis to crisis and with bunches of happy times in between. There are moments of enormous sadness in this story, but good humour and kindness shine through.

This is a lovely book to hold in your hand, lovely end papers and beautifully produced. Lovely to see a book like this in the bookshops.

[Klee · Rating 4 out of 5]

"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely of places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it."
- Ronald Dahl

What a life! Ruth Owen shares her incredible adventures in this most compelling memoir. You will laugh and you will cry, I promise. You will not be able to put this book down as you join Ruth being held up by pirates in the Pacific, or whilst exploring her connections to the infamous Kings Cross prostitution and drug world scandals, or just living through her own many, many personal heartbreaks.

It is separated into short chapters about her wanderings of the Pacific and peppered with humorous current day anecdotes in her little bookshops at the bottom of New Zealand. The book is full of historical references which I particularly enjoyed. I am now officially a firm admirer of Ruth, particularly for her strength shown in adversity, her feminism, and her environmentalism, and her overall amazing adventurous spirit.

This book will definitely make you want to go on a roadie to the bottom of the country to visit her two wee bookshops. I am already trying to work out how to make it happen.

"Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
- Dylan Thomas

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Such a difficult book to put down, a pleasure to pick it up again the next day.

I laughed and I cried. So many surprises. What a life!

An almost unbelievable tale at times. Truth certainly is stranger than fiction. In the words of Shaun Blythell, it is indeed “An extraordinary story”

Beautifully written. So pleased I have Bookshop Dogs to read now as I thought I was going to miss Ruth.

[That dorky lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Confession - got lured into this one by its name.

Had no idea about this book and started it purely out of impulse caused by the title. I didn't even check if it is fiction or non fiction. Didn't bother checking its ratings either.

Later as I started reading, I learned that this is the first ever book I read which is set in New Zealand. It is a biography which is as colourful as fiction. A biography of a book seller who wore many shoes;lived a radiant life full of experiences driven out of hard work, misfortune, tragedy and adventure, madness and a bit self destructive decisions. Constantly building and rebuilding her own life till she finally managed to craft the one to her liking.

Ahhhh! One satisfactory read. Best autobiography I've read this year. And the best part is little anecdotes about interesting incidents happened in her book shops.

[Annelise Blanchette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ruth had a pretty adventurous life with a lot of ups and downs. I didn't realize this was an autobiography when I started it tbh - I guess I thought it was a fictional story about a bookseller? Some of the traumatic bits were a bit much for me but by the end I was just bored with Ruth's story and by Lance's chapter I was skimming because I was tired of reading about life on board a boat.

[Marloes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wat is dit een bijzonder, avontuurlijk, liefdevol en verdrietig levensverhaal! Het is net alsof Ruth Shaw al zeker 7 levens heeft geleefd, zoveel heeft ze meegemaakt, en in dit boek vertelt ze over al haar hoogte- en dieptepunten, dingen die ze heeft bereikt en grote verliezen die ze heeft geleden, over liefdes, vluchtpogingen en thuiskomen. Het is een indrukwekkend relaas en ik geloof dat Ruth iemand is naar wie je uren ademloos kunt luisteren, maar ik denk dat de wijze waarop dit boek is geschreven haar verhaal niet volledig recht doet.

Het voelde voor mij meer als een opsomming van gebeurtenissen en hoewel ik zeker begrijp dat sommige zaken die ze heeft meegemaakt traumatisch kunnen zijn, denk ik dat ik niet altijd heb meegekregen hoe ze zich voelde op die momenten, wat het echt met haar heeft gedaan en hoe het haar verder heeft gevormd, waar ik altijd wel op hoop wanneer ik memoires lees. En dat is niet gedurende het hele boek zo, maar ik bleef wel iets meer op afstand dan ik had verwacht en enkele gebeurtenissen werden eerder aangestipt dan volwaardig uitgewerkt. Zeker geen aanmerkingen op het verhaal (dat zou ook gek zijn bij zo’n persoonlijk boek), maar ik klikte niet overal met de wijze waarop het is verteld.

3.5⭐️

[Shuk Pakhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

নিউজিল্যান্ডের বাসিন্দা রুথ। কখনো কাজের প্রয়োজনে, কখনো এ্যাডভেঞ্চারের নেশায় কী ভীষণ উরাধুরা একটা জীবন কাটিয়েছেন। আজ এখানে ত কাল ওখানে। কখনো জব করছেন হাসপাতালের সেবাদানকারীর, কখনো গির্জার রাধুনী হিসেবে আবার কখনো সেইল বোটের বোটমেইড হয়ে। বারবার দেখা পেয়েছেন প্রেমের কিন্তু স্বপ্ন পূরণের আগে তা ভেঙে খানখান হয়ে গিয়েছে। তবুও হাল ছাড়েননি। অবশেষে পেয়েছেন থিতু হওয়ার জন্য একটা জায়গা আর একজন জীবনসঙ্গী।

নিউজিল্যান্ডের প্রত্যন্ত জায়গায় পাশাপাশি দুটো বইয়ের দোকান দিয়েছেন উনারা। একটাতে পাওয়া যায় বড়দের বই আরেকটাতে ছোটদের বই। স্থানীয় লোকজন আর বাচ্চারা আসে বই পড়তে, আড্ডা দিতে, বই ধার করতে। বাচ্চারা বইয়ের সাথে দোকানে থাকা একটা করে খেলনাও বাড়ি নিয়ে যায়। বইয়ের সাথে খেলনাটাও ফেরত দেয়। পথচলতি অনেক টুরিস্টও আসেন দোকানে। অনেকে বই কিনে বা না কিনে চলে যান অনেকে আবার বেস কিছুদিন কাটিয়ে যান এই দম্পত্তির সাথে।

বইয়ের কাহিনী দুটি ধারায় এগিয়েছে একদিকে রুথ বলছেন বইয়ের দোকান নিয়ে নানান মজার মজার ঘটনা। আরেকদিকে পাঠককে জানাচ্ছেন তার ফেলে আসা জীবনের আনন্দ-বেদনার গল্প।

রুথের এই হাল না ছাড়ার মনোভাবটা ভালো লেগেছে। তিনি একজন সত্যিকারের জীবনযোদ্ধা ছিলেন। বইয়ের কিছু কিছু জায়গায় অবশ্য একটু বোরিং লাগে। প্রচ্ছদটা দারুনননন!

[Katey Flowers · Rating 3 out of 5]

More autobiography than memoir, this is a very straight forward story of Ruth’s life. And she has certainly lead an interesting life, but the book felt somewhat dry due to a lack of introspection or a sense of ‘meaning’. It also, surprisingly to me, was not really about being a bookseller! There were hints of it, but I was certainly expecting it to be central to the book. I did appreciate how frankly Ruth spoke of her journey, including some especially traumatic experiences (CW: rape, forced adoption, and death, including of an infant), but the dryness of the writing made me feel like the author was holding the reader at a distance. It almost felt like a presentation of the main points of Ruth’s life rather than an engrossing reflection on a life full of heartbreak and joy. Still, it was interesting and I read it in one sitting!

[Amanda Broughton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I spent a lot of time in Manapōuri growing up at my parents holiday home on View Street, I walked, ran, cycled and eventually drove past the site of this book shop for years, and one day it was suddenly there and I went in. Ruth gave me a copy of Celestial Bodies to read.

I also live next door to her old workplace on Guildford Terrace. What a life Ruth has led, her journey on the run to finally settle on Home Street with the books and the birds.

[Kirsty Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, this was so much more than it says on the tin. I was all strapped in for a wholesome story about a woman who lives in the middle of nowhere down in the south island and runs a little bookshop. I wasn't prepared for the heartbreak, adventure, and absolute rollercoaster that has been Ruth's life so far. I think any kiwi (and beyond) would love this book!

[Smriii ♡˖ ࣪⊹ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book hangover! Thrilled by the story, sad it's over. Ruth Shaw is a captivating storyteller. Hooked from start to finish, deeply emotional read. Her writing is so genuine. Loved it more than anything this year! Laughed, sometimes questioned, always admired her resilience. A truly full life! Instantly charmed by the Wee Bookshops. Inspiring feminist story.

Imagine a bookseller who is not just a purveyor of pages, but a true survivor with a story that will grip your heart. Ruth Shaw's memoir offers exactly that. It's a powerful blend of overcoming trauma and loss, finding a love that endures, and sharing the kind of bookish moments that make any bibliophile feel right at home. Even from her small "Two Wee Bookshops" nestled in the stunning isolation of southern New Zealand, Shaw possesses that remarkable bookseller's intuition – the ability to connect the hungry reader with their next great adventure. Don't let the initial image of a smiling older woman fool you; this isn't a quaint collection of customer anecdotes. Instead, Shaw unveils a raw and compelling autobiography, punctuated by endearing glimpses into life behind the counter. Her early life, initially bathed in the warmth of a carefree childhood, takes a dramatic and unexpected turn, leading her on a challenging journey. But through it all, her spirit remains unbroken, guiding her back to New Zealand, where she finds solace and love. And there, amidst the breathtaking scenery of Manapōuri, her life finds a beautiful harmony as she serendipitously opens the doors to her beloved bookshops – a true testament to the enduring power of stories and the people who share them.

Just read it already !!

[Annina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was für ein wunderbares Buch. Ruth erzählt ihre Lebensgeschichte gespickt mit Anekdoten aus ihrem kleinen Buchladen, welchen mit 71 sie im Nirgendwo in Neuseeland eröffnete. Ruths Lebensgeschichte berührt und beeindruckt. Auch ein sehr schönes Buch zum Verschenken, bei mir bekam es meine Schwiegermama. 🎄

[Kimberley Oosterbeek · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 - a joyful yet at times heart-wrenching memoir of an extraordinary life. Adding Ruth's wee bookshops to those I would love to visit someday.

[Ashton Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a chance to visit the Two Wee Bookshops in the last month of my year of living in New Zealand. I was told by a friend I absolutely had to get this book as I would probably see myself in Ruth - she was right.

Before reading the book, I got to meet Ruth at the bookshops and had such a lovely conversation. I only wish I had been able to chat about the story now because I have so much I want to say. She wrote a note for me saying, “We all stumble and fall at some stage in our lives but when our toes sink into warm, soft sand we know we have survived. You have found courage!”

I thought that note was ironic as my favorite line from the book was, “It can take a very long time to find your home, but if you’re lucky, you get there eventually.”

I am so grateful to have met Ruth and learn about her life story. It has made me feel so seen in a time in my life where I feel scared, lost, unsure…so many of the emotions she’s described through her adventures and experiences.

I hope one day I am lucky enough to find my home too.

[Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh my god this woman’s life was INSANE. whenever things were going right for her, life just slapped her right back down. it’s incredible how positive and kind she is 😭 i hope her little bookshop is going well

[Miriam Bucknell · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75.

What an extraordinary life! Told so beautifully the heartache, the joy, the adventures.

I loved it

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dieses Leben ist beeindruckend! Und das, was daraus entstanden ist ebenfalls! Hut ab!

[Benjamin Booker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tucked away in a beautifully unsophisticated demeanour is Ruth Shaw's quiet but forceful defence of the strength of the human spirit. It is a wonderful work.

Weaved between past and contemporary anecdotes, it gives the sense of wandering a hidden path to the secret present moment, glowing away at end of the chronological world. Most of the experiences of the author would just about be bookworthy as a solitary tale, but altogether they are so extraordinary that the book is almost fantastical in scope.

I was drawn in by the excellent title and cover, and found myself pleasantly surprised to something not at all what I was expecting; thus I counsel the reader to gamely judge this book by its exterior - you may lurch away on journey to somewhere most pleasantly unexpected.

[Mady · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a different book than what I expected, but still I enjoyed it.

First of all, the title might be misleading. Ruth has been many things along her life and only at the end does she become a bookseller. This is not even a story about how books saved or helped Ruth.
This is a memoir about her life and her path until today. And now she's as bookseller, a hobby she took on once she retired.
Ruth led a rather unconventional life, but her route led her to where she is now, and she seems pleased with what she achieved in her life and how she overcame her problems. At the end of each chapter there is a short story from her bookselling life, which bring some lightness to some of the toughest episodes of her life and from my perspective, make this memoir much more interesting.

Shortly after reading Ruth's memoir, I read another one which included an "unconventional" female character, who after some misadventures in her life became a cook on a container ship. Somehow that brought back Ruth into my mind.
This was my bookclub selection for the theme non fiction.

[Gwyneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an awesome, sometimes gritty and inspiring story of someone who has really lived her life by her own rules. Loved the connection to the south island, and I'll definitely be visiting the authors bookshops when they reopen for summer.

I bought this book about two weeks after moving to Wānaka in a tiny bookshop called the Next Chapter opposite where we get crepes on Saturdays (living the fast life I know). It was sweet to see that very bookshop mentioned in this book. I bought two books there, this and cloud cuckoo land and not knowing what either of them were about they both ended up as sort of love letters to books. I can't explain it but the whole thing makes me cosy.

[Rhiannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lost my kindle half way through reading this book which was DEVASTATING, not only because of the loss of my beloved kindle (😭), but also because I was really enjoying the story.

I didn’t know what to expect from this book but I enjoyed every minute of the read, especially being far from home - felt like a warm hug reading tales from NZ 💚

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling tale of a person who has made the most of her life, through thick and thin. I must stop by the bookshops next time I am in Manapouri.

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful. Fascinating life story. Celebration of books!

[Pascal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memoir by a New Zealand women running a tiny book shop in Fiordland. Perfect combination of adventure & wholesomeness.