Timothy’s Reviews > The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore > Status Update

While Goodreads will say I still have a fair amount of this book left to read, it turns out much of it consists of acknowledgements and footnotes. The book technically ends on page 403 (the “extent” of the title, in library-speak); the last page of the book proper is actually on page 312, meaning I am actually roughly 92% done — and in fact am on the last chapter now.

While these later chapters lack the intrigue of the bygone era present in the beginning ones, I’m still very much enjoying this book.

This last chapter took a big turn: from histories of prominent US bookstores with heartwarming stories, to suddenly talking about fascist and communist bookstores of WWII and the Cold War. Very interesting, but certainly a different feel to it.

One of my favorite parts of this book (other than its charming and cozy storytelling on the magical world of bookshops) is how each chapter is just long enough to feel like its own book. When the next chapter comes along, if feels like starting an entire new experience.

I’m really enjoying this read, but nonfiction always takes me longer to get through.

Why is this so interesting?