Wendy Welch and her husband Jack Beck left D.C. for a quieter life in Central Appalachia, the area where Wendy grew up. While looking for a house they found and fell in love with a large rambling old house in Big Stone Gap. A daydream they had for opening a used bookstore seemed perfect for the house. Despite little money, a bad economy and no idea of how to run a bookstore they went ahead with the idea. The book chronicles their ups and downs, tells anecdotes of their new friends and customers and itinerates the characteristics necessary to run the store. The business succeeds not just as a bookstore but as a community center. Enjoyable read. ( )

I have mixed feelings about this book; sometimes I really enjoyed it and other times I was sort of meh. I actually enjoyed the content of the entire book---I think I just didn't care for the author's perspectives, from time to time.

I'd say this is a fantastic resource and should be required reading for anyone who wants to run a book shop---which I actually am seriously considering doing once my Father's estate is settled. There was so much good information, even just on how to buy books for resale.

The book was also full of really great quotable thoughts, like this one: "I don't think I have ever left a library without feeling a twinge of regret, a vague sense of panic that I'd missed something important, that stories, people, and ideas were still in there waiting for me to find them so they could tell me secrets."

I am sort of wondering about the wisdom of keeping humor and some romance books in the bathroom. Do people use this bathroom? Because that’s disgusting...

The end of the book features lists of what to read and what not to read---all fantastic until the very last entry on the "not to read" list: Nathaniel Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown. And now you know the real reason I have a chip on my shoulder about Wendy Welch. Nobody insults my 218 year old boyfriend. ( )

I enjoyed this book...at first. And then it sat and sat and sat on my nightstand while I read at least 5 other books. It's a very sweet little book, but it would have been much better as a long-form article. ( )

I am sure after reading this, most people would either want to own a second-hand bookstore in a community like Big Stone Gap, or pursue their dreams. You wish you could be like Wendy and Jack, take yourself out of the rat race, and do something you like. Of course, both worked hard to make the bookstore a success and they must be likable people to be accepted by the community. I don't know why the bookstore is now closed but their success story is heartwarming, and keeps dreams and hopes alive. All is good with this book except it got draggy towards the end. ( )

A straightforward story giving what the title promises, and a lovely personal take on being both a small business owner and the new family in town. Welch and her husband moved to escape a toxic job environment in a big city, and pursued a somewhat impulsive dream to open a bookstore and get to know their new town. If you have interest in rural America, this also is instructive on how local economies fight the good fight against chain retail, and are notching some wins. ( )