The Lost and Found Bookshop

 

The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs

Bella Vista Chronicles #3

Fiction

2020 William Morrow

Finished on July 27, 2023

Rating: 3/5 (Good)

Publisher's Blurb:

There is a book for everything . . . 

Somewhere in the vast Library of the Universe, as Natalie thought of it, there was a book that embodied exactly the things she was worrying about.

In the wake of a shocking tragedy, Natalie Harper inherits her mother’s charming but financially strapped bookshop in San Francisco. She also becomes caretaker for her ailing grandfather Andrew, her only living relative—not counting her scoundrel father. 

But the gruff, deeply kind Andrew has begun displaying signs of decline. Natalie thinks it’s best to move him to an assisted living facility to ensure the care he needs. To pay for it, she plans to close the bookstore and sell the derelict but valuable building on historic Perdita Street, which is in need of constant fixing. There’s only one problem–Grandpa Andrew owns the building and refuses to sell. Natalie adores her grandfather; she’ll do whatever it takes to make his final years happy. Besides, she loves the store and its books provide welcome solace for her overwhelming grief.

After she moves into the small studio apartment above the shop, Natalie carries out her grandfather’s request and hires contractor Peach Gallagher to do the necessary and ongoing repairs. His young daughter, Dorothy, also becomes a regular at the store, and she and Natalie begin reading together while Peach works.

To Natalie’s surprise, her sorrow begins to dissipate as her life becomes an unexpected journey of new connections, discoveries and revelations, from unearthing artifacts hidden in the bookshop’s walls, to discovering the truth about her family, her future, and her own heart.

Books about books (or bookstores) are always a big draw for me. The Lost and Found Bookshop is part contemporary fiction and part romance, the latter of which I rarely ever read, but this one caught my eye. I didn't think I had read anything by Susan Wiggs, but glancing at her title list, I remembered that I had read one (Table for Five) many years ago. Like Table for Five, Wiggs' more recent novel is predictable with familiar romantic tropes (single parent; love triangle; grieving lover) although there are some surprises sprinkled in here and there. Who doesn't enjoy literary references that have you adding more titles to your TBR list? Throw in the bookstore setting and it's a perfect brain-candy choice for a hectic summer. My only complaint is that the end of the story felt rushed, with a couple of jarring inconsistencies to Natalie's character, but overall, a decent read for the genre. 

Table For Five

Note: A similar review appeared in my monthly newsletter (Oct. 2005). Apologies to those who have previously read it.





Table For Five by Susan Wiggs
Contemporary Fiction
Finished 10/7/05
Rating: A (5/5 Excellent for its genre)
Top Ten 2005





From Booklist:

Lily Robinson is not only the godmother of the Hollway children; she's also their teacher. So when Lily calls in the divorced parents, Crystal (her best friend) and Derek, for a conference, and the two of them are killed on the way home, Lily's grief is exponentially worse because of her guilt. Sean Maguire, Derek's half-brother, is an ex-pro golfer ready for a comeback. Crystal never got around to formalizing her request that Lily take the children in case anything happened to her, and Sean is named as their guardian in the will. But Lily refuses to walk away from her godchildren, so Lily and Sean force themselves to cooperate with each other, an exercise that begins to lead to a grudging respect. Wiggs explores many aspects of grief, from guilt to anger to regret, imbuing her book with the classic would've/could've/should've emotions, and presenting realistic and sympathetic characters. Never maudlin, Wiggs writes with an even hand, thus adding another excellent title to her already-outstanding body of work.

Not great literature, but definitely entertaining fluff. Poignant fluff, at that. Table For Five grabbed my attention right away and kept calling to me when I was busy with other things. As is the case with most "beach reads," the story is unavoidably predictable, yet comforting with a satisfying ending. The first third was very difficult to read, bringing my grief for Rachel right back to the surface (where apparently it lurks every day). Many key phrases reflected my own thoughts, but I kept reading, ignoring the lump in my throat. The book read a bit like a made-for-tv movie and I found myself picturing Matthew McConaughey Viggo Mortensen as Sean.

Thank You for Listening

 

Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan

Fiction

2022 HarperAudio

Narrator: Julia Whelan

Finished on July 28, 2023

Rating: 4/5 (Very Good)

Publisher's Blurb:

For Sewanee Chester, being an audiobook narrator is a long way from her old dreams, but the days of being a star on film sets are long behind her. She’s found success and satisfaction from the inside of a sound booth and it allows her to care for her beloved, ailing grandmother. When she arrives in Las Vegas last-minute for a book convention, Sewanee unexpectedly spends a whirlwind night with a charming stranger.

On her return home, Sewanee discovers one of the world’s most beloved romance novelists wanted her to perform her last book—with Brock McNight, the industry’s hottest, most secretive voice. Sewanee doesn’t buy what romance novels are selling—not after her own dreams were tragically cut short—and she stopped narrating them years ago. But her admiration of the late author, and the opportunity to get her grandmother more help, makes her decision for her.

As Sewanee begins work on the book, resurrecting her old romance pseudonym, she and Brock forge a real connection, hidden behind the comfort of anonymity. Soon, she is dreaming again, but secrets are revealed, and the realities of life come crashing down around her once more.

If she can learn to risk everything for desires she has long buried, she will discover a world of intimacy and acceptance she never believed would be hers.

From the author of My Oxford Year, Julia Whelan’s uplifting novel tells the story of a former actress turned successful audiobook narrator—who has lost sight of her dreams after a tragic accident—and her journey of self-discovery, love, and acceptance when she agrees to narrate one last romance novel.

I rarely read romance novels, but this month I wound up reading two simultaneously! The tropes aren't exactly the same as those in The Lost and Found Bookshop, but as I listened to Whelan's novel I had to remind myself which characters were in her book and which were in Susan Wiggs'. Both protagonists struggle with the age-old question of "Should I stay or should I go?" and both stories include an aging grandparent with dementia. I'm a big fan of books narrated by Julia Whelan and it was fun listening to her read her own novel, which she swears is not autobiographical despite similarities to her own life and career. In spite of the over-abundance of tropes and predictability (and a couple of steamy sex scenes), Whelan's book has more substance than Wiggs'. It was fun getting a glimpse into audiobook production, and there's nothing better than laughing out loud while listening to a book. Recommend!

A Month in Summary - July 2023

Fernie RV Resort

Fernie, British Columbia

July 2023

We've been home from our Canadian adventure for almost a month and I'm still living high on the memories from that spectacular trip. I shot so many photos, most of which I shared on Instagram and Facebook, but I plan to blog about the trip, as I did with our Glacier National Park trip (click on link to view those posts), in the coming months. 

Meanwhile, back at home, we've been enjoying visits with relatives from Nebraska, San Diego, and Manhattan Beach. We'll see more from the Sacramento area, San Diego, and North Carolina in the next few months. Everyone is eager to come out and help my mom celebrate her 90th birthday and, thankfully, the weather couldn't be nicer. We've had so much sunshine and warm-to-us temps (mid-60s), which is great for those who are looking to escape the heat. With all the travel and visitors, I haven't had much time to read, but I'll get back to it as things begin to wind down later in the fall. I've been busy planning our next trip, which will take us back to Canada in mid-September. We plan to spend a month on Vancouver Island! 

But about books... I read three novels, which were all entertaining, but nothing spectacular. I started and gave-up on several others, so I'm in a bit of a slump, but I'm confident that it will sort itself out as soon as I don't have so many distractions. It's all about balance, right?

Books Read (click on the title for my review):

Exiles by Jane Harper (3/5)

The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs (3/5)

Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan (4/5)

Gave up on:

Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

Starting from Scratch by Susan Gilbert-Collins

Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy

Pastries by Bharti Kirchner

Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent

Movies & TV Series:

The Tower (Season 2) - Meh. Too much in the way of a romantic subplot. With lives at stake, there's no time for bad blood. Gemma Whelan (Yara Greyjoy in Game of Thrones) and Jimmy Akingbola (Kate & Koji) return in this acclaimed crime drama based on Kate London’s thrilling second novel.

65 - A sci-fi movie that feels like a wannabe Jurassic Park that tugs at your heart strings. Don't recommend. After surviving a crash landing, an astronaut and his passenger must outlast the perils of prehistoric Earth to reach their only hope for escape. (Starring:Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt, and  Chloe Coleman)

Five Days - We enjoyed this series, but I felt that the acting wasn't as polished as it could be. Fun to see two actors from Downton Abbey! A five-part mini-series that revolves around the disappearance of a young mother in a quiet British suburb and the circumstances that leave her children abandoned far from home. (Starring: Suranne Jones, Lee Massey, Penelope Wilton, Hugh Bonneville, and David Oyelowo)

The Bear - I'm thoroughly enjoying this show! A young chef from the fine dining world returns to Chicago to run his family's sandwich shop. (Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Ayo Edebiri)

Whitechapel (Season 2) - This show is pretty gritty. We need a palate-cleanser before we watch the next season! A fast-tracked inspector, a hardened detective sergeant, and an expert in historical homicides investigate modern crimes with connections to the past in the Whitechapel district of London. (Starring: Rupert Penry-Jones, Phil Davis, and Steve Pemberton)

Visitors:

As I mentioned, this is the summer of visitors! My younger brother and his family were here from Lincoln for several days, followed by a visit from my stepbrother and his family from San Diego. Today, my aunt & uncle and cousins arrive from Manhattan Beach and the following weekend, my stepsister and her family arrive from the Sacramento area. Everyone wants to help my mom celebrate her 90th birthday over the course of the summer, and it's been great catching up with everyone on a smaller scale than one huge family reunion!

Chris, Emily, Mom, Maddie and Jen

Cara, Mom, Val, Caleb and Neal

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer, and that it's not too hot where you live!

Summer Reading

To enlarge, click on photo.

Last month I shared a list (and photographs) of the books on my Coming-of-Age display. Here's my latest endcap at work. These are some of my favorite light, fluffy reads, as well as a couple of heavier novels. Perfect for lounging by the pool or lazy days at the beach.

Click on the title for my review (and in the case of one favorite new author, an interview):

Summer Blowout by Claire Cook

Lottery by Patricia Wood

Stone Creek by Victoria Lustbader

The Love Season by Elin Hilderbrand

Colony by Anne Rivers Siddons

Table for Five by Susan Wiggs

Beach Music by Pat Conroy

The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher

Summer in Tuscany by Elizabeth Adler

Julie and Romeo by Jeanne Ray

An Ocean Apart by Robin Pilcher

Distant Shores by Kristen Hannah

The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason

Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason

Top Ten for 2005

In no particular order, here is my Top Ten list for 2005. My original reviews will follow in the days to come.

1. The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg
2. Fifty Acres and A Poodle by Jeanne Marie Laskas
3. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
4. The Usual Rules by Joyce Maynard
5. Dear Zoe by Philip Beard
6. Killer Smile by Lisa Scottoline
7. Ghost Rider by Neil Peart
8. Table for Five by Susan Wiggs
9. An Unfinished Marriage by Joan Anderson
10. The Cape Ann by Faith Sullivan

Honorable Mentions

11. Monkeewrench by P.J. Tracy
12. Live Bait by P.J. Tracy
13. Dead Run by P.J. Tracy