The Door-to-Door Bookstore set in Germany

Submitted: 22nd July 2024

The Door-to-Door Bookstore set in Germany

A feel-good novel about books and friendship.

What more could you ask for?

Map of locations in The Door-to-Door Bookstore

The Door-to-Door Bookstore set in Germany

BOARDING PASS INFORMATION

Destination : A bookstore

Author guide: Carsten Henn

Genre: translated from German

Food and drink to accompany: Nothing in the shop incase

you spill something on the books

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A novel to transport you to a bookstore!

Map of locations in The Door-to-Door Bookstore

This lovely tale is set in a tiny German village unnamed but so familiar at the same time and definitely somewhere you would want to live.

It’s a hug in a novel, an ode to books, booksellers, readers and booklovers everywhere.

I had a wonderful time at the City Gate Bookshop. Oh how I wish it were real! Carl works here. He’s 72 and works happily away among the books he loves. There’s a new owner however – Sabine who takes over from old Gustav, her father. Still, Carl carries on.

I loved spending time with Carl. He potters around the store, works hard and takes pride in what he does. Even at night, he doesn’t stop. He puts on his backpack and fills it with books which he delivers to the people in the village. He sees everyone through the eyes of a bookseller who cares more about his books and his customers than anything. He wants to ensure that the books get to their rightful owners. I wish Carl would deliver a book to me!

Map of locations in The Door-to-Door Bookstore

The story takes a nice but unexpected turn when a little nine year old girl starts joining him on his nightly jaunts. She might be small but she has some big opinions! Their relationship was just a joy to read from the beginning. Their chatter and banter will make you cry tears of happiness. They are both quirky in their own way and it was a delight to spend time with them both.

With both the Schascha and Carl, the night-time deliveries become a way of looking at the people in the village, looking through their windows in a way and seeing into their souls. She even starts to dress like him. Oh this is so cute!

There are tones of sadness too however as the unusual pair draw out the sadness, loneliness, hope and fears of the people who live in the village where the store is located. There are some dark moments, gritty issues tackled here but this is a lovely way of looking at them and showing how books can help to heal.

I got to know the village and its inhabitants very well through the books they read. There are just lots of literary references peppered throughout the novel making this a booklovers dream.

A hug in book form.