Ahhhh where are you creating this beauty? I'm in Umbria and run writers retreats. By the way World Book encyclopedias from the 1960s was our internet, and they were my go to comfort. I think I could still recite the three paragraphs they had about chimpanzees if I tried hard enough!
Fantastic! I'm in Passignano, but I'll follow your progress and visit when you are set up for sure! Maybe I'll bring a writing retreat next year to Narni for a visit :)
I'm an Irish-Italian American in San Francisco. Who would have thought, I'd find myself living vicariously through the Substack comments of expats living in Italy. Running a bookstore or writer's retreat in Italy sounds like the life! For now, I'm writing about an Italian immigrant winemaker (my great grandfather), who made it to America, just as Prohibition was about to sweep the country.
Hi Kevin! Thanks for reading. Both Ireland and Italy have pretty generous citizenship laws for descendants of immigrants, so it’s worth researching if you’re interested in living in Italy. That’s how we got our passports.
I love this entire post. I’ve always dreamed of owning a bookshop. How is this not everyone’s dream?! We just moved to a new country and I had to leave behind my books. Oh how I miss my full bookshelves. For now, my kindle is how I keep reading.
Station Eleven was heavy and good. I founded a bookstore in southern Mexico and it was quite a wonderful experience.There were almost no (well, 7 bookstores in Quintana Roo, the state Cancun is in only—no bi lingual). We became the largest English -Spanish language bookstore from Mexico City to Guatemala. I sold several years ago but it still flourishes. Anyway, it was a trip doing it in a foreign country. I wrote my memoir on buying land and building a house and opening a bookstore in our Pueblo, puerto Morelos. I’ve condensed it and serializing it in my Substack. In fact yesterday’s post is how we got the inspiration to do it.Check it out if you like. I knew George Whitman, owner #2 of Shakespeare & Co, and know his daughter Sylvia who runs it since his passing. George and I bonded—and actually I write about HIM and S&Company in next Friday post— titled the Lost World of Quintana Roo. We had a few good mentors along the way. I look forward to your journey. Any time line yet?? Saludos, Jeanine Kitchel
Wow, Jeanine, what an inspiring story! I can’t wait to read more about your shop. As far as timeline, we’ll be meeting with a geometra in a couple of weeks to discuss a renovation plan, so I will have a better idea after that.
Love love this. Especially the way you describe the longing to “access the humanity of people long dead” - I always get so excited when I see private letters in museums.
My father was a librarian (at a school in Italy), and it was so hard to get hold of new books in English that I spent the 70s reading my way through all the library bookshelves - first the fiction, from A-Z, then moved on to plays and poetry. I miss those days of normalising constantly re-reading the books I owned, and I lament that my bookshelves of novels are all on my kindle now (I lament it but I also love going on holiday with a kindle not a separate suitcase full of books, and it's easier on my eyes).
Also, yes! I don't think I know anyone who wouldn't dream of opening a bookshop.
Yes, I used to reread books so many times! The Chronicles of Narnia, for instance, I read so many times as a child that when I knew we were moving to Narni, I almost immediately also knew I had to open a bookshop called The Wardrobe. 📚
I love reading also but you need to write this adventure in a book so it can be read with all the classics. You have a wonderful intriguing gift that makes you feel if I was already there in your bookshop. Can’t wait to come and visit and see it with my own eyes. Love and hugs Aunt Debra
Ahhhh where are you creating this beauty? I'm in Umbria and run writers retreats. By the way World Book encyclopedias from the 1960s was our internet, and they were my go to comfort. I think I could still recite the three paragraphs they had about chimpanzees if I tried hard enough!
We are neighbours, then! I’ll be setting up shop in Narni, about as magical of a place for a little English-language bookshop as I can imagine.
Fantastic! I'm in Passignano, but I'll follow your progress and visit when you are set up for sure! Maybe I'll bring a writing retreat next year to Narni for a visit :)
I'm an Irish-Italian American in San Francisco. Who would have thought, I'd find myself living vicariously through the Substack comments of expats living in Italy. Running a bookstore or writer's retreat in Italy sounds like the life! For now, I'm writing about an Italian immigrant winemaker (my great grandfather), who made it to America, just as Prohibition was about to sweep the country.
Hi Kevin! Thanks for reading. Both Ireland and Italy have pretty generous citizenship laws for descendants of immigrants, so it’s worth researching if you’re interested in living in Italy. That’s how we got our passports.
I love this entire post. I’ve always dreamed of owning a bookshop. How is this not everyone’s dream?! We just moved to a new country and I had to leave behind my books. Oh how I miss my full bookshelves. For now, my kindle is how I keep reading.
The struggle is real! I remember so many times of going to pick up a book and realizing it was across the ocean. Kindles can be a lifesaver.
I will meet you there before the world ends! I am in love with the idea of a bookshop in Italy. Bellissima!
Thanks so much for reading! I look forward to welcoming you at the bookshop.
Oh my gosh. And now I want to open a bookshop in some part of the world.
You should definitely do it!
Station Eleven was heavy and good. I founded a bookstore in southern Mexico and it was quite a wonderful experience.There were almost no (well, 7 bookstores in Quintana Roo, the state Cancun is in only—no bi lingual). We became the largest English -Spanish language bookstore from Mexico City to Guatemala. I sold several years ago but it still flourishes. Anyway, it was a trip doing it in a foreign country. I wrote my memoir on buying land and building a house and opening a bookstore in our Pueblo, puerto Morelos. I’ve condensed it and serializing it in my Substack. In fact yesterday’s post is how we got the inspiration to do it.Check it out if you like. I knew George Whitman, owner #2 of Shakespeare & Co, and know his daughter Sylvia who runs it since his passing. George and I bonded—and actually I write about HIM and S&Company in next Friday post— titled the Lost World of Quintana Roo. We had a few good mentors along the way. I look forward to your journey. Any time line yet?? Saludos, Jeanine Kitchel
Wow, Jeanine, what an inspiring story! I can’t wait to read more about your shop. As far as timeline, we’ll be meeting with a geometra in a couple of weeks to discuss a renovation plan, so I will have a better idea after that.
Very exciting! How cool that the shop will be right within the walls of your house. Your commute will be easy!
I look forward to entering your bookshop in Narnia! :-)
Thank you so much! I look forward to welcoming you. 📚
Love love this. Especially the way you describe the longing to “access the humanity of people long dead” - I always get so excited when I see private letters in museums.
Do you follow Letters Live on Instagram? Famous actors reading historical letters aloud. It’s fantastic.
Omg no but I need to check it out thank you!!
You’ve just described my life and dream.
I’ve always wanted to open a bookshop.
I’ve lived in Paris (because moving to Italy didn’t work out) and visited Shakespeare and co many times.
I buy more books than I can read.
Can’t wait to read more about your adventure! I’ll come visit!
So happy to have you along for the journey!
My father was a librarian (at a school in Italy), and it was so hard to get hold of new books in English that I spent the 70s reading my way through all the library bookshelves - first the fiction, from A-Z, then moved on to plays and poetry. I miss those days of normalising constantly re-reading the books I owned, and I lament that my bookshelves of novels are all on my kindle now (I lament it but I also love going on holiday with a kindle not a separate suitcase full of books, and it's easier on my eyes).
Also, yes! I don't think I know anyone who wouldn't dream of opening a bookshop.
Yes, I used to reread books so many times! The Chronicles of Narnia, for instance, I read so many times as a child that when I knew we were moving to Narni, I almost immediately also knew I had to open a bookshop called The Wardrobe. 📚
Perfect!!
I love reading also but you need to write this adventure in a book so it can be read with all the classics. You have a wonderful intriguing gift that makes you feel if I was already there in your bookshop. Can’t wait to come and visit and see it with my own eyes. Love and hugs Aunt Debra
It would be so fun to host you in the bookshop!