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.
When we moved with our children from the United States to Japan, we left all our books in storage and it took me about a year to realize I missed the books and as soon as I replaced them, our apt. felt like home again.
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.
What an inspiring read and an inspiring idea. Living the dream, as they say :)
I had an epiphany just the other day while walking the streets of Vienna with my 6 year old daughter. She was asking me about the apartments above shops and I told her all about the people who live above their shops and can just go down to work each day and then it hit me - I want to do this here in Vienna right now. No lofty ambitions to make any money, but just a small flat with my secondhand (?) bookshop downstairs and a modest living space upstairs. I'm recently divorced and looking to move out of my own spacious flat in the coming months, so if I can swing this...it would be nice.
Alas, it'll be tough. I'm heavily in debt as it is. My own book collection is scattered among 4 countries. Vienna is crying out for an English secondhand bookshop (there is a Shakespeare and Sons). I want to make this happen, but...I'll see if I can wrangle it!
I'm not sure if I commented on this before, but I'm reading this post again (feel like I read it a while ago) and just wanted to send you some encouragement on your bookshop dream!
I'm the kind of person who picks out 10 to 15 books at the bookstore when she only has 30 minutes to browse. I just feel good with books around me. I never have enough time to read all of them, and I am a tediously slow reader, but I just feel this huge rush of anticipation and excitement when I start a new book.
This sounds like an absolute dream come true Sarah! I'm so excited for you. I look forward to reading more as it progresses. Will you name it Shakespeare and company also?
I told my husband about your obsession (can I call it that?) with books and how many you have collected and how you had boxes of books shipped to you in Amsterdam— and then I said, “See? I’m not that bad.” Hope that’s ok to do. Ha! (I have a lot of books and would love to come see your book shop someday). Here is the book shop I love near me in San Diego, CA called Verbatim Books.
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.
Ahhh this whole post gave me goosebumps. We are most definitely kindred spirits. Here is to us opening our bookshops... and maybe we can visit each other one day! Btw this line "And yes, I was one of those kids who read the dictionary and the encyclopedia for fun." I thought it was just me. I used to read the telephone book when I ran out of things to read at my grandparents. Haha!
Hi Sarah! I love your Substack. What a great adventure to open your bookshop in Umbria. I'll plan a visit there for sure in the future when it's ready. I don't know why but your story reminded me of a tiny bookshop that opened in Tuscany in a super small village https://libreriasopralapenna.it/chi-siamo/. I love this kind of stories and I wish you good luck with your venture :)
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.
Could you send me info about the writer’s retreats? 🙏🏻
When we moved with our children from the United States to Japan, we left all our books in storage and it took me about a year to realize I missed the books and as soon as I replaced them, our apt. felt like home again.
I relate to this so much! Books really make a home.
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.
What an inspiring read and an inspiring idea. Living the dream, as they say :)
I had an epiphany just the other day while walking the streets of Vienna with my 6 year old daughter. She was asking me about the apartments above shops and I told her all about the people who live above their shops and can just go down to work each day and then it hit me - I want to do this here in Vienna right now. No lofty ambitions to make any money, but just a small flat with my secondhand (?) bookshop downstairs and a modest living space upstairs. I'm recently divorced and looking to move out of my own spacious flat in the coming months, so if I can swing this...it would be nice.
Alas, it'll be tough. I'm heavily in debt as it is. My own book collection is scattered among 4 countries. Vienna is crying out for an English secondhand bookshop (there is a Shakespeare and Sons). I want to make this happen, but...I'll see if I can wrangle it!
Ouch, a book collection spread over four countries. I hope you can make the bookshop work! I’m rooting for you.
I'm not sure if I commented on this before, but I'm reading this post again (feel like I read it a while ago) and just wanted to send you some encouragement on your bookshop dream!
Thank you! I so much appreciate the note of encouragement. ❤️
Oh my gosh. And now I want to open a bookshop in some part of the world.
You should definitely do it!
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!
I'm the kind of person who picks out 10 to 15 books at the bookstore when she only has 30 minutes to browse. I just feel good with books around me. I never have enough time to read all of them, and I am a tediously slow reader, but I just feel this huge rush of anticipation and excitement when I start a new book.
This sounds like an absolute dream come true Sarah! I'm so excited for you. I look forward to reading more as it progresses. Will you name it Shakespeare and company also?
Actually, since Narni is the town that inspired C.S. Lewis to write The Chronicles of Narnia, I’m calling it The Wardrobe.
Love it!!!
Awesome! Hubby and I shipped a 20 foot container from the US to Portugal - mostly filled with books. The house is like a library with no real order!
Whatever happens in the world now, you’re prepared!
I told my husband about your obsession (can I call it that?) with books and how many you have collected and how you had boxes of books shipped to you in Amsterdam— and then I said, “See? I’m not that bad.” Hope that’s ok to do. Ha! (I have a lot of books and would love to come see your book shop someday). Here is the book shop I love near me in San Diego, CA called Verbatim Books.
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!
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!!
What a beautiful dream and I cannot wait to see it come true for you and then plan to visit.
This is what living the dream is all about 📚❤️ I'm going to hitchhike your journey until I open my own bookshop.
Ahhh this whole post gave me goosebumps. We are most definitely kindred spirits. Here is to us opening our bookshops... and maybe we can visit each other one day! Btw this line "And yes, I was one of those kids who read the dictionary and the encyclopedia for fun." I thought it was just me. I used to read the telephone book when I ran out of things to read at my grandparents. Haha!
Hi Sarah! I love your Substack. What a great adventure to open your bookshop in Umbria. I'll plan a visit there for sure in the future when it's ready. I don't know why but your story reminded me of a tiny bookshop that opened in Tuscany in a super small village https://libreriasopralapenna.it/chi-siamo/. I love this kind of stories and I wish you good luck with your venture :)
I have Alba’s book, Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop, and it’s so lovely.
Nice! I’ll read it :)