Welcome to the We Are The World Blogfest #WATWB offerings for April 2019. Our co-hosts are Shilpa Garg, Inderpreet Uppal, Peter Nena, Lizbeth Hartz and Eric Lahti. Please hop over to their pages and any others with a #WATWB post.
A flick through the ‘Good News’ tab of ABC News Australia reveals some interesting Stories:
Compelled by faith: Doctor relocates young family from Toowoomba to help PNG neighbours
Associated Country Women of the World meet to give rural women a voice
Since many of our #WATWB followers are avid book fans, I’m featuring this one:
Iconic bookstore’s final chapter has a happy ending
PHOTO: Three generations of the Dallow family have worked in the store, (from left) Avalon, Faith and Kay. (ABC Radio Brisbane: Loretta Ryan).
I’ve long been a fan of bookstores. So, I love stories like this one about Boswell’s Books and Coins. As the ABC report shares:
Ms Dallow’s daughter Faith also worked in the store and said it was more than just a bookstore for the community. “My children grew up here and worked here; it’s like their second home,” she said.
The Dallows took over the store in 1997, when one particular genre of novels dominated the titles on offer.
“When we bought the store, it was mainly Mills & Boon books — lots and lots of romance books,” Kay Dallow said.
“We decided to add more bookshelves and offer more variety of other titles.
“Sci-fi fantasy and crime have been the most popular genres now; women especially like true crime novels.”
With so many books to move, the family has decided to donate the remaining books to aged care homes and charities.
“We want to see the books keep on keeping on and bringing joy to others,” she said.
“We really do have millions, nearly squillions of books — there’s containers full of them.”
Ms Dallow said the store had always been open to anyone who needed a book or a chat.
“We’ve always had acceptance here as we’re a quirky mob as well, and many people have told us it’s been a hub for the community,” she said.
“I had never really thought about the store like that before … people have said they’re really going to miss us.”
We get the picture. This bookshop has been in the family for three generations. It is wonderful to see how it has built community and that they are handing the books on to people who may well love them.
You can read the whole story here. Why not post some of your favourite bookshops or bookstore experiences in the comments below. Do you have a favourite bookshop that you like to support? Have you experienced community and friendship through bookshops?
For a poem in the mood…
A Romance of Sorts
Smooth, shiny and sliding
Under hands
Nestled between covers
Awaiting the night
Looking for some more good news. Check out the ABC News ‘Good News’ section at the bottom of their page or, follow the #WATWB
Simon's still stanza 