#WATWB April 2019 – Among the Good News A Closing Book

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

more here.

 

 

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Looking for some more good news. Check out the ABC News ‘Good News’ section at the bottom of their page or, follow the #WATWB

 

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A Romance of Sorts

A Romance of Sorts

Smooth, shiny and sliding

Under hands

Nestled between covers

Awaiting the night

Where

In subdued light

Is the longed for

Book!

Simon C.J. Falk 14 February 2018

A Gift

A Gift

A received a very beautiful gift in recent days.  An small sized and elegant collection of W.B. Yeats poems. It is very fine.  One day I shall write verses in honour of Yeats.  I have often thought of it.  But suitable words have not yet come to me.

Bookshelves for a Blogfest

Hi, when inspired to write, I blog at Simon’s Still Stanza.  I have entered the Cherished Blogfest late. But, will make an effort just the same.  Since I was a young fellow I have loved poetry. Classics, epics, ladies and gents, Dickinson on death, to Wordsworth’s daffodils.  It matters not. From polished free verse to new additions in the Saturday newspaper.  I have found something in them all. My blog is about sharing poems with others.  I also love books. They are the cherished objects that I have chosen for the Blogfest blog. PS: I’ve actually entered the Cherished Blogfest a month early. Those reading this still have time to sign up.

Bookshelves

I have them in the office,

All snug in the corner nook,

For nothing’s better when you’re working

Than to sit down with a book!

I work at the computer

While I sit at desk and chair,

But the inspiration gets the better,

and the verses sneak in there!

I have them in the lounge room,

Not far from the TV,

As I sit in the recliner chair

and read them with much glee.

I have them in my bedroom,

where they are not far from bed,

For, is anything better than reading,

to prepare a restful head?

I take books when I’m travelling,

Both as electronic and in print,

I hate to dog-ear page corners

and like to keep their condition mint.

I miss them when I’ve loaned them,

and can’t wait to see them back,

I hate to see loose pages,

or find a binding crack.

Where would we be without them?

Books are our written friends,

When other folks forget us,

They are still standing on their ends.

So cherish all your bookshelves,

for the treasure they hold therein,

They fire our imagination,

and all the dreams within.

Simon C.J. Falk 27 June 2015 late!