The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald

  Mrs. Florence Green has a simple dream - to open a bookshop in a small seaside town that has none. She purchases an old, abandoned building and seems to be on her way. Unfortunately Mrs. Gamart, a well-to-do powerful woman wanted to turn that same abandoned building and turn it into an arts culture center. Mrs. Gamart is determined to have her own way and drive Mrs. Green out.

The Bookshop is a sad, sweet novella. It celebrates books and trying new things, especially in middle age, while at the same time reminding readers that trying hard and kindness doesn't always mean everything will work out the way one hopes. There is a passage where Mrs. Green remarks that with hard work surely she will succeed. Another character responds that working and trying hard does not always lead to success. Unfortunately the second character's insight is proven to be true for Mrs. Green.

I found it interesting that books are seemingly excluded from "arts" or "culture." Perhaps that is because Mrs. Green is not judgmental toward books or her patrons. She sells books she thinks are good stories, books that people want.

The ending is rather sad, which many might find to be turn off. I did wish for a happier ending but the ending was not inappropriate and for that reason I'll accept it. This book was made into a movie starring Emily Mortimer, Bill Nighy, and Patricia Clarkson. While the ending in the movie is equally sad there is a slight twist that I welcomed. I would recommend both the book and movie.